“Don’t fool with Mother Nature”
Were they in that demolished TWISTEX vehicle they showed on the news Friday night? I thought Shep had said they escaped with minor injuries. Guess not. Dangerous work.
Samaras was my favorite chaser. He wasn’t in it for the fame and never usually tried to get closer than close.
One of the met boards I frequent seems to think he was at a ‘safe’ distance and then the storm took a 90deg turn and they lost control of their vehicle trying to get away.
At least he died doing what he loved best...
And another group of three (grad students) came damn close.
Sad. Very Sad.
Ina twister of fate...
RIP.
Sorry the guy and his son didn't make it. I choose not to engage in risky behavior unless it's really required.
/johnny
This man and his son were VERY experienced...and yet, they were unable to avoid death.
These tornadoes are fast and unpredictable while on the ground...and deadly. If you are in their path, and the road you are on does not give you a chance to get out of the way...they will run you down. The best thing is to seek a place of shelter that is underground, with a strong structure around you. If it is a large enough tornadoe, and strong enough, hiding under a bridge for example, will not save you, even if your place of refuge is below ground there. Winds too strong...forces too strong...too much deadly debris in the air.
No, you have to either leave soon enough, or have a strong place below ground with a strong door designed for this to be sure of surviving.
God rest the souls of these men, and comfort their families. These crews have brought us some of the most unbelievable images of these storms at deadly peril to their life. As this stroy illustrates.
I have worked for two storm chasers.
These guys are really pretty smart, but sometimes they are too smart by half.
Gotta get to the action.
A guy one his own.. get in.. get out..
RIP brother.
Flashback video of Samaras:
What’s the point of chasing storms? What’s the advantage of being in hsrm’s way as opposed to a safer distance?
Problem is “If you screw with the bull, you get the horns!” Something’s are better left alone. Perhaps you want to pet the Polar bears? Or feed the Sharks? Break into the Leopards/lions den (like the guys did in San Diego). Here’s a good one: Try to file a Non-Profit status with the IRS with the word “Patriot” in your name!!
I’ve noticed with the increase of net videos and tv shows on this subject that they’ve been getting a lot closer to the actual storms than they used to. It used to seem like it was somewhat of a ‘safe’ thing to do. As they got closer and closer for better video this was inevitable.
I think Mayor Doomberg will outlaw storm chasing in NY.
They were probably so terrified. I’m sorry they had to suffer that. God bless them.
The source doesn’t give much information, but I recall one vehicle of chasers were relaying live reports and said they were caught up in the massive traffic jam in the I-40/I-35 area.
Some of those chasers are alone and some are in small groups to 2 or more.
Per some news cast 9 people were killed because they were in their vehicles in that same area.
One of the reporters/chasers for The Weather Channel was injured the night before, IIRC, in the Moore tornado.
I’ve experienced earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricane-force winds flying in a small plane over water, wildland fires, floods, and mountainside thunderstorms.
That being said, tornados absolutely terrify me and I will not live in an area where they are common.