On a related note, I will add another “rule” of etiquette: if you are going to start a conversation with another chaser, don’t let the first words out of your mouth be “Did you see the tornado ....(back there, earlier today, yesterday, last Tuesday, etc.) Nobody nursing a still-fresh frustration, failure or disappointment wants to hear that, it’s salt in a wound.
Yeah, that can burn. I’ll never forget getting on the Bowdle storm just after the EF-4, ignorant in my bliss as I was filming a nice multi-vortex when some chaser came up and jubilantly exclaimed “How about that wedge!” Talk about the ultimate chasing buzz kill, I knew the storm had produced a few tornadoes but had no clue that I missed anything of significance.
As for etiquette I’d rate safety first and consideration for others second as the most important things to keep in mind. Consideration not only for other chasers but everyone and remember that local folks might not only not share your enthusiasm for the storm they might be experiencing a completely different set of emotions as the supercell you marvel threatens their home or community. Another time I’ll never forget, back in 2010 in Colorado, I’m out setting up my tripod to film a developing wall cloud when this girl pulls up in her car and asks what I’m doing.
“Filming the storm!”
“Why, do you think it’s special or something”
“Yeah, it might even spawn a tornado any minute!”
“Really? Where”
“Right where my camera’s pointed!”
“Oh my god, that’s where I live!”
She looks at me like I’m a monster, starts crying and proceeds to blast off right toward the circulation. Had I acted with concern instead of jubilation I might have kept her from driving into danger or at least not drove her to panic. I also could have spared myself from coming across like a complete ass and feeling like one as well.
Another thing I’d recommend is don’t get lost in the chaser frenzy where you forget that not every other vehicle on a gravel road in the middle of nowhere is a chaser. I was guilty of that this year in Oklahoma, pulled off on a gravel road and lacking any spot to park decided to pull off parallel to the road on somebody’s driveway entrance. I figured if any car wanted to pull out I’d move so no big deal. A minute or so later a vehicle pulls right up behind me, right on my bumper and I got a little pissed thinking why the heck don’t they get their own spot? This one is a little tight for two, do you really need to crowd me like that? Just then a sheriff pulls up beside them and after talking with them a few seconds pulls up beside me. I figured he wanted to ask me about the storm but to my surprise he asks me to move so the folks behind me can get in their driveway. I nodded sheepishly, apologized and in my embarrassment thought to myself “did I really just do that?” I still feel the shame just writing about it and you can bet I'll never let anything like that happen again.
