Honest Question about Hurricane Chasing

[Dan Robinson]

Just to illustrate how futile the ENG video market has become: as of right now, I have made no confirmed video sales from Michael despite getting out of the city relatively early and sending out a package of clips hours before most chasers even had cell service back. From what I can tell, the only ones who made sales were those who caught roof damage in progress in Panama City Beach and probably (I have no confirmation) those who have video of themselves losing their vehicles in storm surge. Most everyone else likely made zero or very little revenue.

Doesn't matter to me - the trip was absolutely worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Just like I still go to the Plains every year despite making any revenue from those trips most seasons.

 

[Warren Faidley]

Just to illustrate how futile the ENG video market has become: as of right now, I have made no confirmed video sales from Michael despite getting out of the city relatively early and sending out a package of clips hours before most chasers even had cell service back. From what I can tell, the only ones who made sales were those who caught roof damage in progress in Panama City Beach and probably (I have no confirmation) those who have video of themselves losing their vehicles in storm surge. Most everyone else likely made zero or very little revenue.

Doesn't matter to me - the trip was absolutely worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Just like I still go to the Plains every year despite making any revenue from those trips most seasons.

Really sorry to hear this. You have some really good footage. Back in the day, it would be a 2k+ clip value. With people giving away clips to TWC and other news outlets for $50.00 or less, the market is a dud. This is not to say a single clip could go viral, but that's a long shot. I heard at least one person is in trouble for shooting drone footage over a military base, so why even bother with that. I've just become picky with what I chase and don't waste money and time unless it's something really insane with long term promotional or stock value.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Update - I received word after making the above post that at least two sales went through. So there's that.

 

[Douglas Kiesling]

Why? Ground Truth! I was trying to get help to a seriously injured woman and her son that stayed in Mexico Beach for the storm. There house was destroyed around them and they had to swim out of the debris and surge. I am NOT trained as an EMT but I did everything I could to help them get into another home that was open. Before anyone gets butt hurt, it is legal to take shelter in times of emergency in most places AND the owner of the home already contacted me and thanked me for getting their fellow towns folk help and shelter.

So I will just drop this here. After EVERY MOFO HURRICANE, I have seen some sort of government response within an hour or two max. Here, I saw ZERO help for Mexico Beach, except for the Flip Flop Flotilla of the Cajan Navy that came in to help, NO OTHERS CAME UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. The only communications that were available was Text Messages and I did get messages out to the media that the town was in short Fd and that the message to send help ASAP due to several injured to the state and county was needed.

As for motives? True weather nerds know the answer, to see Nature at it's worst or best, depending on your point of view.

 

[Ethan Schisler]

I would love to chase a hurricane, it’s on my bucket list, but am not at a point in my life where I can drop everything at a moment’s notice for an indeterminate amount of time. I also admit to being perplexed by the logistics of a hurricane chase - how do you get into evacuated areas? Are you even allowed to stay at a sturdy hotel in an evacuation zone? Won’t cops stop you if you are driving around in an evacuated area with a curfew in force? I have read hurricane chasers say it is no problem, but I fail to be able to envision how it would work out. Last thing I need is to travel somewhere far away only to be thwarted by these types of logistical issues.

You can drive into evacuated areas without a problem generally. I've done this (hurricane chasing) several times and never had an issue. Hotels book up fast, so start looking on the trip out there or have several booked in advance in your target area. Cops won't stop you from driving around during the storm, they are more worried about other hazards and a lot of times there isn't even anyone out during the worst of the storm (police included). Sometimes you can have issues getting over bridges or areas that are closed, however if you have media credentials they tend to let these people in, otherwise you have to settle for areas that are open and viably "safer". But again, once the eyewall hits, most are in sturdy shelter, so this isn't an issue and more a moral issue of how far you want to press the envelope of your own safety. I recommend chasing at least one, even the lower end ones can be very exhilarating with some strong eyewall action. I try to avoid storm surge, flooding in general, I'm not a fan of. High wind, I am a huge fan of, so when I chase, that is what I'm looking for.

 

[cdcollura]

Good day all,

There is an old link I put on here a while back with basically all the Q's and A's of hurricane chasing. I'll provide it below...

https://www.sky-chaser.com/schurr.htm#PART15

 

[Dustin Knight]

I just came across this post so I apologize for such a late reply. I have chased a handful of hurricanes ranging from cat 1 (Hermine) to cat 4 (Irma). Honestly, I do it for me. I just enjoy it. I don't ever go trying to pretend I'm doing anything that I'm not. I'm not pretending like anyone NEEDS me there. I just want to experience the storm, ultimately. That said, I don't ever like to feel useless so I do make a legitimate effort to be helpful in whatever ways I can. I have performed rescues before where trees had fallen on a truck, trapping the driver inside, and I will do that in any scenario that arises, but I'm aware that there were others (LEOs) who could have done the same had I not been there. I just happened to arrive first, by chance, and had the gear to cut the trees and remove the driver. I was also chasing with a firefighter and I've got some first responder experience as well so we were aware of how to deal with that particular situation. I also take measurements as I'm sure many of you do and provide consistent updates to the NWS and other entities that need to know. At the end of the day though, those actions are just a byproduct of what I'm there for which is to intercept a hurricane solely for the interest of experiencing and documenting it. I'm sure people would get by just fine and the NWS will have as much info as they need so I know they don't need me to be there, but since I have some personal desire to be there anyway I go ahead and make whatever positive contributions I can. I guess what I'm saying is to just keep things in perspective and do your own thing.
Edit: I saw what Warren Faidley said about things he won't do in hurricanes and it reminded me. I think it's very important to plan your chase for a hurricane more than just "this is my target area". During Hermine I will admit that I was mobile the entire time and it worked out fine being a weaker storm, but even being "just" a cat 1 we still found ourselves in hairy situations with trees falling all around, about a dozen tornado warnings right on us, transformers exploding, and the usual hazards from wind and rain. For the stronger hurricanes (Irma, Harvey), I actually researched locations to set up in a sturdy building where I wasn't in imminent danger of the surge. It was still very intense as our hotel suffered some moderate damage and the ground floor had minor flooding, but we were able to get what I was there for and do it in a relatively safe manner and made it home after a few days. Plus, take extra gas. That has been the biggest lesson I think I've learned. I had one bad experience years ago because I didn't prepare adequately and that lesson has been incredibly important since then.

 

[Steve Holmes]

Hurricane chasing perplexes me. Not sure what the point is, except to be in the middle of extremely bad, high-profile weather. It's not like tornado spotting, in which spotters may be the first to alert the NWS that a tornado has formed. We *know* the hurricane's there. And to go to an island where there's no escape route... Am I alone in feeling that, after this Morgerman is welcomed with hugs and tears, he ought to be grounded for the rest of the hurricane season?

 

[Warren Faidley]

Morgerman is not a scientist, professional journalist, medical responder, etc. He has zero affiliation with anything. As I said before, he's the new breed of chasers, I label them as "storm influencers," the next step in the evolution of chasing. Just be there and survive while snapping a few pictures on their phones and they are heroes. There are no legitimate news crews present to document anything they claim. This could also be done with tornadoes. Just go to a high risk box, wait for something to get hit and show up standing in the debris like Captain America. Then again, he has the right to chase as he wants.

I don't find it surprising that The Weather Channel is promoting this individual, given their recent track history. They seem to gravitate towards trouble, as we have seen of late.

 

[TJKLECKNER]

Who was it who called hurricane chasing, similar to standing in a cold shower, fully clothed, holding very expensive camera equipment....for a day or two straight....eating nothing but stale snacks

 

[Steve Holmes]

Clearly, there is an appeal here that I am missing. Is it a running-with-the-bulls type of adrenaline rush? Is it different from a tornado chase in the rush that it brings? I would like to understand, because I do not like not understanding things. And I do not understand traveling from halfway across the country to spend two days in a room without power, eating only protein bars. These are the types of situations I try to avoid.

 

[Warren Faidley]

There are different types of hurricane chases. When I was in the eye wall of Hurricane Andrew (Cat-5) it was a complete spanking with insane noises and the expereince of a lifetime as a professional chaser. I was only 100 yards from the ocean, but I had massive infrastructure around me and the 180+ winds. I was safe for the most part (until I ventured out in the AM). Being on the mainland, loaded with gear, I knew I would not require rescue, taking away valuable assets from those who needed it, like babies and the badly injured. The hurricanes I've chased in the Cat 2-3 range are much easier to chase. I have private clients who still pay good money for journalist-quality footage of the storm in progress. I also learn from these events as a first responder and can pass on such knowledge, or I can also render aid if needed. I seriously thought about diverting to the Bahamas after my Florida flight was cancelled. It was an option, but I did not want to become a part of the problem and possibly require rescue, taking away aid from those in need. In addition, the footage from such events is actually low value, unless you can be on / near the shore when it hits, otherwise, it's a white-out, flooding or damage, which everyone shoots and will be old news in 24 hours.

 

[Steve Holmes]

Thank you, Warren. I understand better now.

 

[David Cox]

There seems to be some issues on the proper way and situations to chase. One comes off as daring, where their actions may have endangered others or put chasing in an unfavorable light. This usually invites scrunity of outside parties who see one as typical of all.

Is there a listing that consolidates the "best practices" for storm chasing various weather types? Other fields I am involved with have developed them. There can be a bit of disagreement among the knowledgeable of what best is, but as long as they give their reasoning it would be useful to newcomers.

 

[Warren Faidley]

The problem is that weather information outlets including TWC do not have the desire or professionalism to differentiate between amateur acts (stunts) and genuine journalism. You would think that after dealing with so many tragedies involving poor chasing decisions they would have learned. One of the reasons I stopped working and contributing with them is they have made no effort to embrace the "professional" elements of storm chasing, but always align with the "extreme" side because they simply do not care.