Hurricane Katrina was the storm that could “make or break” a person, especially someone required to work during the event and more importantly, watching that event destroy your hometown. “It was baptism by fire when I covered Katrina only a year after graduating college. I hoped to use the experience to ‘make’ my career.”
Born and raised in Metairie, Chris graduated from Brother Martin High School in 2000 and during his senior year, he interned at FOX 8. While attending the University of New Orleans, Chris continued behind-the-scenes assisting with creating weather graphics and directing weathercasts. “Learning and studying under the ‘weather icon’ of New Orleans was the greatest experience I could ever have hoped for. If Bob is reading this, I hope he doesn’t get a big head!”
He left in 2002 to attend the University of South Alabama in Mobile, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology with a minor in Geography. As a senior, he was awarded the highest honor bestowed upon a Meteorology student, the Senior Meteorology Academic Award for his involvement within the Earth Science Department and the University. Chris is also member of the Alpha Theta Chi Collegiate Honor Society.
After graduation, he returned home…to New Orleans and FOX 8…where he briefly worked as weather producer. Chris’ first on-air job took him to the blizzards and tornadoes of the Midwest; Topeka, Kansas. He worked as the weekend meteorologist and science/environmental reporter at KSNT-TV, the local NBC affiliate. He, along with the entire weather team, won 1st Place from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters for their severe weather special, “Surviving the Storm.”
After about a year of tornado chasing and skidding down roads during ice storms, Chris returned to FOX 8 as the fill-in meteorologist in late July, 2005. As Katrina approached, Chris along with a handful of other FOX 8 employees were evacuated to Mobile, AL where sister-station FOX 10 would serve as the remote studio for storm coverage. “Only on the job about a month, and a year out of college, I was covering possibly the worst natural disaster to strike the United States. Quite a ‘Welcome Home!’” While in Mobile, Chris found time and enjoyed helping the broadcast meteorology students at his alma mater during television classes as well as forecasting lessons. Because of this work, he was honored with the Exceptional Alumnus Award for 2005 from the Department.
With personnel changes after the storm, he was promoted to morning meteorologist while helping rebuild the FOX 8 studios in Mid-City, which took roughly 6 feet of water. He can be seen on FOX 8 Morning News at 6, 7, and 8 am along side Jonathan Carter and Kim Holden.
Chris is a member of both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. He holds the AMS Seal of Approval.
“New Orleans is home and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!”
