Disrespectful Storm Chasers

[Marcus Hicks]

Ok for the last time I asked the person who was in the road with the safety vest on stopping traffic. I ASKED!! I did not just barge on the property snapping pictures. I did not photograph or enter the inside of the house. This whole thread is based on the fact I did not ask. I asked. I was unaware the owner was still there or I would have asked him personally. I am open to all criticism, but it must be made with the facts. And the fact is I asked. You can argue I asked the wrong person and we can discuss that. I mean if we're keep it going let's make it valuable.

 

[Matt Hunt]

Marcus, don't worry about it. I saw the title to this thread and expected to hear a story of something much worse than someone taking damage photos. People get offended by everything these days. Obviously you meant no harm, so don't worry about what others' perception is. You can't please everyone.

 

[Drew.Gardonia]

Marcus, don't worry about it. I saw the title to this thread and expected to hear a story of something much worse than someone taking damage photos. People get offended by everything these days. Obviously you meant no harm, so don't worry about what others' perception is. You can't please everyone.

2nd best post in this thread. Every just needs to mind their own business and worry about themselves, and not worry about what everyone else is doing.

 

[Darren Addy]

Depending on a state's laws, they can charge you with any number of criminal counts. Something to keep in mind.

It's also worth keeping in mind that if you get charged the D.A., the judge, and the jury will probably be from the town or county where the tornado damage occurred. I have the feeling that I know who they would side with in the case of "Local Tornado Victim v. Out-of-Town-Chaser".

Common courtesy is never out of place, even if it is becoming more uncommon.

 

[Wes Carter]

well then I've seen the media break the law half a million times, because I've seen the walking through houses, rubble and yards/property with video camera's, and photographers doing the same thing. They may or may not have had permission, i dont know, but there's a bazillion videos out there on google, and youtube, and various other media sites showing the media doing it.

When I have had to go to a disaster scene as a member of the media I always went to the 'command post' or whatever they call it and made my presence known to whoever was handling the public affairs. They were usually very helpful and let me know what areas were cleared and secured to get photos/footage. If you arrive on the scene before that is established, it's pretty much expected that you don't add to the problem in any way. One of the things journalists should never do is to become part of the story.

I'm not going to judge Marcus for what he did or did not do, I've known him from Stormtrack chat for a while and I think he has enough sense to not become part of the problem.

 

[Darren Addy]

I'm making this post hoping the people who did this will see this and know what they did was just plain wrong/stupid. I hope others will not do the same in the future.

I'm going to edit your original post, Jeremy, down to your stated objective when making the post. If that was indeed your objective, then determining the exact identification of the people in this thread was outside your stated objective. For each reader to hear the story and then ask themselves what they would do in such a situation is a valuable exercise. And allowing the people who did it to see your post and ask themselves the same questions might also be valuable for them. Beyond that this thread has not been terribly valuable.

I'm not saying that this entered into the equation, but you could excuse some for questioning whether your complaining about the actions of these people wasn't more of a doorway to relating to the group how admirably you performed that night... and what you did was admirable. I'd like to think that most of us would do the same as you did that night. There would be nothing wrong with relating that experience in the Reports thread (I don't see a Reports thread from you, as of this writing, for the 9th). I doubt that anybody is going to think you are patting yourself on the back to factually relate what happened and how you responded. In any event, someone else's bad behavior isn't required to make your behavior look any better in comparion. I'm sure the homeowner will be grateful for your assistance and you can take personal satisfaction in knowing that nobody was hurt by the downed power lines thanks in large part to your actions.

 

[Tim Shriver]

"Trespassing is a legal term that can refer to a wide variety of offenses against a person or against property. Trespassing as it relates to real estate law means entering onto land without consent of the landowner."

Taking a picture from the street without going onto the property is legal, in most states.

Doing what the person did could also be named an invasion of privacy.

Both of these, depending on the court, could be punishable. Probably a misdemeanor at best.

When we do a damage survey we must first ask the for the owners authorization for entering property/land and
then ask permission to take pictures of it.

Now going into to see if anyone is injured is different and protected under a different set of laws.

In short, not cool and probably illegal. I would be very careful what you do with those photos.

Tim

 

[Andrew Mackenzie]

Anyone who thinks that this is even remotely acceptable behavior should have their own house destroyed by a tornado, and then be forced to watch as total strangers violate your personal property rights simply for their own aggrandizement. Whoever took these photos (and then posted them on the web no less!) should be ashamed of himself.

 

[Chris Nielsen]

My feeling on this matter is as follows. Many of us chases have been in this situation where we Chase a stormand enter an area that's been LIFE SHATTERING for someone. Honestly guys the Chase needs to end at that point. I don't care how anyone tries to explain their actions, bottom line is that its just plain wrong! Everyone needs to take a step back and realize just how disrespectful these kind of actions are. Put yourself in the shoes of victim who has lived in an area all their life and lost everything. its a huge slap in the face. I for one would be very angry if someone acted like that if that was my house.

 

[Mike Krzywonski]

Now going into to see if anyone is injured is different and protected under a different set of laws.

Does this include shooting video while doing so? I've seen chase videos w/ this scenario.

 

[Tim Shriver]

Does this include shooting video while doing so? I've seen chase videos w/ this scenario.

To be sure, check with a lawyer or better yet, make one a chase partner.

Tim

 

[Rob H]

To be sure, check with a lawyer or better yet, make one a chase partner.

Tim

Sorry, I don't think I could spend 40 hours in a car with a lawyer

Me - I'm just happy so many people stopped, because it's hard coming across that kind of destruction before the police/fire/EMT/etc. especially for the first time. I was talking to some fire fighters from the area and they were surprised at how many chasers were in the town trying to help. It was rather unorganized, and eventually we kind of had to be shooed away, but whatever. The cell was definitely going to keep producing, and very few people went through the town without stopping to at least see if they could do anything. I know a lot of residents were just happy to have someone to talk to after it was over.

edit: I'm not attacking the people that kept chasing that night in any way, because I don't know the circumstances at all. It was very possible to stop, help out for awhile until people with authority said you were just in the way or just see if anyone needed help, and then catch up to that cell with little effort. Also, most of the roads were blocked by large trees and they weren't letting people into or out of certain areas.

 

[Matt Hunt]

Anyone who thinks that this is even remotely acceptable behavior should have their own house destroyed by a tornado, and then be forced to watch as total strangers violate your personal property rights simply for their own aggrandizement. Whoever took these photos (and then posted them on the web no less!) should be ashamed of himself.

Hmm, if my house just got destroyed, someone taking pictures of the damage is really the least of my concerns. I would just be grateful to be alive at that point. So if this ever happens, come on over and take pictures of my house, I couldn't care less.

 

[M Dillard]

There's a difference

between the local news media covering a story and joe q. chaser rolling tape. The public generally does not monitor youtube, facebook or stormtrack for their ongoing information. TV & radio still trump the internet for news and weather as it happens.

Similar to a fire in which a family loses all they have, tornadoes are news events after they hit.

Local news coverage gives the community the information to prepare or react to the event. Information on evacuations in the event of a wildfire or shelters during or after the storm. Or the need for donations in the wake of a disaster.

It doesn't just have to be a tornado to be a tragic event and I don't often see "chasers" running about in wildfires, floods, ice storms or blizzards that can be equally if not more deadly and damaging than tornadoes... so it appears to be more of a adrenaline fueled craze to capture a monster on video and in turn sell it or try to sell it.

I can assure you the last thing I ever want to do is go in with a camera to speak to someone who has lost all they have. If you have ever done that you know what I mean, it's not a enjoyable aspect of the job... but in some cases the most amazing survival stories are brought to light, or if they don't want to be on, I apologize for their loss and ask if they need anything and move on.

I approach the residents first and indentify myself with the press and ask permission to shoot video first. Otherwise I consider shooting on property without permission as trespassing and don't do it and I move to a easement or street.

At times the media arrives at a damaged area before emergency crews. Several times I've checked on people and called for medical assistance or firefighters when no one else was around. As I'm sure many chasers have done the right way.

So there is a difference between credentialed media working and a carload of video posters out only for the fun of it.

Then again it is a free country.

 

[Jason Boggs]

For some reason, I missed the part where Marcus asked someone in charge of the scene for permission. No, it wasn't the actual owner, but at least he didn't waltz in thinking he owned the place. Also, remember that he said he looked for victims before doing any documentation. I think back now and feel that this thread got thrown way out of proportion.