Hide in a tunnel – Chris on reporting on Savage Storm éowyn

News stories about the extreme weather affect millions – and it is reflected in the huge audience.

For journalists – they are challenging to cover.

We have the task of putting information to the public and taking the seriousness of the situation – and also to take steps to protect ourselves.

The red warning indicates that there is a danger to life – and the authorities do not decide to issue a warning lightly.

Assessing the risk is part and parcel of our approach to these stories.

Camera operator Niel Galagher and I went to Westport on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, which were before the red warning came into force.

We already knew that some of the strongest winds in Britain and Ireland would be felt on the Western seabord.

During the highest level hours of the alert – going out in the open was clearly very dangerous.

The vision and sound of debris crashes on ground bore will, which meets the National Meteorological Service, éireann, and speaking about emergency services.

So we set for live broadcast in a tunnel, connecting our hotel car park to the road.

This meant that we could have a good look at the outside scenes, and it could be an idea of ​​how cruel the galls were – while the rest of the shelters.

This enabled us in photographs of films that were sufficiently put in defense of the storm without taking a major security risk.

After Red warning Finished, we decided to get out again-to survey the amount, talk to the local people, and assess the scale of clear-up that were facing communities.

It is a team’s effort to cover the most intense storm to hit the island of Ireland over the years – and we are always dependent on their colleagues in BBC Northern Ireland, collecting materials from many cities, cities and villages.

The headquarters of BBCNI at the Broadcasting House in Belfast turned into a back-up power generator as the busy lunchtime reached close to the news period.

This was a plan to enable programs to remain in the air, if the power cut wave reached the building.

Whether you are in a news room or “on the ground” – a plan B (and often a C and D) is often valuable.

This is never more important when covering bad weather.

If the pattern of recent times continues, then we are doing it more often in the coming years.