2007 SAFETY CHECK!

[Dan Robinson]

With storm season quickly ramping up, it's an appropriate time to post a reminder to all chasers to keep these CRITICAL safety issues in mind in the coming months.

I would urge every chaser to go over these items with your team/caravan before EVERY CHASE this season. Passengers, provide accountabilty to your driver if he or she lapses into one of these risky behaviors. Watch each other's backs! Be willing to miss a tornado in exchange for keeping those in your vehicle safe.

Number 1: Eliminate Distracted Driving

Drivers, remove distractions! STOP to look at your laptop GPS, WxWorx or internet application. It only takes a minute to pull over and look at data to prevent what is the single most grave hazard to chasers and other innocent drivers on the road - a driver distracted by a computer screen. Besides being illegal in some states, looking at a laptop while driving could land you in jail for, at worst, negligent homicide in the event of an accident that results in death. Think about the consequences - it would change your life forever and cost you more than missing a lifetime of tornadoes. I post this from EXPERIENCE of close calls that literally scared me into changing my ways. Delegate navigation and radar observation to the passenger. If you are alone, CLOSE THE LAPTOP SCREEN while in motion to avoid the temptation to look at it. Passengers, take part of the responsibility for your driver by offering laptop-related duties and providing accountability!

Number 2: Be Alert in Chaser Convergence Zones

With a likely record number of chasers on the road this spring (based on this past outbreak), the already concentrated risk area of a chaser convergence zone will be a ticking time bomb like never before. High speed chase vehicles, vehicles stopping/turning/starting suddenly, people darting across and standing on both sides of the road, with a HIGHLY DISTRACTING storm diverting everyone's attention. Think of the potential for tragedy there! We can't make everyone follow common sense, so to prevent a calamity we must be on high alert not only for ourselves, but for others. Slow down, park OFF the roadway, stand/photograph from well off the road. Expect people to make stupid and foolish moves and prepare for these possible hazards.

Number 3: Be Aware of Road Conditions

SLOW DOWN on wet or hail-covered roads. No-brainer.

Number 4: Respect the Storm

Another no-brainer.

If anyone can offer additions to this list, by all means PLEASE do it.

 

[Jason Persoff]

Number 5: Know our Limitations and Plan on Contingencies

I've gained enough experience to be humble now. It's easy to convince yourself that you're invincible, but these storms we chase can be a dicey lot. In my earlier years as a chaser I can remember being stuck on an elevated portion of I-20 heading to an exit that would give me a N/S option only to find that traffic had come to a standstill due to a massive core crossing the road about 2 miles up. This left me trapped to endure a very big bear's cage and ended up nearly placing me in the path of a tornado with no escape options. I learned then and emphasize now you need to know where to go when the stuff hits the fan. Some chasers (both vets and newbies) will go way out of their way for the most killer footage. It really is only a matter of time before that killer footage is of a chaser getting killed. No video or image is worth serious injury: make sure you know how you're going to get out of a situation before you get into one. I've been trapped by back-building storms placing me in new cores I didn't think would form, or caught in flooded-out roads due to storm training. Thank god for GPS: it's saved my buns. But common sense remains.

Number 6: You Represent Chasers Everywhere

This is sort of an addition to #3, but every chaser's actions on a chase affect perceptions of all of us as a community. Speeding ridiculously, veering in traffic, cutting people off, or disrespecting small towns' laws (such as 60mph in a 25mph zone) all reflect badly on all of us. Please be responsible and law-abiding.

Number 7: Livestock Love The Road

One of the biggest hazards IMHO is after the storm has passed, it's dark, and you're on a country road. Storms can cause fences to be knocked over or livestock to flee off the farm. I have nearly decked deer, cattle, horses, and in rare instances turkeys (wild ones, not metaphorical ones) late at night in my post-storm tiredness. Remain vigilant and cautious especially when driving alone.

Number 8: Don't Chase Alone if You Can Help It

I love to chase solo for a number of reasons (mostly because I like to photograph different parts of a storm in different ways and that's one of my favorite parts about chasing). However, I do try to team up or caravan when I can. If you are in an accident or are hurt or struck by lightning, who is going to call for help? If you chase solo, strongly consider battery-operated HAM radios and try to have list of available 'net frequencies. I'll say that over the past 5 years cell coverage on the Plains has been explosive and extensive. But there are still holes in that coverage. Goes back to contingency planning which must be done before things happen.

Great idea for a thread, Dan.

 

[Bart_Comstock]

Number 9: Lightbars don't give you the right away.

Just because you may have strobes or a light bar does not mean you are a emergency vehicle and can speed and/or force people to pull over ahead of you and you should limit your use of such equipment on your vehicle to as little as possible, if even at all.

Number 10: Respect any emergency personal that may be out in response to the storm's aftermath.

Remember, we are not chasing deer threw the woods, we are on scene at a very dangerous and possible destructive force of nature and thus EMS, Fire Rescue, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies may be mobile on their way to an area that has been hit. Stay alert for sirens and flashing lights and ALWAYS give them the right of way.

Number 11: "Rubber necking."

Keep your eyes on the road at all times, if there is a large tornado to the right of the road, pull over and stop out of the lane of traffic if possible (but not in mud or water or soft soil) and then look at it. You don't want to be that guy who rearended a semi or went off the road into a tree while trying to watch a tornado in a field.

Number 12: Road side safety.

When you pull over remember that it is always a good idea to never exit your vehicle if it can be helped, and not just because of lighting, but because of other motorists or hail, or other roadside hazards. Also snakes and scorpions do live in much of the plains and I my self have even seen a rattler on the side of the road when I pulled over once to film. If you do get out maybe dawn a orange traffic vest that is semi-reflective, especially at night.

 

[Aaron Kennedy]

Number 13: Contrary to popular belief this is an unsafe way to shoot video!

(Taken from facebook - individuals unknown)

 

[Bart_Comstock]

Number 14: Gasoline, how much do you have left?

This can be a very stupid and possible fatal mistake when you latch onto a cell and begin to ignore your gas gauge. Personaly I never like to less than a forth of a tank in my Jeep. Once I hit that mark I begin to start looking for a petrol station. Also keep some cash as not all stations in the middle of nowhere take cards.

 

[Andrew Stoller]

Number 15: Do a thorough check of your vehicle and tires.

A quick look at items like accesory belts (serpentine or alternator/water pump/power steering), tensioners/belt tension could prove vital. An overheat in the middle of nowhere or a dead bettery from a loose belt would suck.

Check fluid levels like oil and coolant, along with washer fluid. New wiper blades are always essential when driving through torrential rain.

Most importantly, check your tires, ESPECIALLY the spare. I've been stranded with a flat spare tire. Don't make the same mistake...............keep that bad boy inflated properly! Also check tire pressures and tread. I've had a nail in a tire the night before a chase and wouldn't have known had I not checked things over.

 

[David Wolfson]

Number 16: Know and do what it takes to stay alert.

Blood sugar and road fatigue affect people differently. Know what to do that keeps you alert. For some it's what and when to eat and endless diet Mountain Dew; for others it's a short afternoon nap or constant infusion of sugar.

 

[Laura Duchesne]

Number 17: Plan escape routes

Always have a plan to take alternate roads if you are caught in a situation and need to get out of the area as quickly as possible. It can be difficult to do in some areas of the plains, but if you can plan escape routes, then it would be a wise decision to do so instead of scrambling/panicing trying to find a different road option last minute. GPS navigation systems can be very helpful with this.

Very good suggestions everyone.