October 13, 2024 • 29 mins
Robin talks with longtime Madison TV anchor Christine Bellport, who lost everything to Hurricane Ian while living in Florida, about what it's like to weather a storm of that magnitude.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning. I'm Robin Colbert, and this is Madison Forum.
I guess this morning is a former veteran news anchor
here in Madison. She's now a PR specialist with UW Plattville,
and she's a hurricane survivor and former Florida resident. Good morning,
miss Christine Bellport, my guest this morning. It's such a
pleasure to have you on with me, and we were
(00:22):
just talking before we started up with a program, Christine.
Christine and I are talking on Wednesday of this past week.
Of course, this is right as Hilton or Hilton Milton
is barreling toward Florida, So we don't know just yet
at this time how it's going to play out, but
it's not looking good. Christine, your thoughts, Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Good morning, Robin. My first thought is I'm so glad
to be back in a state I consider home and
have for a long time. But mostly I'm really happy
that I was able to pull my mother out of
the Tampa area and she's with me.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Right now, absolutely, And I'm sure it's just a wait
and see on if she's going to go back or
has anything to go back to, or what's the discussion.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Ben, that's the concern is after I lost my home
to Hurricane in many people who had the wherewithal to
rebuild their homes. It was awful in the Fort Myers
Beach area for at least three months because without power,
there are no stores. Without stores, there's no food, and
(01:28):
the water had to be trucked in. So my concern
with my mother being in the Tampa area is she
flew out of a tiny airport, Saint Pete Clearwater Airport.
I don't know if that's going to be decimated, And
even if she can get back, what is she going
to get back to. Like me, she enjoys food. Yeah,
(01:51):
So I'm just blessed that she's with me right now.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
And I'm going to back it up just a little
bit here, Christine, just in case we have any listeners
that aren't familiar with your name. You were on the
air here in Madison at WMTV morning anchor for how
many years?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
About fifteen years, from two thousand and four to twenty eighteen.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah, so in twenty eighteen you decided to make a
change and get out of the business, and then you
decided to make an even bigger change and go south.
Now you're originally from California.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Right. Yes, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay
Area in California, And when I retired from TV news
in twenty eighteen, I thought, oh, gee, wouldn't it be
interesting to work for Wisconsin Emergency Management. Right after I
began that job, we went right into COVID and then
we had civil unrest with Kenosha and Wabwatosa. I was
(02:46):
there for a few years and met some of the
most hard working, wonderful first responders, and then thought, gee,
I'm really tired of winters. Let's go to Florida and
disaster follows you. Maybe it's you, I think it is. Well,
I always did think everything was all about me.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Well, yeah, and so you and you lived in Wescon
was it fifteen or wasn't even long? Yeah, you lived
in Wisconsin a good twenty years.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Right, I was really happy, Yes, I did. I love
the state. I was looking for a change in my
life and thought, wee Florida.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Yeah. And we've all had that thought a time or two,
especially in the dead of January or February. But we're
reminded right now, and you especially so, having been involved
firsthand and losing just about everything except for your precious pets,
which I'm happy to say have made it through this
whole art ordeal with you. Now, remind me again when
(03:43):
Hurricane Ian was that like two years ago?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, it hit in September twenty ninth of twenty twenty two,
and I've been watching the hurricane and when first responders,
and after being part of Wisconsin Emergency Management, when they
tell you to leave, you leave. So I left with
my pets and I lived on Fort Myers Beach, San
(04:07):
Carlos Island. I thought the wind might be a problem,
but because I had hurricane straps on my home, I thought,
I'll I have be fine. I had no idea my
home would be flooded with over five feet of water.
And it wasn't seawater, it wasn't brackish water, it was sewage.
So I lost everything, I mean everything that I didn't
(04:27):
take I lost.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
And now and it's become a more tedious process to
try and get insurance. Now I remember you had, I mean,
did you get coverage for all this or in the end,
did you lose out? Because I thought you were having
some real issues with trying to get settled up here
with the insurance.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yes, my insurance company considered hurricane in a wind event
even though I had over five feet of water in
my home, and they backed out on me. And I
do note that a national network just did a news
program about just what happened to me, So I don't
think the fight is over yet. But basically I lost
(05:11):
my entire life savings, everything gone because my insurance company.
But I paid a lot of money to backed out
on me, and that was a crushing blow when at
the time, being in my fifties, I thought I've got
the world by the tail, I've rebooted my life. I'm
(05:32):
in a place where I feel good. And then someone
pulls the rug out from under you.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
And thank goodness you have you have a very good
support system in place, with family and friends. I recall
seeing it was kind of like a Where's Waldo, Where's Christine?
You know, having to stay, but thank goodness you had
people that opened up their homes to you into because
you really had nothing.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I never thought I would be homeless in my mid fifties,
I was homeless. But I also want to say I
was shocked at my former viewers in Wisconsin. They had
rallied together. They helped raise money because at the time
(06:16):
I had a dog with an eye ulcer and he's
also a diabetic, so he needed medicine. I of course
had to keep paying car insurance and keep my phone on.
They rallied together, and that is I remember a few times.
It probably was because I was exhausted, but three in
the morning I would see this gofund me grow and
(06:39):
these messages from people I never met, and I would
just cry and laugh at the same time because I
realized I'm not alone. That the most alone I felt
during Hurricane Ian was I evacuated to a hotel that
said they had a generator. They didn't, so with the
diabetic dog, you need to keep going and ogerator. After
(07:01):
the worst of Bean passed, I was in my car,
sitting there, confused, not knowing what to do. I knew
I couldn't get back to the beach. I knew my
home was a gone or without even going there, and
I saw everybody's families, everyone driving away from the hotel
going to safer ground, and I sat there with all
three TETs in my car and just I never have
(07:24):
felt so alone in my life. I couldn't get there
was no phone, so I was texting my sister in
California saying, what are you seeing? Please tell me what
do I do? The phone lines didn't work. It was
I'm just sitting alone in my car thinking, oh my gosh.
And I just know that people are going to be
facing this with Milton, and it's just gut wrenching.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
It's almost got to be a bit of PTSD, you know.
I mean, yes, every year hurricane season. But boy, I
tell you, I'm no scientists, but I have eyes and
ears and over the past few years, not to say
there haven't been biggies, obviously there have been, Andrew, you
name it, but it seems like it's just really intensified.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Oh, it definitely has. And the PTSD is a real thing.
I mean, even just talking, my eyes were watering, just
because it takes you right back. But I know I'm safe,
but I just grieve for people who have just in fact,
my former pastor of my church on Fort Myers Beach,
he and his wife they just put their home back
(08:33):
together from Ian Yes, it took two years, and there
they are evacuated to Miami, thinking, oh my gosh, now
what and PTSD is a real thing for all of us, sure,
but I'm safe. I'm up in a beautiful city, yes,
in a wonderful state with my dogs and my cat
and my mother, and.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
We're going to get to because I don't want to
bury the lead. You're back in Wisconsin. You've got a
great job with uw f Platvil, but with the hurricanes,
just the intensity and what's been going on your real
life experience is actually, I think an eye opener for
some people, just as far as what somebody goes through.
You know, here in Wisconsin we're so removed from it.
(09:16):
Maybe we'll get some precipitation headed our way or some
sort of remnants from a hurricane, but we don't know
anything what that is really like. Granted we have our tornadoes,
but still in all the years in Wisconsin dealing whether
you're covering tornado coverage Christine, or seeing the aftermath of
like Stonton, it's a whole different ballgame. I'm guessing with
this type of disaster, it is.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
And it's interesting though, even someone I met a woman
while I was at a dog park last week. She
and her husband lost their homes to a home fire.
Now I have a real footing in what that feels
like when all of your life. Everything you've sunk into
your life is just gone. So it just gives me
(09:57):
an empathy that I don't don't think I ever really understood.
As a reporter. You can do the furled brow when
you're standing out in front of when I was a
reporter in San Diego in front of burned out homes
from the California wildfires, But when you really have experienced it,
you know what that family is about to go through,
(10:18):
taking taking on the insurance companies, trying to get federal assistance.
It is one thing to survive a natural disaster or
any kind of a disaster. It is another thing. You
need real wherewithal to apply for aid and take that
next step into whatever the unknown it is. That's even
(10:42):
harder than surviving a disaster, I believe probably.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
So yeah, it's exhausting just to think while you know,
while your whole life has collapsed, life goes on and
you still have those those phone bills, a diabetic net,
gas for your car. I mean, you can't just press
pause on all that stuff. So how was the process
in getting aid because obviously insurance doesn't just kind of
(11:07):
check like that, And as we hear from you, you
really had that, you really got the shaft. So how
do you how do you get that immediate help?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Well, uh, I think Wisconsin I the GoFundMe. I will
say that first and foremost. And I'm not just saying
it because I'm on the radio back in Wisconsin. I
mean it. They threw me a lifeline. Even some people
just being able to donate five dollars. Guess what that
bought my dog a can of food. But I moved.
(11:36):
I believe it was five times in three weeks with
three pets, because you're I was just bouncing from place
to place, home to home. But I will say this,
if anyone is in a disaster, and I want to
be careful saying this, Steena, get right online if you
(11:56):
can find a computer, and you have got to start
applying for for that federal aid right after a disaster.
That's number one. And then once FEMA opens up what
they call Disaster Recovery Centers, you'll see it on their
website VRC go in person. My issue was at the
time I was calling the one eight hundred number and
(12:17):
I kept getting different answers from different people because of
course they're from they're volunteers and FEMA is wonderful. These
people were deployed from their homes to the state of Florida.
Try to try to help me. But if anyone is
in a disaster and anyone's listening, find a disaster recovery
center and go there in person. But the most important
thing is get online and apply for aid. The toughest
(12:40):
thing for me was when I started to apply for aid.
To even get assistance, I had to go through a
totally separate Small Business Association loan application and first get
turned down for that before I could even get help.
And so here I am. I have no money in
my bank account, I don't know where my stocks and
(13:00):
bonds information is on my car loan information, and I'm
applying for an aid I have to be turned down
for just so I could get to that next step.
It is excruciatingly painful, exhausting and disheartening. And I didn't
mean to turn this interview to this. There are a
lot of good people in FEMA. There are a lot
of wonderful first responders. It is the process is flawed
(13:24):
as it stands right now.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Yeah, yeah, a government can be government's own worst enemy.
With all that you know, the best of intentions and
you pile up that red tape and that just sounds
like a fiasco, ridiculous fiasco. First you have to apply
for an SBA. It's knowing that you're going to get
to What the hell that makes no sense to me?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
But it doesn't. And I will say this was two
years ago. I don't know what the process is like,
but I have a feeling it's the same process. And
it is self frustrating to be online three in the morning.
I would just sit there and I just you hadn't
slept for three four days. I would go into the
bathroom and cry because I didn't want to upset my dogs. Uh,
(14:06):
it was just but there it was my GoFundMe and
notes from people I never met, saying you can do this,
keep going. Becky Brown, a friend of mine with brown
paws dog. My husband and I we own a condo
in Dunedin. I read it as doomed in Florida. You
(14:27):
can stay there for three weeks before we have renters
come because they already signed up for renters. Thank god,
I rolled up to h Dunedin and I was able
to stay there and really start driving back down to
disaster recovery Centers, which of course wasn't convenient because I
didn't want to go back down to Fort Myers. But
(14:49):
you do what you have to do.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, you find the stringth somehow, but jeez too.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
And looking back at it, I just I shake my head.
But really, and I think, and I talked to him
mother about this. During that period of time, you're just
in autopilot. You're in survivor mode. And I will say,
you find out what you're made of when that happens,
you just you just get it done. And I can't
imagine I have pets. Can you imagine with people with children?
Speaker 1 (15:17):
No young babies? And no, I can't.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
I can't. But the Wisconsin I's from Becky Brown to
a lot of other people. They were there for me.
Denny of Denny's Jeweler in Middleton, Beverly Denney let me
stay at her place on Treasure Island for a few days. Wow,
I mean this people, people came out of the woodwork.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Well I would have let you stayed if I only
had ocean front property in Florida, which that's that's a dream.
Maybe not in Florida anymore. But so so you were
finding your your footing, Christine But then were you thinking
in the back of your head at that time, your
mind at that time, that you know what, I don't know,
(16:01):
Florida we might be over. When did you decide or
was it just a new position opened up? Or what
brought you back to Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Well, I'll tell you I never thought of leaving Florida
because I'm just not a quitter. I just keep going
until I realized, okay, time to go. I tumbled up
to dun Eden, which is the suburb of the Tampa
Bay Area. And I will be honest with you. I
felt very blessed to end up in a beautiful city,
(16:30):
but I never would have chosen Tampa for myself. It's
a big city, it's crowded, there's traffic. I tried to
make it work my best friend, who owns an interior
design company in Los Angeles. I worked for her from home,
but I was so lonely. I'm a social person.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Yes, if listeners couldn't tell, yes, she's very social. And
that's why you had so many people. You know, what
if you were some you know, diva jerk. You want
to see the response to your.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Plight, Oh well, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
But I.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Just realized, I am I'm not happy, and I think
you can get to a point where it is okay,
especially women, it is okay to say I'm not happy,
this isn't working, and you can, you know, put your
big girl pants on and move on. So I told
(17:30):
my mother and I told my SISTERSS that I think
I want to go home to Wisconsin. So I hopped
on the Indeed job website and I saw this job
at uw Platviill And I've always loved the Dristless area,
and I knew I've of course loved Wisconsin. I didn't
necessarily want to complete do over of my life in Wisconsin.
(17:53):
I kind of felt like I wanted a new challenge.
Turn the page. As I was reading this job description
for uw PLATFIL, I was like, this is me. This
is all writing press releases, this is all being part
of the emergency response in any disaster. I had the
(18:15):
WHIM Wisconsin Emergency Management training. I get to write articles
for uw PLATFIL, which is on our website under the
news icon. I get to showcase the college town and
be in a place where there's a heartbeat. I applied,
and I think it was just a couple days later,
I started that interview process and within a week I
(18:36):
got the job. And I know it was meant to be.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
It sounds it sounds that especially, you know, and I'm
awesome a woman in my fifties. And listen to your gut, ladies,
and your gut probably told you this fits.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Yes, I knew it right when I read the job description,
I thought, oh my goodness, and they called. I had
a wonderful interview. It was online on Zoom, of course,
and I just I immediately, let's put it this way,
when I did the Zoom interview with everyone, I didn't
put on a fancy top and seven hundred pounds of makeup.
I thought, I just put on a nice shirt, a
(19:11):
little bit of makeup, and it just felt right. It
felt comfortable, and it was a fit. And man, do
I love the city of Platform fits me like a globe.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
See now, I was gonna initially when getting prepared to
talk to you here, Madison a big city compared to Platville.
It's not like Tampa or I wasn't sure if you
were a big city. You've lived in bigger cities throughout
your career, your television career, so I didn't really know.
I know you liked the country and lakes and all
the natural areas. I was wondering, boys, Platfield going to
(19:47):
be too small for you? Or is this just the
right like Goldilocks the right.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
It is the right fit. And I'll tell you why.
There is a heartbeat in this community with the college kids,
of course, but even on the off season, we still
have industry here, businesses. Main Street is lively. The city
is just what you would think of a city that
(20:13):
was founded in you know, eighteen twenty nine. You still
have these beautiful historic buildings, but you've got these really
cool stores in these historic buildings. And the campus is gorgeous.
I grew up in right over the hills from Berkeley,
and you see, Berkeley's a beautiful campus. I was shocked
(20:34):
what the campus of UW platform looks like. It is gorgeous.
You have a mixture of historic buildings and really new buildings.
You know, we have a twenty two thousand square foot
innovation center where you can do robotics, metalworking, woodworking. The
university is incredible. It's known for, of course, agriculture, engineering,
(21:00):
criminal justice, and forensic investigation. I had no idea the
kinds of stories I would be writing because of the
quality of the university. And I'm not just saying it
because this is where I work, because I don't I
don't like to tell FIBs. I'm not gonna lie. I'm
busy all the time because I find these stories. It's
(21:21):
an affordable school. We have a crime scene house outside
of campus. Oh, you do see.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
I did know that. I knew, uh criminal justice. I've
known people over the years that that platform seemed to
be the go to. I didn't realize you had that
set up.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Well. Oh, we have the only crime scene investigation house
I believe in the entire region.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
And we have law enforcement officials who are current and
former as professors who will set up death investigation scenes mirroring,
mirroring some of the ones that they have seen. And
there are two way mirrors and they stand and watch
the students come in and enter the scene. And in
any medical death investigation, entering the scene is paramount to
(22:03):
solving the case. And this is where our students learn.
And oh, by the way, we have all the property
around what we call the Fishhouse forensic investigation crime scene
house where we can do decomposition studies. And the only
thing I think near to that is in Tennessee the
(22:23):
well known Body Force.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Yeah, BODYFID I remember or seen I don't know, one
of the crime shows, and I was just I was drawn,
but yet really freaked out by it. But I'd imagine
that's I mean, so hands on and so vital.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
You want to solve crimes, this is what you've got
to do. And we have the only medical death investigation
as an emphasis in the entire country. We're the only
I mean, look at now, you've got me going, sister. Uh,
We're the only public institution that offers in the state
of Wisconsin BSD in forensic investigation. We have I think
(22:57):
seven or eight UW Platfell grads work in the forensic
Investigation department in Milwaukee. It's if you like CSI and
this is a career you want to go into, go
to Platfell. Well.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
And you're fortunate because I'm sure you're well aware some
of the UW institutions been having a time of it.
But you know, Madison always enrollment is always up, and
Platfell is another one where you're seeing continuous enrollment growth.
So that's good.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Yeah, we're doing really well, and especially if you want
an affordable education. I wrote a fun story about our
agriculture department. We have three high tech machines to gauge
cowherd health. One is something that measures cow verbs that
got a lot of media attention recently. So I had
(23:48):
no clue. Over an hour away from Madison this incredible
learning environment associated with the universities of Wisconsin. I'm lucky,
and I know it.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
And you appreciate it, I can tell. And that's another thing.
Some people don't appreciate the gifts that they have, and
you sure do.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
And I have to say I was talking to my mom.
I said, Mom, I didn't go through what I went
through with Ian and then two years struggling in Tampa alone.
I don't know if I would completely appreciate what I have.
I have a couch that my bottom is sitting on
right now, and guess what I own it. It is
the most wonderful thing because I rented a fully furnished
(24:29):
place in the Tampa area. I walk out on the
street in a city that I love. I go to
work to a job I love with people who are
good and they actually care. It's just like what I
had at Wisconsin Emergency Management or at NBC fifteen. I
didn't ever think I was going to feel this way again.
(24:51):
And I'm so glad that I just kept pushing and
God answered my prayers. And I'm a firm believer in that.
Just keep going, just keep going. It's tough, it's awful,
it's ugly when you go through tough times, but just
keep going. It will get better.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
And are you going to let your mom go back
or I mean, your mom's fully capable of making her
own decisions.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean she's almost ninety years
old and she is still the boss of me. I
will tell you that. But she has all of her friends,
She lives in this awesome she's independent living because she's
oh line dancing, zoomba on the dining committee, goes to
the beer club, the wine club. God bless her. I
(25:36):
want her life.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed that she has a
place then to go back to. It sounds like mom's
very independent like you are, and she does have a life.
It's you know, waiting.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
First becomes what is she going to go back to? Yeah?
I know that I know where she lives. The campus
is built well it'll be fine. But will there be food,
will there be power? Will there be life? Eventually those
food runs out, clean water runs out. This was the
problem that Fort Myers Beach faced. So I'm going to
wait and see mode with her. She was supposed to
(26:10):
fly home in two weeks. But will the Saint Pete
Clearwater Airport be there?
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
And I have to tell you I would be just
as happy as she stayed. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Oh, it's always It doesn't matter how old you are.
If you you have your mom nearby, that's pretty awesome.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
One.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Yeah, sounds like it got a good one. Now I'm
actually we're coming up here just like two minutes. Listeners,
Just reminding who I've been speaking with. A long time
veteran news anchor at a WMTV here in Madison. I
want to say NBC fifteen to two, but they had
a little switch for many years, and now is a
(26:49):
PR specialist with u W Plantfill Christine Bellport. Of course,
she is a survivor from Hurricane Ian. Lost everything with
the exception, thank goodness, of her beloved pets. But you
went through it and then some and now has found
her way back to what she calls home here in Wisconsin.
So when you're thinking, when you're all settled in and
life goes on and sometimes memories fade, will you ever
(27:13):
you'll go visit Florida again, I'm guessing, well, you have to.
If your mom's there, I will have to stay.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
That is nineteen gallons of no. I have broken up
with floor. Really, I will continue to fly my mother
up here. Florida and I we have ended. We have
mutually agreed to part ways. Okay, well, and I say
go and live where the hiking is best and the
(27:40):
dogs can swim in any body of water. That would
be the state of Wisconsin my home. And I love
all the small towns around the southwest area of the state.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Oh my gosh, you're one of my favorite little towns.
There is Mineral Point, not at all very far from you.
That place is so cool, and I just it's funny
you see it with as an adult as compared to
when when I was a kid. You know, I grew
up in southern Wisconsin. We went to like shake reg Alley,
and you know all the little yeah school field trip
(28:10):
sites which are really cool but actually seen just the
landscape and the big hills and it's just gorgeous.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Oh my gosh, Darlington, Scholbern, Cassville, Potosi, I places I
never thought of spending any time in. I'm so glad
I live here. It's like it's like a whole different
state and a whole different experience. Beautiful area, beautiful country here.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
So now, be honest, are you gonna mid January? Are
you going to be grumping about the cold and snow?
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Absolutely, you know it. But I already got I've already
I went on I think it was thread up and
you know those resale sites. I got my sweaters and
pants ready again. But I think Wisconsin always had in
my heart. Yeah, so you take the good with the
(29:01):
not so good, and you just suggest.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Well it is. Thank you so much for joining me
this morning. It has been a pleasure getting just a
wonderful update on what's been going on in your life.
And I'm so happy to hear things are going in
the right direction. Continue to do so. And yes, I'm
sure Wisconsin. It's your friends. Your former viewers are just
(29:24):
thrilled to have you back.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
They've been great, and they've been supported and even worried
about my mother, who they didn't know if she was
up here or not, and that means a lot when
they not only care about me, they care about something
that's important to me, my mom.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Yep, absolutely and we'll leave it there. Thanks again. Christine Bellport,
my guest this morning. You've been listening to Madison for him.
Good morning. I'm Robin Colbert, and this is Madison Forum.
I guess this morning is a former veteran news anchor
here in Madison. She's now a PR specialist with UW Plattville,
and she's a hurricane survivor and former Florida resident. Good morning,
miss Christine Bellport, my guest this morning. It's such a
pleasure to have you on with me, and we were
(00:22):
just talking before we started up with a program, Christine.
Christine and I are talking on Wednesday of this past week.
Of course, this is right as Hilton or Hilton Milton
is barreling toward Florida, So we don't know just yet
at this time how it's going to play out, but
it's not looking good. Christine, your thoughts, Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Good morning, Robin. My first thought is I'm so glad
to be back in a state I consider home and
have for a long time. But mostly I'm really happy
that I was able to pull my mother out of
the Tampa area and she's with me.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Right now, absolutely, And I'm sure it's just a wait
and see on if she's going to go back or
has anything to go back to, or what's the discussion.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Ben, that's the concern is after I lost my home
to Hurricane in many people who had the wherewithal to
rebuild their homes. It was awful in the Fort Myers
Beach area for at least three months because without power,
there are no stores. Without stores, there's no food, and
(01:28):
the water had to be trucked in. So my concern
with my mother being in the Tampa area is she
flew out of a tiny airport, Saint Pete Clearwater Airport.
I don't know if that's going to be decimated, And
even if she can get back, what is she going
to get back to. Like me, she enjoys food. Yeah,
(01:51):
So I'm just blessed that she's with me right now.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
And I'm going to back it up just a little
bit here, Christine, just in case we have any listeners
that aren't familiar with your name. You were on the
air here in Madison at WMTV morning anchor for how
many years?
Speaker 2 (02:08):
About fifteen years, from two thousand and four to twenty eighteen.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah, so in twenty eighteen you decided to make a
change and get out of the business, and then you
decided to make an even bigger change and go south.
Now you're originally from California.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Right. Yes, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay
Area in California, And when I retired from TV news
in twenty eighteen, I thought, oh, gee, wouldn't it be
interesting to work for Wisconsin Emergency Management. Right after I
began that job, we went right into COVID and then
we had civil unrest with Kenosha and Wabwatosa. I was
(02:46):
there for a few years and met some of the
most hard working, wonderful first responders, and then thought, gee,
I'm really tired of winters. Let's go to Florida and
disaster follows you. Maybe it's you, I think it is. Well,
I always did think everything was all about me.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Well, yeah, and so you and you lived in Wescon
was it fifteen or wasn't even long? Yeah, you lived
in Wisconsin a good twenty years.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Right, I was really happy, Yes, I did. I love
the state. I was looking for a change in my
life and thought, wee Florida.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
Yeah. And we've all had that thought a time or two,
especially in the dead of January or February. But we're
reminded right now, and you especially so, having been involved
firsthand and losing just about everything except for your precious pets,
which I'm happy to say have made it through this
whole art ordeal with you. Now, remind me again when
(03:43):
Hurricane Ian was that like two years ago?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
Yeah, it hit in September twenty ninth of twenty twenty two,
and I've been watching the hurricane and when first responders,
and after being part of Wisconsin Emergency Management, when they
tell you to leave, you leave. So I left with
my pets and I lived on Fort Myers Beach, San
(04:07):
Carlos Island. I thought the wind might be a problem,
but because I had hurricane straps on my home, I thought,
I'll I have be fine. I had no idea my
home would be flooded with over five feet of water.
And it wasn't seawater, it wasn't brackish water, it was sewage.
So I lost everything, I mean everything that I didn't
(04:27):
take I lost.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
And now and it's become a more tedious process to
try and get insurance. Now I remember you had, I mean,
did you get coverage for all this or in the end,
did you lose out? Because I thought you were having
some real issues with trying to get settled up here
with the insurance.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yes, my insurance company considered hurricane in a wind event
even though I had over five feet of water in
my home, and they backed out on me. And I
do note that a national network just did a news
program about just what happened to me, So I don't
think the fight is over yet. But basically I lost
(05:11):
my entire life savings, everything gone because my insurance company.
But I paid a lot of money to backed out
on me, and that was a crushing blow when at
the time, being in my fifties, I thought I've got
the world by the tail, I've rebooted my life. I'm
(05:32):
in a place where I feel good. And then someone
pulls the rug out from under you.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
And thank goodness you have you have a very good
support system in place, with family and friends. I recall
seeing it was kind of like a Where's Waldo, Where's Christine?
You know, having to stay, but thank goodness you had
people that opened up their homes to you into because
you really had nothing.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I never thought I would be homeless in my mid fifties,
I was homeless. But I also want to say I
was shocked at my former viewers in Wisconsin. They had
rallied together. They helped raise money because at the time
(06:16):
I had a dog with an eye ulcer and he's
also a diabetic, so he needed medicine. I of course
had to keep paying car insurance and keep my phone on.
They rallied together, and that is I remember a few times.
It probably was because I was exhausted, but three in
the morning I would see this gofund me grow and
(06:39):
these messages from people I never met, and I would
just cry and laugh at the same time because I
realized I'm not alone. That the most alone I felt
during Hurricane Ian was I evacuated to a hotel that
said they had a generator. They didn't, so with the
diabetic dog, you need to keep going and ogerator. After
(07:01):
the worst of Bean passed, I was in my car,
sitting there, confused, not knowing what to do. I knew
I couldn't get back to the beach. I knew my
home was a gone or without even going there, and
I saw everybody's families, everyone driving away from the hotel
going to safer ground, and I sat there with all
three TETs in my car and just I never have
(07:24):
felt so alone in my life. I couldn't get there
was no phone, so I was texting my sister in
California saying, what are you seeing? Please tell me what
do I do? The phone lines didn't work. It was
I'm just sitting alone in my car thinking, oh my gosh.
And I just know that people are going to be
facing this with Milton, and it's just gut wrenching.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
It's almost got to be a bit of PTSD, you know.
I mean, yes, every year hurricane season. But boy, I
tell you, I'm no scientists, but I have eyes and
ears and over the past few years, not to say
there haven't been biggies, obviously there have been, Andrew, you
name it, but it seems like it's just really intensified.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Oh, it definitely has. And the PTSD is a real thing.
I mean, even just talking, my eyes were watering, just
because it takes you right back. But I know I'm safe,
but I just grieve for people who have just in fact,
my former pastor of my church on Fort Myers Beach,
he and his wife they just put their home back
(08:33):
together from Ian Yes, it took two years, and there
they are evacuated to Miami, thinking, oh my gosh, now
what and PTSD is a real thing for all of us, sure,
but I'm safe. I'm up in a beautiful city, yes,
in a wonderful state with my dogs and my cat
and my mother, and.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
We're going to get to because I don't want to
bury the lead. You're back in Wisconsin. You've got a
great job with uw f Platvil, but with the hurricanes,
just the intensity and what's been going on your real
life experience is actually, I think an eye opener for
some people, just as far as what somebody goes through.
You know, here in Wisconsin we're so removed from it.
(09:16):
Maybe we'll get some precipitation headed our way or some
sort of remnants from a hurricane, but we don't know
anything what that is really like. Granted we have our tornadoes,
but still in all the years in Wisconsin dealing whether
you're covering tornado coverage Christine, or seeing the aftermath of
like Stonton, it's a whole different ballgame. I'm guessing with
this type of disaster, it is.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
And it's interesting though, even someone I met a woman
while I was at a dog park last week. She
and her husband lost their homes to a home fire.
Now I have a real footing in what that feels
like when all of your life. Everything you've sunk into
your life is just gone. So it just gives me
(09:57):
an empathy that I don't don't think I ever really understood.
As a reporter. You can do the furled brow when
you're standing out in front of when I was a
reporter in San Diego in front of burned out homes
from the California wildfires, But when you really have experienced it,
you know what that family is about to go through,
(10:18):
taking taking on the insurance companies, trying to get federal assistance.
It is one thing to survive a natural disaster or
any kind of a disaster. It is another thing. You
need real wherewithal to apply for aid and take that
next step into whatever the unknown it is. That's even
(10:42):
harder than surviving a disaster, I believe probably.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
So yeah, it's exhausting just to think while you know,
while your whole life has collapsed, life goes on and
you still have those those phone bills, a diabetic net,
gas for your car. I mean, you can't just press
pause on all that stuff. So how was the process
in getting aid because obviously insurance doesn't just kind of
(11:07):
check like that, And as we hear from you, you
really had that, you really got the shaft. So how
do you how do you get that immediate help?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Well, uh, I think Wisconsin I the GoFundMe. I will
say that first and foremost. And I'm not just saying
it because I'm on the radio back in Wisconsin. I
mean it. They threw me a lifeline. Even some people
just being able to donate five dollars. Guess what that
bought my dog a can of food. But I moved.
(11:36):
I believe it was five times in three weeks with
three pets, because you're I was just bouncing from place
to place, home to home. But I will say this,
if anyone is in a disaster, and I want to
be careful saying this, Steena, get right online if you
(11:56):
can find a computer, and you have got to start
applying for for that federal aid right after a disaster.
That's number one. And then once FEMA opens up what
they call Disaster Recovery Centers, you'll see it on their
website VRC go in person. My issue was at the
time I was calling the one eight hundred number and
(12:17):
I kept getting different answers from different people because of
course they're from they're volunteers and FEMA is wonderful. These
people were deployed from their homes to the state of Florida.
Try to try to help me. But if anyone is
in a disaster and anyone's listening, find a disaster recovery
center and go there in person. But the most important
thing is get online and apply for aid. The toughest
(12:40):
thing for me was when I started to apply for aid.
To even get assistance, I had to go through a
totally separate Small Business Association loan application and first get
turned down for that before I could even get help.
And so here I am. I have no money in
my bank account, I don't know where my stocks and
(13:00):
bonds information is on my car loan information, and I'm
applying for an aid I have to be turned down
for just so I could get to that next step.
It is excruciatingly painful, exhausting and disheartening. And I didn't
mean to turn this interview to this. There are a
lot of good people in FEMA. There are a lot
of wonderful first responders. It is the process is flawed
(13:24):
as it stands right now.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Yeah, yeah, a government can be government's own worst enemy.
With all that you know, the best of intentions and
you pile up that red tape and that just sounds
like a fiasco, ridiculous fiasco. First you have to apply
for an SBA. It's knowing that you're going to get
to What the hell that makes no sense to me?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
But it doesn't. And I will say this was two
years ago. I don't know what the process is like,
but I have a feeling it's the same process. And
it is self frustrating to be online three in the morning.
I would just sit there and I just you hadn't
slept for three four days. I would go into the
bathroom and cry because I didn't want to upset my dogs. Uh,
(14:06):
it was just but there it was my GoFundMe and
notes from people I never met, saying you can do this,
keep going. Becky Brown, a friend of mine with brown
paws dog. My husband and I we own a condo
in Dunedin. I read it as doomed in Florida. You
(14:27):
can stay there for three weeks before we have renters
come because they already signed up for renters. Thank god,
I rolled up to h Dunedin and I was able
to stay there and really start driving back down to
disaster recovery Centers, which of course wasn't convenient because I
didn't want to go back down to Fort Myers. But
(14:49):
you do what you have to do.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, you find the stringth somehow, but jeez too.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
And looking back at it, I just I shake my head.
But really, and I think, and I talked to him
mother about this. During that period of time, you're just
in autopilot. You're in survivor mode. And I will say,
you find out what you're made of when that happens,
you just you just get it done. And I can't
imagine I have pets. Can you imagine with people with children?
Speaker 1 (15:17):
No young babies? And no, I can't.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
I can't. But the Wisconsin I's from Becky Brown to
a lot of other people. They were there for me.
Denny of Denny's Jeweler in Middleton, Beverly Denney let me
stay at her place on Treasure Island for a few days. Wow,
I mean this people, people came out of the woodwork.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Well I would have let you stayed if I only
had ocean front property in Florida, which that's that's a dream.
Maybe not in Florida anymore. But so so you were
finding your your footing, Christine But then were you thinking
in the back of your head at that time, your
mind at that time, that you know what, I don't know,
(16:01):
Florida we might be over. When did you decide or
was it just a new position opened up? Or what
brought you back to Wisconsin.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Well, I'll tell you I never thought of leaving Florida
because I'm just not a quitter. I just keep going
until I realized, okay, time to go. I tumbled up
to dun Eden, which is the suburb of the Tampa
Bay Area. And I will be honest with you. I
felt very blessed to end up in a beautiful city,
(16:30):
but I never would have chosen Tampa for myself. It's
a big city, it's crowded, there's traffic. I tried to
make it work my best friend, who owns an interior
design company in Los Angeles. I worked for her from home,
but I was so lonely. I'm a social person.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Yes, if listeners couldn't tell, yes, she's very social. And
that's why you had so many people. You know, what
if you were some you know, diva jerk. You want
to see the response to your.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Plight, Oh well, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
But I.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Just realized, I am I'm not happy, and I think
you can get to a point where it is okay,
especially women, it is okay to say I'm not happy,
this isn't working, and you can, you know, put your
big girl pants on and move on. So I told
(17:30):
my mother and I told my SISTERSS that I think
I want to go home to Wisconsin. So I hopped
on the Indeed job website and I saw this job
at uw Platviill And I've always loved the Dristless area,
and I knew I've of course loved Wisconsin. I didn't
necessarily want to complete do over of my life in Wisconsin.
(17:53):
I kind of felt like I wanted a new challenge.
Turn the page. As I was reading this job description
for uw PLATFIL, I was like, this is me. This
is all writing press releases, this is all being part
of the emergency response in any disaster. I had the
(18:15):
WHIM Wisconsin Emergency Management training. I get to write articles
for uw PLATFIL, which is on our website under the
news icon. I get to showcase the college town and
be in a place where there's a heartbeat. I applied,
and I think it was just a couple days later,
I started that interview process and within a week I
(18:36):
got the job. And I know it was meant to be.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
It sounds it sounds that especially, you know, and I'm
awesome a woman in my fifties. And listen to your gut, ladies,
and your gut probably told you this fits.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Yes, I knew it right when I read the job description,
I thought, oh my goodness, and they called. I had
a wonderful interview. It was online on Zoom, of course,
and I just I immediately, let's put it this way,
when I did the Zoom interview with everyone, I didn't
put on a fancy top and seven hundred pounds of makeup.
I thought, I just put on a nice shirt, a
(19:11):
little bit of makeup, and it just felt right. It
felt comfortable, and it was a fit. And man, do
I love the city of Platform fits me like a globe.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
See now, I was gonna initially when getting prepared to
talk to you here, Madison a big city compared to Platville.
It's not like Tampa or I wasn't sure if you
were a big city. You've lived in bigger cities throughout
your career, your television career, so I didn't really know.
I know you liked the country and lakes and all
the natural areas. I was wondering, boys, Platfield going to
(19:47):
be too small for you? Or is this just the
right like Goldilocks the right.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
It is the right fit. And I'll tell you why.
There is a heartbeat in this community with the college kids,
of course, but even on the off season, we still
have industry here, businesses. Main Street is lively. The city
is just what you would think of a city that
(20:13):
was founded in you know, eighteen twenty nine. You still
have these beautiful historic buildings, but you've got these really
cool stores in these historic buildings. And the campus is gorgeous.
I grew up in right over the hills from Berkeley,
and you see, Berkeley's a beautiful campus. I was shocked
(20:34):
what the campus of UW platform looks like. It is gorgeous.
You have a mixture of historic buildings and really new buildings.
You know, we have a twenty two thousand square foot
innovation center where you can do robotics, metalworking, woodworking. The
university is incredible. It's known for, of course, agriculture, engineering,
(21:00):
criminal justice, and forensic investigation. I had no idea the
kinds of stories I would be writing because of the
quality of the university. And I'm not just saying it
because this is where I work, because I don't I
don't like to tell FIBs. I'm not gonna lie. I'm
busy all the time because I find these stories. It's
(21:21):
an affordable school. We have a crime scene house outside
of campus. Oh, you do see.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
I did know that. I knew, uh criminal justice. I've
known people over the years that that platform seemed to
be the go to. I didn't realize you had that
set up.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Well. Oh, we have the only crime scene investigation house
I believe in the entire region.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
And we have law enforcement officials who are current and
former as professors who will set up death investigation scenes mirroring,
mirroring some of the ones that they have seen. And
there are two way mirrors and they stand and watch
the students come in and enter the scene. And in
any medical death investigation, entering the scene is paramount to
(22:03):
solving the case. And this is where our students learn.
And oh, by the way, we have all the property
around what we call the Fishhouse forensic investigation crime scene
house where we can do decomposition studies. And the only
thing I think near to that is in Tennessee the
(22:23):
well known Body Force.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
Yeah, BODYFID I remember or seen I don't know, one
of the crime shows, and I was just I was drawn,
but yet really freaked out by it. But I'd imagine
that's I mean, so hands on and so vital.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
You want to solve crimes, this is what you've got
to do. And we have the only medical death investigation
as an emphasis in the entire country. We're the only
I mean, look at now, you've got me going, sister. Uh,
We're the only public institution that offers in the state
of Wisconsin BSD in forensic investigation. We have I think
(22:57):
seven or eight UW Platfell grads work in the forensic
Investigation department in Milwaukee. It's if you like CSI and
this is a career you want to go into, go
to Platfell. Well.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
And you're fortunate because I'm sure you're well aware some
of the UW institutions been having a time of it.
But you know, Madison always enrollment is always up, and
Platfell is another one where you're seeing continuous enrollment growth.
So that's good.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
Yeah, we're doing really well, and especially if you want
an affordable education. I wrote a fun story about our
agriculture department. We have three high tech machines to gauge
cowherd health. One is something that measures cow verbs that
got a lot of media attention recently. So I had
(23:48):
no clue. Over an hour away from Madison this incredible
learning environment associated with the universities of Wisconsin. I'm lucky,
and I know it.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
And you appreciate it, I can tell. And that's another thing.
Some people don't appreciate the gifts that they have, and
you sure do.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
And I have to say I was talking to my mom.
I said, Mom, I didn't go through what I went
through with Ian and then two years struggling in Tampa alone.
I don't know if I would completely appreciate what I have.
I have a couch that my bottom is sitting on
right now, and guess what I own it. It is
the most wonderful thing because I rented a fully furnished
(24:29):
place in the Tampa area. I walk out on the
street in a city that I love. I go to
work to a job I love with people who are
good and they actually care. It's just like what I
had at Wisconsin Emergency Management or at NBC fifteen. I
didn't ever think I was going to feel this way again.
(24:51):
And I'm so glad that I just kept pushing and
God answered my prayers. And I'm a firm believer in that.
Just keep going, just keep going. It's tough, it's awful,
it's ugly when you go through tough times, but just
keep going. It will get better.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
And are you going to let your mom go back
or I mean, your mom's fully capable of making her
own decisions.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean she's almost ninety years
old and she is still the boss of me. I
will tell you that. But she has all of her friends,
She lives in this awesome she's independent living because she's
oh line dancing, zoomba on the dining committee, goes to
the beer club, the wine club. God bless her. I
(25:36):
want her life.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed that she has a
place then to go back to. It sounds like mom's
very independent like you are, and she does have a life.
It's you know, waiting.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
First becomes what is she going to go back to? Yeah?
I know that I know where she lives. The campus
is built well it'll be fine. But will there be food,
will there be power? Will there be life? Eventually those
food runs out, clean water runs out. This was the
problem that Fort Myers Beach faced. So I'm going to
wait and see mode with her. She was supposed to
(26:10):
fly home in two weeks. But will the Saint Pete
Clearwater Airport be there?
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
And I have to tell you I would be just
as happy as she stayed. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Oh, it's always It doesn't matter how old you are.
If you you have your mom nearby, that's pretty awesome.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
One.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
Yeah, sounds like it got a good one. Now I'm
actually we're coming up here just like two minutes. Listeners,
Just reminding who I've been speaking with. A long time
veteran news anchor at a WMTV here in Madison. I
want to say NBC fifteen to two, but they had
a little switch for many years, and now is a
(26:49):
PR specialist with u W Plantfill Christine Bellport. Of course,
she is a survivor from Hurricane Ian. Lost everything with
the exception, thank goodness, of her beloved pets. But you
went through it and then some and now has found
her way back to what she calls home here in Wisconsin.
So when you're thinking, when you're all settled in and
life goes on and sometimes memories fade, will you ever
(27:13):
you'll go visit Florida again, I'm guessing, well, you have to.
If your mom's there, I will have to stay.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
That is nineteen gallons of no. I have broken up
with floor. Really, I will continue to fly my mother
up here. Florida and I we have ended. We have
mutually agreed to part ways. Okay, well, and I say
go and live where the hiking is best and the
(27:40):
dogs can swim in any body of water. That would
be the state of Wisconsin my home. And I love
all the small towns around the southwest area of the state.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Oh my gosh, you're one of my favorite little towns.
There is Mineral Point, not at all very far from you.
That place is so cool, and I just it's funny
you see it with as an adult as compared to
when when I was a kid. You know, I grew
up in southern Wisconsin. We went to like shake reg Alley,
and you know all the little yeah school field trip
(28:10):
sites which are really cool but actually seen just the
landscape and the big hills and it's just gorgeous.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
Oh my gosh, Darlington, Scholbern, Cassville, Potosi, I places I
never thought of spending any time in. I'm so glad
I live here. It's like it's like a whole different
state and a whole different experience. Beautiful area, beautiful country here.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
So now, be honest, are you gonna mid January? Are
you going to be grumping about the cold and snow?
Speaker 2 (28:40):
Absolutely, you know it. But I already got I've already
I went on I think it was thread up and
you know those resale sites. I got my sweaters and
pants ready again. But I think Wisconsin always had in
my heart. Yeah, so you take the good with the
(29:01):
not so good, and you just suggest.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
Well it is. Thank you so much for joining me
this morning. It has been a pleasure getting just a
wonderful update on what's been going on in your life.
And I'm so happy to hear things are going in
the right direction. Continue to do so. And yes, I'm
sure Wisconsin. It's your friends. Your former viewers are just
(29:24):
thrilled to have you back.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
They've been great, and they've been supported and even worried
about my mother, who they didn't know if she was
up here or not, and that means a lot when
they not only care about me, they care about something
that's important to me, my mom.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Yep, absolutely and we'll leave it there. Thanks again. Christine Bellport,
my guest this morning. You've been listening to Madison for him.
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