Anderson Cooper was hit by flying debris during hurricane coverage

A viral clip from Anderson Cooper Coverage of Hurricane Milton in Florida has sparked concern among fans.

“And now the water is really starting to flow. When you look at the ground…” Cooper, 57, said on a CNN broadcast on Wednesday, October 9, before being hit in the face by a large piece of debris. “Wow! Okay, that wasn't good. We'll probably go in soon, but you can see the amount of water on the ground here. This is water from the Manatee River.”

Cooper was reporting live from Bradenton, Florida, on a pier as heavy rain and winds raged around 9 p.m. ET. Later in the broadcast, CNN's Kaitlan Collins assured viewers that her colleague was fine.

“I would like to note to all viewers who are obviously very concerned about all of our correspondents and anchors on site that Anderson is doing well,” Collins, 32, said. “Of course it's understandably difficult to make a connection when you see what's happening with the wind and the rain and of course how the conditions are getting worse by the minute.”

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Fans reacted to the moment on social media by sending congratulations to Cooper. “Can someone get Anderson Cooper away from this railing before he gets washed away?” One fan captioned a clip of the reporter still standing on the pier around midnight on Thursday, October 10.

Another X user wrote: “This guy is working hard tonight! Stay safe down there @AC360…he still had some humor when he got hit in the face with some Styrofoam, thank God!”

Others joked that Cooper's rough night earned him the right to drink on air during his and his party Andy Cohen's New Year's Eve Special 2024; The network previously banned the couple from doing so.

“CNN had better pass out Anderson Cooper on New Year's Eve for this,” wrote one

On Thursday, Cohen, 56, posted a fan's Instagram story of seeing Cooper on CNN with the caption: “We need @andersoncooper and @bravoandy for New Year's Eve.” Please cover this national treasure. At the top of the photo, Cohen wrote, “AGREE.”

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According to AP News, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm. CNN reported Thursday that the hurricane had weakened to a Category 1 storm with average winds of about 90 miles per hour.

The storm came shortly after Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and other states along the southern East Coast late last month. Both hurricanes claimed several lives.

Cooper shared a glimpse of the hurricane's impact on his Instagram Story on Wednesday. “Driving south in Florida,” he captioned one clip as he drove along a relatively quiet highway while several ambulances appeared to be heading in the opposite direction.

Amidst the ongoing storm, Taylor Swift helped with a $5 million donation to Feeding America to help those in need. “This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover and provide essential food, clean water and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms,” the organization wrote in an Instagram statement on Wednesday.

The message continues: “Together we can make a real contribution by supporting families to overcome the challenges ahead. Thank you, Taylor, for joining us in the movement to end hunger and helping communities in need.”