Sorry I'm Late With This...
Sorry I am running late getting a reply to this thread, as its now late July and I see it was started in early June...
Yep, I did an interview on KOCO-5 in OKC regarding some dangerous driving and "cracking down" on dangerous chasers, but they only used about 15 sec of a 2 min interview. I was afraid that it would get chopped up & someone would take offense to it, but that wasn't at all the intention.
I've been chasing for 18 years, as both a hobby and for media, and am also a cop/emergency manager, so I am familiar with both sides of the issue. The problem is only with a select few, and most of you know who they are so I don't need to mention names or vehicle descriptions. The interview was targeted towards that small group. I know that the vast majority of you are responsible when you are chasing...Just like with cops, there are a few bad apples that ruin the bunch, and the interview was to get the attention of those FEW
. We aren't going to target anemometer and antenna-bearing vehicles. Speed is the biggest issue most of you are thinking about, but that is not the concern most of the time...I do it myself on occasion. There are times when I've found myself in a real bad spot (especially on crappy Oklahoma roads which never go in the direction you need to) and have no other choice then to hammer down on the pedal or risk becoming a Dorothy. The problem is that I get pissed when I see a chaser driving like a psycho, stopping in the middle of the road when we (emergency vehicles) are trying to get through an area, and generally being stupid. I get pissed not only because it impedes doing my job, but further makes us as chasers look bad. I have answered questions from legislators trying to "regulate" chasing and have fought legislative attempts to stop chasing, but it only takes one nasty, publicized incident to get things stirred up and that is a constant battle that we as emergency managers have to go through every year.
Please understand that if a tornado touches down, I have to switch from chaser mode to rescue coordination mode, and that's when its a decision on whether or not to put the video camera down and come help or keep chasing. I don't fault anyone for not stopping - thats a personal decision, but it would be nice to get some help every now and then. Just a quick stop to make sure everyone is OK, and then calling "911" and telling the dispatcher that everyone is OK or not is a huge help to us! The N Woodward/S Harper Co tornado this spring was a good example. I had to dodge a chaser in the middle of the road trying to get to 3 destroyed homes to make sure everyone was OK. We had to ask the guy, whose name I'd like to splash all over this post but won't, to put down his camera and get his vehicle out of the road so a fire/rescue truck could get by. He even ignored the sirens and PA system announcements, refusing to put down the camera & move over until a threat of arrest had to me made. Its an isolated case but one that didn't set well with the firefighters. They see one incident like that and think we are all that way.
Once again, just a few make us all look nuts. Chasers have a good way of policing themselves, and StormTrack does a good job at getting the word out on the fruitcakes.
A good number of you I know or know of, and do sincerely appreciate the help in spotting/chasing if you are in this area. In fact, I consider NW Okla (minus the state troopers who are a bit eccentric) one of the most chase-friendly areas in the country. We are installing a D-STAR system, wifi hotspots, and underground "bail-out" areas just for chasers. I'm spending a lot of money to support you guys up here and I hope that shows my support. I'm not afraid to admit that chasing is the best part of my job-especially getting paid for it, and is a thoroughly enjoyable hobby to the rest of you, but make it worthwhile to those of us who have to consider the other side - public notification and safety...by letting NWS / local EM's / local 911 centers know if you see something nasty. I & other EM's across the nation not only have to track the tubes but have to set off sirens, and doing it with only my eyes and a few inexperienced firefighters and cops giving me info makes it very difficult sometimes to make critical decisions like blowing the horns. As good as I think I am
at chasing I still get caught on the wrong side of the storm on occasion and could use some experienced eyes feeding info into us.
I extend an open invitation to our EOC (with T-1 access, TV's, caffeine and comfy chairs to catch up on zzz's on bust days) to chasers coming through NWOK. Go to google maps and search "Woodward Emergency Management" to find out where we are. Have fun, but make your chase worthwhile by giving us a shout every now and then. I monitor national chase simplex among other frequencies, which we will get posted here as soon as we get those lined out.
Don't ever think for a second that the money you spend on your hobby and the work you do isn't noticed or appreciated!
). It can't hurt and with more and more chasers (well, depending on gas prices), it's more than necessary. A little off the subject, but I had a dream last night that a bunch of storm chasers were trying to use a dirt road and a LEO pulled up and put a big "Road Closed" barricade up blocking access, it could happen.....
