Reporter Explains Odd Microphone Covering

There were plenty of jokes about practicing safe reporting Wednesday after viewers noticed a condom over Kyla Galer's microphone as she reported from Fort Myers, Florida, for NBC 2. Galer explained on Instagram that she was protecting the equipment from Hurricane Ian, KATU reports. "A lot of people are asking what is on my microphone. It is what you think it is. It's a condom," she said. It helps protect the gear. You can't get these mikes wet. There's a lot of wind and a lot of rain, so we gotta do what we gotta do and that is put a condom on the microphone." Other journalists agreed, with ABC7's Jeff Butera saying there's "nothing better to waterproof a microphone."

An Australian cameraman, meanwhile, is being praised for dropping his camera and rushing to help people seen struggling through floodwaters during a live broadcast from Naples, Florida, Wednesday. The camera kept rollling as Glen Ellis from 7News waded into the water to help several families carrying belongings. "That is our camera operator, Glen, out there," correspondent Tim Lester told Sunrise host David Koch. "I think you can see he is trying to help people who are moving away from their homes." When the cameraman returned, Lester said, "Good job, Glen." (More Hurricane Ian stories.)