GMA star Ginger Zee has shared photos to social media of the devastation that Hurricane Ian left on Florida, shocking fans.
Her Instagram post comes after fans slammed the ABC News chief meteorologist as being disrespectful to victims.
5
Zee, 41, posted a photo to her Instagram account of a beach with a leveled house and palm trees.
Debris and pieces of wood lay scattered all over the beach where the building once stood.
Ginger wrote a long caption on the post: “Waking up well before the sun this morning, heart aching for the people of SW Florida.
“I put a link in my bio for vetted organizations you can confidently donate to.”
She continued: “You might have heard me repeating last week that a surge over 12 feet can move buildings and homes from their foundations – unfortunately that happened again.
“The power of water,” she concluded, before posting the latest on the death toll from the storm.
Hundreds of fans commented on her post.
One wrote: “So sad! Florida will never be the same,” with a crying emoji.
Most read in Entertainment
Another wrote: “Our poor neighbors to the South. This is heartbreaking and lives changed forever.”
“Thank you Ginger for your informed and heartfelt reporting. You are the best!” wrote another fan.
That praise comes after several fans called the meteorologist disrespectful in another post.
CLAPPING BACK
The 41-year-old took to social media on Friday to share a post listing the death toll in Florida at that time due to Hurricane Ian as well compared to previous hurricanes.
Ginger also listed some of the cost totals in order to recover following certain hurricanes.
While plenty of people sent words of encouragement including praise for Ginger’s coverage, one person had a different response.
They wrote: “Come on, we need to stop broadcasting how many deaths and destruction there were from these unfortunate events.
“Let’s show some respect to the family and loved ones.”
The GMA star was quick to respond and said: “How is this not respectful? It’s important information.
“We aren’t putting up names and addresses- this is an impact of the storm. Human life. Very important!”
Other commenters defended Ginger as one chimed in: “Why bother commenting? Keep scrolling. Ginger is letting the people know that may have loved ones.
“You’re doing a great job Ginger for letting us all know what is happening.”
It’s not the first time Ginger has clapped back at a troll online.
‘BE KIND’
Zee spent part of her time covering the storm in Florida at an RV park in Fort Myers.
She said the area contained around 900 homes but none had been marked with the letter X – 24 hours after the storm made landfall.
Crews spray paint the letter on a home when a search has been completed.
Zee was only relaying information to her followers but was slammed online.
One critic said Zee wasn’t involved in the search and rescue effort and was told to shut up.
She urged them to “be kind” after they continued to criticize the meteorologist.
Another viewer accused Zee’s coverage of being too theatrical.
She shared a selfie from the rain-hit location of Sanibel Island before Ian made landfall.
They said: “Great theatrics…. I live about 10 miles from where you were and spent the afternoon in the pool.”
Zee replied: “The storm isn’t here yet… it’s tomorrow.”
Ginger has been known to clap back at trolls who try to start trouble online.
The meteorologist previously fired back at one after her reporting was questioned in a series of tweets.
The argument started on Twitter after Good Morning America‘s account tweeted: “OVERNIGHT: Hurricane Ian strengthens to a category 3, taking aim at Florida. ABC News chief meteorologist Ginger Zee tracks the latest.”
Ocean Floor Investigations responded: “How does #HurricaneIan go from a Cat 4 to a Cat 3 overnight and that is somehow ‘strengthening’…?”
“It’s a cat 3 now and will become a cat 4 today,” Zee hit back.
The discussion escalated after Ocean Floor Investigations continued questioning.
“Problem with that scenario is that’s not how hurricanes work; as hurricanes approach land they decrease in strength, as hurricanes *need* water to strengthen,” it said.
The account then questioned Zee if she knew what she was reporting.
“You’re a meteorologist and do not know this?” it tweeted.
Fans rushed to defend Zee after the comments.
“Not sure what your point or why you challenge the knowledge and professionalism of Ginger Zee. So stop it, it is petty and meaningless,” a Twitter said.
Zee eventually responded: “A cat 4 then down again to 3 or 2 before landfall.
“Yes, I know how land and hurricanes work. They don’t like friction. Please don’t use Twitter to challenge my knowledge. It’s all here,” she continued.
“Don’t mess with our weather God!!” a fan responded to Zee’s tweet.
“You go, Ginger!” another person wrote.
Meanwhile, her colleague Rob Marciano was called out online for apparently “screaming” during his weather updates.
One viewer told him: “You have a mic” in response to one of his bulletins.
The weatherman also came under fire for tweeting a quote from Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno who claimed on Thursday’s episode of GMA that hundreds of fatalities had been reported.
Marceno has appeared to walk back from his initial remarks as cops have been unable to confirm the exact number of deaths.
Marciano was criticized despite relaying information from law enforcement officials.
One person commented: “He won’t confirm this, delete this tweet.”
A Floridian told Marciano: “Maybe wait for confirmation.”
A third social media user said: “Are believed to be. Not confirmed.”
5
5
5