HOUSTON – Although he retired earlier this year, former KPRC 2 Chief Meteorologist Frank Billingsley is still being recognized for his commitment to Houston and keeping the public safe and informed through the most intense storms.
Billingsley was one of several from KPRC 2 to win at this year’s Lone Star Emmy Awards. It’s his first time ever receiving a Lone Star Emmy Award.
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Alongside KPRC 2 reporter Gage Goulding, Meteorologist Daji Aswad, and Photojournalist Adrian Crooks, Billingsley was awarded an Emmy in the Weather - News category for their coverage of the May 16 derecho which moved through Houston. He says on that day, there were storms north of Houston before the derecho.
“We knew those had moved on out but that we were going to see another round that would come on the heels of the first round and we anticipated more showers and thunderstorms but similar to what we had seen up north, which were severe, but certainly nothing like a derecho and then it just became a powerful, powerful, straight line wind that just exploded,” Billingsley said.
Billingsley was in the KPRC 2 studio keeping the public informed about the dangerous storms moving in while Goulding and Crooks were out in the Cypress area in Storm Tracker 2.
“I remember Gage was in the Storm Tracker and he was heading out of town on 290 and there were just very black clouds, you could just see severe was written all over it,” Billingsley said.
As the storm moved in, Goulding and Crooks found themselves very near the path of what would eventually be determined to be an EF-1 tornado.
As wind-driven rain pounded the vehicle Goulding and Crooks was in, Billingsley commented on the rapidly changing conditions.
“Be careful, there’s every indication you could be in the midst of a tornado in that area and those are the worst kind because they’re called rain-wrapped tornadoes, in other words the wind is so strong and the rain is there, the wind is wrapping the tornado in rain, you can’t see it,” Billingsley said to Gage and viewers at home that day.
Not long later, the rain would let up, revealing tree limbs and branches down on the roadway.
“I think probably what he was driving through was at least a nearby tornado, I can’t say he was driving right through a tornado like you do in the movies but he was certainly very, very, dangerously close to the tornado, as was everybody on 290 that afternoon,” Billingsley said.
Billingsley said its rewarding to be recognized and receive the Emmy, but being able to serve Houstonians and keep them informed through the years was the most rewarding thing.
“For people to have come to trust me, to look to me to guide them through the most severe of weather was truly an honor, absolutely, could not have asked for a better job, in a better market, with better people, it just all came together for me and I was very, very fortunate,” he said.
More about the Lone Star Chapter, The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
The statewide Lone Star Chapter serves all 19 television markets in Texas and includes members from TV-related fields including: news and non-news broadcasting; production; postproduction; education; advertising; and public relations.
The Lone Star Chapter is committed to encouraging and recognizing high levels of professional achievement through the annual presentation of the prestigious regional EMMY® Awards.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences was founded in 1957. It is dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the distinguished EMMY® Award.