### Fox Weather Meteorologist Becomes Hero During Hurricane Helene Coverage

In an unexpected turn of events, Fox Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen found himself more than just a reporter during Hurricane Helene’s assault on Atlanta early Friday. While covering the severe weather conditions, Van Dillen heroically rescued a woman trapped in her car as floodwaters rapidly rose around her, all caught on live TV.

Van Dillen was on location to report on the flood risks faced by Atlanta's residents, who were bracing for the life-threatening impacts of rising waters from Peachtree Creek. During his coverage, he heard the desperate cries of a motorist trapped by the flood. “I just put the microphone down and called 911,” Van Dillen explained, knowing that emergency services were already stretched thin. As precious minutes ticked by and waters continued to climb, he decided to take action.

Standing 6-foot-1, Van Dillen waded through the chest-deep floodwaters, reaching the woman's car and carrying her to safety. Despite the water being around 80 degrees, Van Dillen remarked, “It’s not cold, but I’m freezing right now,” highlighting the intensity of the moment.

Friday morning saw Atlanta under its first-ever flash flood emergency, recording the heaviest three-day rainfall in 104 years according to Fox. Peachtree Creek was documented at its third-highest level in history. Fortunately, the woman was safely reunited with her husband soon after the rescue, as Van Dillen ensured viewers.

But the focus isn’t just on this rescue. The heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding encapsulate the larger disaster, with at least 42 lives lost across four states due to Helene, now downgraded to a tropical depression. The meteorologist emphasized the extraordinary scale of flooding, stressing that the true story is the immense volume of water inundating Atlanta and beyond.

As the torrential rain subsides, the community is left to recover from what will be remembered as a critical chapter in Atlanta’s weather history.