Travis Davis
EF1
May 19, 2010 about got me killed. I decided to hit a major road and when I did traffic was virtually non moving and I couldn't see the front of the miles long line. I'm glad the storm didn't decide to drop a tornado at that time...
County Officials Critical of Storm Chasers
- Thread starter hazelmaryjackson
- Start date
Bryan Stokes
EF3
Bingo. I'm willing to bet that a great portion of the crowd were not seasoned chasers.
Bryan
Bryan Stokes
EF3
Regarding the crowded roads...this is why i chase in June. It's a nice pace up in CO, WY, NE, SD, and ND.
Bryan
Bryan
Paul Knightley
EF5
Looking at some of the 'chaser' videos on YouTube of Saturday's storms shows up quite a few which contain idiotic driving, both from the chasers taking the footage, and others too. Often cars just stopped in the middle of the lane on the highway for no reason, or pulled very slightly onto the grass shoulder but with much of the car still on the road.
I really hope that none of these are ST members, as we (should) all know better. If, however, you're reading this and you did something like this, please remember that the best thing to do is either not stop at all, or pull into a side road, or well onto the shoulder (if not muddy) and get off the main carriageway.
I really hope that none of these are ST members, as we (should) all know better. If, however, you're reading this and you did something like this, please remember that the best thing to do is either not stop at all, or pull into a side road, or well onto the shoulder (if not muddy) and get off the main carriageway.
Warren Faidley
Supporter
The vast majority of people I witnessed chasing storms last week were locals. It reminded me of the movie "It's a Mad Mad World" with hoards of screwballs driving like idiots. Several were texting while driving, crossing the center line or running off the edge of the road. Many were driving or standing way to close to the tornadoes I tracked. I wonder where they recently got the idea they could drive that way and be YouTube heroes?
As for blocking roads, that could lead to a major disaster. With all due respect to law enforcement or anyone blocking a road, very few are qualified to judge the overall situation, including the movement of other dangerous storms they may divert traffic into, or cut off an escape route. Any hope of maintaining or gaining any respect for "responsible" chasers died over the course of the last 5 years.
W.
As for blocking roads, that could lead to a major disaster. With all due respect to law enforcement or anyone blocking a road, very few are qualified to judge the overall situation, including the movement of other dangerous storms they may divert traffic into, or cut off an escape route. Any hope of maintaining or gaining any respect for "responsible" chasers died over the course of the last 5 years.
W.
STexan
EF4
Maybe when gas goes past $5.00 gallon the problem will take care of itself? ... $6.00?? But for the outbreaks that occur near larger cities this is always going to be a problem, regardless. Perhaps someone with some serious connections could negotiate with mother nature to stage future outbreaks to occur in the further-most reaches, and mid-week 
... and they all be slow-moving, flat and no trees, and along paved roads with shoulders and between the hours of 16:00 and 20:00 local time.
... and they all be slow-moving, flat and no trees, and along paved roads with shoulders and between the hours of 16:00 and 20:00 local time.
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rdale
EF5
That could be 5-10-20 years away though, so don't count on it. And since most of the troubles come from local yahoos, are they really going to not do it because it'll cost them $2.45 versus $2.25 to drive 10 miles?
Mike Peregrine
EF5
The Star has posted a follow up article this morning here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/17/3559752/storm-chasers-in-the-crosshairs.html
Nathan Hoelting
EF0
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2010
- Messages
- 11
It just about common courtesy and respect overcoming stupidity and adrenaline. I saw idiots with tripods set up in the middle of the damn highway (smack on the center yellow line) east of Waynoka, u-turns on 2 lane highways with traffic coming from both ways, and countless other acts of stupidity. I don't know if they were experienced chasers or locals, but I feel like there are definitely idiots in both of those groups who cast a bad light on everybody. Eventually, somebody will cause a major accident, or get killed standing in the middle of a road like a dumbass and regulations will be put in place. It's sad that it has to be that way, but too many people think that a tornado on the ground is reason enough to throw common sense and basic traffic laws out the window. Sad.
Jacob Ferden
EF4
I think someone needs to actually go back and tally the number of regulation and lightbar threads there have been since the ST forum was founded. I put the over-under at 50.
Sean Ramsey
EF4
I know this sounds grandiose, but If chasers are really concerned about their image and want to seperate the wheat from the chaff there will have to be an organization on a national scale that has registered members who represent the organization visibly when out in the field, who would also be representative of a group of people who recognize themselves as storm chasers (or spotters). The group would need to be funded with dues and have representation to the media/public/government and have leaders who would be willing to do so. Would this stop normal spectators from going out? Nope. Would this decrease chaser convergence? Nope. Would this hold actual chasers responsible and give the general public a way to discerne a local from a chaser? Possibly. Would this give more credence to a chasers work, and a means to de-emphasize (speak out against) the need for the public to be out during storms, and a way to speak out against irresponsibility on the part of individuals? Maybe.
Everyone has a right to be out on the storms, just like everyone has a right to own a gun. But, everyone has a duty to be responsible and if there is a growing problem of being able to discerne the group who's causing the issues, the least that can be done is to give the one's who are responsible a way to stand out, and give them a voice. Just a thought.
Everyone has a right to be out on the storms, just like everyone has a right to own a gun. But, everyone has a duty to be responsible and if there is a growing problem of being able to discerne the group who's causing the issues, the least that can be done is to give the one's who are responsible a way to stand out, and give them a voice. Just a thought.
Andy Jackson
EF3
I think it's valid to bring up this subject once more. It is a grim topic, and I think I might just stick to weekdays or secondary targets but to quit all together is not necessary. I've been on more uncrowded storms than crowded so I think I may not have to work to hard at this.
Timothy Finn
Well, after some thought on this.....
Let's look at the facts of the matter.
1. It was a weekend.
2. It was SO hyped up by the media.
3. Technically, it was a pretty rare event. Day 2 high risk? I understand that has only happened one other time.
I know I am new, but is this really that large a problem? Does the serious traffic issues only happen on high risk days, or just weekends, or what other circumstance can cause it? In the other chases I have been on, there has been nothing of the sort, and also, it wasn't the same circumstances.
I certainly do not intend to stop chasing, however, if this IS that big a problem, I may be a little more selective in choice of location and such.
Just some thoughts on the matter.
Tim
Let's look at the facts of the matter.
1. It was a weekend.
2. It was SO hyped up by the media.
3. Technically, it was a pretty rare event. Day 2 high risk? I understand that has only happened one other time.
I know I am new, but is this really that large a problem? Does the serious traffic issues only happen on high risk days, or just weekends, or what other circumstance can cause it? In the other chases I have been on, there has been nothing of the sort, and also, it wasn't the same circumstances.
I certainly do not intend to stop chasing, however, if this IS that big a problem, I may be a little more selective in choice of location and such.
Just some thoughts on the matter.
Tim
Will Campbell
EF2
From the new article posted in the KC Star, from Brad Hommam, Dickinson Country Administrator “He’s out making a living off of other people’s demise,” Homman said. “Stay in Texas or Oklahoma, or at least use due regard for our safety. That certainly wasn’t maintained (Saturday) from my observation.” If this were at the beginning of the article I would have stopped reading there. They were crafty to make that the closing statement.
I'm pretty sure that Dean doesn't hope his income comes from seeing people injured or having their lives changed. These country guys are freaking unbelievable. Ask any "chaser" that has been around for awhile what they would rather see, a tornado in the middle of a field, damaging only trees and vegetation, or a massive tornado tearing through a highly populated town. If you answered the latter, well, I won't open that can of worms. These guys seem to think that you can gauge the quality and morals of a chaser by what they have in their car..."Guys with radar equipment in their car aren't the issue...", really? I get so flustered from this stuff I can no longer formulate logical statements, so I shall shut the h*&l up!
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/17/3559752/storm-chasers-in-the-crosshairs.html#storylink=cpy
I'm pretty sure that Dean doesn't hope his income comes from seeing people injured or having their lives changed. These country guys are freaking unbelievable. Ask any "chaser" that has been around for awhile what they would rather see, a tornado in the middle of a field, damaging only trees and vegetation, or a massive tornado tearing through a highly populated town. If you answered the latter, well, I won't open that can of worms. These guys seem to think that you can gauge the quality and morals of a chaser by what they have in their car..."Guys with radar equipment in their car aren't the issue...", really? I get so flustered from this stuff I can no longer formulate logical statements, so I shall shut the h*&l up!
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/17/3559752/storm-chasers-in-the-crosshairs.html#storylink=cpy
Chris Sokol
EF5
This is part of the reason why I have an all wheel drive vehicle starting this season. The secondary roads with some mud tends to deter most folks. 
I did notice that on the final Oklahoma storm that produced so much that there were more vehicles with families using cell phones to take pics and vid then there were what appeared to be true chase vehicles.
Chris
I did notice that on the final Oklahoma storm that produced so much that there were more vehicles with families using cell phones to take pics and vid then there were what appeared to be true chase vehicles.
Chris
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