Greg Higgins
Supporter
Tim Marshall posted this link on Facebook. Anyone see themselves??? http://fox4kc.com/2012/04/16/storm-chasers-clog-roads-in-kansas/
County Officials Critical of Storm Chasers
- Thread starter hazelmaryjackson
- Start date
Dan Robinson
EF5
Am I reading these articles right that the main issue the EMs have are with people clogging the roads in the damage zones, preventing responders from accessing them? If that's the case, most experienced chasers should be long gone by then. Most of the time that I've crossed damage paths, it's been minutes after the tornado. A long line of chasers ahead of, or right by, the storms (in theory) shouldn't be impacting responders. The damage warranting the response hasn't happened there yet. Maybe I'm missing something here.
Andy Jackson
EF3
Olivier Staiger
EF3
on the other hand , stormchasers can be there to un-clogg a road and facilitate traffic. I experienced it in person. I was chasing with Gene Moore on the day of Yazoo City 2010.
we were a few miles east of Yazoo City on highway 432 , shortly before arriving on interstate I-55 , and suddenly we found our road, highway 432, completely blocked by one tree that had fallen across the road, taken down by the rather strong inflow winds. It was impossible to drive around it. So Gene pulled out a towing-rope and we tore on that tree. It took us about 20 minutes to clear it from the road. Meanwhile, traffic was blocked in both directions, and they all waited patiently till we would be done, and some came out and helped. And finally we cleared the tree from the road... and as we continued towards the I-55 , what did we see speeding in the other direction, towards Yazoo City ? an ambulance ! Thanks to us stormchasers the road was cleared and that ambulance could reach Yazoo City much faster !
and I have video I shot with the cellphone
http://www.kyte.tv/ch/klipsi/tree-bl...=878424&l=2507
right then and there we did not know what had happened to Yazoo City, it was only later during the day that we heard about the disaster.
anyway, we missed seeing the actual tornado, but we felt kinda proud having taken that tree off the road just before the ambulance arrived.
we were a few miles east of Yazoo City on highway 432 , shortly before arriving on interstate I-55 , and suddenly we found our road, highway 432, completely blocked by one tree that had fallen across the road, taken down by the rather strong inflow winds. It was impossible to drive around it. So Gene pulled out a towing-rope and we tore on that tree. It took us about 20 minutes to clear it from the road. Meanwhile, traffic was blocked in both directions, and they all waited patiently till we would be done, and some came out and helped. And finally we cleared the tree from the road... and as we continued towards the I-55 , what did we see speeding in the other direction, towards Yazoo City ? an ambulance ! Thanks to us stormchasers the road was cleared and that ambulance could reach Yazoo City much faster !
and I have video I shot with the cellphone
http://www.kyte.tv/ch/klipsi/tree-bl...=878424&l=2507
right then and there we did not know what had happened to Yazoo City, it was only later during the day that we heard about the disaster.
anyway, we missed seeing the actual tornado, but we felt kinda proud having taken that tree off the road just before the ambulance arrived.
Lee Smith-Whaley
EF1
A couple quotes that got me. The first one. "Chasers were getting stuck on access roads that aren't maintained." I somehow think that emergency crews would be avoiding those access roads so that they...wait for it...don't get stuck themselves. Now don't get me wrong, if you are stuck in the path of the tornado, or the only way to a victim, it's a problem. If a 4wd truck can't make it down the road, how can an ambulance? The other one he mentioned that people were driving over power lines to look at damage. I'm not going to comment on the power lines part, I personally was only interested in seeing damage on my way in order to determine if a house had been hit, not gawk at it. Once I determined that no house had been hit, I continued following the tornado, so that I could see the tornado. I know that doesn't apply for everyone, however it still bugs me that he accuses us of wanting to see the damage, not the tornado.
Joshua Nall
EF4
That is an excellent example of what the problem is. There could have been 10 times as many people and cars along there if they had of just parked off the road and stood in the ditch. You aren't going to change the numbers...
I was going to say you can't fix stupid either.... but hey we all make mistakes. I wonder how many folks saw tornadoes for the first time on the 14th, whether “chaser†or not. I know there were at least a couple in the reports here. I wonder how much of the problem was really caused, as has been said, by those with no experience with storms. I stopped in the middle of the road the first time I saw a tornado. Felt bad about it afterward too, cause someone came up behind me, I’m sure cussing me. Your mind is so overwhelmed by the sight at first that it causes you not to think straight. I quickly learned better.
mkavulich
EF0
It seems with every re-telling of this story it gets worse (read: less truth and more journalistic sensationalism).
I've heard and seen many of these reports refer to "traffic jams". To me (and thefreedictionary.com for what it's worth) a traffic jam is where cars are packed to a standstill. Can anyone who was there vouch for this? From everything I have read here there have never been traffic jams due to convergence, only congestion that was still moving fairly close to the speed limit.
I've heard and seen many of these reports refer to "traffic jams". To me (and thefreedictionary.com for what it's worth) a traffic jam is where cars are packed to a standstill. Can anyone who was there vouch for this? From everything I have read here there have never been traffic jams due to convergence, only congestion that was still moving fairly close to the speed limit.
Chuck Robertson
EF0
Yes, I have seen numerous cases of "traffic jams". Most commonly at a stop sign for a rural intersection somewhere. Its become increasingly common to see very long lines of chasers awaiting an opportunity to turn at or cross an intersection in which the intersecting road is also loaded with chasers. One of my greatest fears in storm chasing is being stuck in such a traffic jam with an violent tornado bearing down.
John Olexa
EF5
I always hate hearing just one side of the story. I know if someone has a beef with someone/group ect ect. It don't take much. In this case maybe the firefighter has been
aggravated in the past and the van had corner of the bumper sticking out or something but thats all it would take. To this guy, thats "blocking". Would like to hear the other side of the story as well.
Thats one thing I love about photographing lightning. I'm usely all alone! LOL
Matt Tottle
EF4
I was stuck in two 'jams' that day, both while chasing the same tornado. One on K-4 when people took it upon themselves to block both lanes for some unknown reason, and then again 20 minutes later when some jackwagon took it upon himself to veer across and block I-135 northbound just south of Salina (and almost got annihilated by the cars behind him that had to slam on the brakes).
The video illustrates the sheer stupidity of some people.. If there isn't enough room to pull the ENTIRE vehicle behind the white line (which on K-4 there isn't due to the ditches), you shouldn't be stopping there for ANY reason unless you are having a mechanical problem or a medical emergency.
StormScotter
Enthusiast
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2012
- Messages
- 8
I'm not sure I agree with any of the guy's gripe, but to jump into the 'legislative' debate, I think it'd be great if Oklahoma and Kansas (and everywhere else) banned forward facing light bars for any vehicle that is not law enforcement. Was out on April 14 and saw several chase teams with forward facing light bars, it sucks when you look up to red and white lights in your rear view mirror, they pass you on a double yellow, and you see storm chasing stickers all over the SUV.
David Drummond
Member
If you see red flashing lights facing forward on any storm chasing vehicle, all you have to do is what you would do with any other non-emergency vehicle you saw with the same lights, is take down the vehicle information/tags and turn them in. Problem solved. It's already illegal in all 50 states.
James Hilger
EF4
Although i wasn't running down the road with them on and mine isn't a lightbar, but some organizations require them on. Never had an issue with law enforcement but i very seldom have them on. I do carry the most recent law manual with me and i do have an attorney that will take the case for free though just in case though. It's alot easier to "try" to keep everyone on your side though. Some Officers want them on, some don't. Act appropriately will solve most issues. Those that don't, keep the camera rolling.
StormScotter
Enthusiast
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2012
- Messages
- 8
Good idea Dave, thanks for the suggestion. That was really my first experience in dealing with it, so it was just a surprise to me to see people with that on the front dash of their vehicles.
Hank Schyma
EF1
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