Awards
Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards
2022 - Weather News
"Get Ready Now" A 30‑minute hurricane‑preparedness program that highlights the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Ida, examines why recent hurricane seasons have become more active, and provides expert guidance from the WDSU Weather Team. The special explains forecast factors such as La Niña conditions, warm Gulf waters, and low wind shear—all of which contribute to the heightened risk of rapid storm intensification. Viewers are given practical advice on how to prepare for what NOAA projected to be another above‑normal season, with as many as 21 named storms and several major hurricanes.
Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards
2022 - Breaking/Spot News
"Hurricane Ida" WDSU earned a 2022 Suncoast Regional Emmy Award in the Breaking News category for its comprehensive and urgent coverage of Hurricane Ida. The team was recognized for delivering critical, real‑time reporting to keep South Louisiana audiences informed during one of the most destructive storms in the region’s recent history. Bun was an Executive Producer at the time.
Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards
2023 - Weather News
"Arabi Tornado: One Year Later" The 30-minute special revisited the devastation caused by the EF-3 tornado that struck Arabi and surrounding areas on March 22, 2022. The show highlighted the moment the tornado rapidly intensified over Arabi, the destruction it left behind, and the difficult overnight search‑and‑rescue operations that followed. Through firsthand accounts, meteorological context, and extensive video documentation, the special showcased both the severity of the storm and the community’s resilience in the year since, emphasizing ongoing recovery, rebuilding efforts, and the strength of local residents who came together in the aftermath.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Science
2024 - Outstanding Regional News Story: Spot or Breaking News
WDSU was nominated and won in the Spot or Breaking News category for the 2022-2023 News & Documentary Emmy Awards. This is the same submission that won in the Suncoast regional level in 2023.