JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In 2019, Hurricane Dorian slammed into the Bahamas as a devastating Category 5.
It was one of the most powerful storms to ever make landfall, with winds peaking at 185 mph. An estimated 84 people died in the storm and it caused more than $5 billion in damage. Thousands of people were left homeless and living without power and water for weeks.
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In the immediate aftermath of Dorian, Vic Micolucci spent 96 hours on the ground with relief crews in the hardest-hit areas of the Bahamas and detailed the tragedy and the people who worked hard to help recovery efforts in a documentary: “96 Hours of Anguish.”
Vic’s trip was memorable for viewers, too. Pam wrote, “one instance that really struck me was when he went to the Bahamas after they were hit by a hurricane, putting his own life in danger to tell their story.”
“Will never forget his coverage of Hurricane Dorian,“ viewer Leslie Montoya wrote. “It was a story that needed to be covered, and he continued to provide info on their desperate situation.”
After the announcement that Vic is making a career change and joining the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as a Communications and Community Engagement Executive, News4JAX wanted to look back at one of the most important aspects of his job over the last 14-plus years: helping communities stay safe during hurricanes and documenting the tragedy and resilience in the wake of the storms.
Vic said outside of the devastation and goodwill he saw following Hurricane Dorian, there were a few other moments that stood out while covering hurricanes for The Local Station along with photojournalists Chris O’Rourke, Matt Kinzig, Joe Owens, Jud Hulon, Tommy Garcia and Jason Corby.
Here are the hurricanes that will live on in Vic’s mind long after he leaves Channel 4:
Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida in 2022 as a Category 4 storm and produced a catastrophic storm surge, damaging winds and flooding. Ian was responsible for over 150 direct and indirect deaths and over $112 billion in damage, making it the costliest hurricane in Florida’s history and the third-costliest in United States history, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Vic was in North Port as the storm came ashore and did a live report as rain and trees crashed down around him.
After the storm passed, Vic visited Fort Myers Beach, which was one of the hardest hit areas and saw entire blocks flattened, watched as first responders recovered bodies from the rubble and spoke to people who were shocked and left with nothing.
Hurricane Michael
Hurricane Michael was a Category 4 storm when it slammed into Mexico Beach in Florida’s Panhandle in 2019. Vic was one of the few reporters who made it into the disaster zone and was inside a parking garage dodging debris as the storm came ashore.
Viewer Richard Turay vividly remembers that hurricane.
“I remember watching you reporting on a hurricane from a parking structure near the Gulf, describing how you could feel the structure moving,” Turay wrote in a message to Vic. “That takes guts, sir! You will be missed! I’m 67 years old. When I grow up, I want to be Vic Micolucci!”
Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria in 2017 was believed to be responsible for more than 3,000 deaths in Puerto Rico and beyond. The Category 5 hurricane was the most intense tropical cyclone worldwide that year, and it took residents of the U.S. territory years to recover. Vic reported on the recovery efforts and the push to get supplies and fresh water to the island. Vic then went to Puerto Rico to see the devastation firsthand and met a St. Augustine High graduate who just moved back to San Juan. He also helped amplify fundraising campaigns to support residents as they got back on their feet.
Hurricane Matthew
Hurricane Matthew flooded Jacksonville Beach and partially destroyed the Jacksonville Beach Pier in 2016, and Vic, who lives in the area, was right there in the midst of everything. He took shelter in a parking garage and gave live reports as the water rushed in.
Viewer Patricia Weitzel said Vic’s demeanor made all the difference for local residents during Matthew.
“A few events stand out for me,” Weitzel wrote. “One was his reporting from a parking garage at Jax Beach where he maintained his cool as the ocean was washing up over the area during a hurricane.”
Grace Peck also remembered Vic’s coverage of Matthew.
“Vic kept us all safe during the hurricane that he spent the day in that parking garage. It’s quite dangerous for him, but he kept us updated about the storm,” Peck wrote.
Lighter Side
It hasn’t always been death and destruction for Vic while covering hurricanes. Sometimes there have been lighter moments.
In 2019, while doing a live report from Davis Shores in St. Johns County, Vic and his photographer spotted an unexpected visitor paddling through the water: an armadillo.
”That armadillo was happy as a clam,” Vic said. “I swear I saw a smile on its face.”
But even during that moment, Vic used it as a teaching moment, saying the swimming armadillo is a good reminder that wildlife can also be affected by the storm.
”You don’t necessarily want to be in this water,” he said, pointing to dangers like venomous snakes, alligators and floating fire ant piles.
