Rob Hedrick
Warren, I completely agree, we should all help out. I have sent a donation to them as well. Sometimes as chasers we forget that some of the amazing things that we see chasing, have a very real impact on peoples lives.
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After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.
I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.
For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.
From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.
Sincerely, Jeff D.
Storm spotter among the newton county fatalities.
- Thread starter Brandon Lawson
- Start date
A few cents worth, based on this year's chases.
Years ago, before I had the wherewithal ($ and a reliable car for cross-country driving) I was a spotter for Douglas County (Omaha) REACT. I did it for one year, and while I understood the difference between chasing and spotting, there were a lot of factors that caused me to quit after one season. Political power plays between the graybeards and the 'freshman' class--not over the storms themselves but over radio protocol (you couldn't mention the word 'tornado' over the air, even in the middle of a warning, for one example).
That said, my chasing has been for my slavish self-interest, not for any civic duty or scientific advance. Implied in that statement is a desire, in return, to not be a burden on society by needing EMS to pull me out of a ditch or cut me out of my car, dead or alive.
This year, mostly due to tunnel vision but also due to storm-scale surprise, I've driven through circulations at least twice. June 05 just south of Johnson, NE, I almost did but I thought better or else I decided I was sick of being stupid. Once I noticed the wind shift within a space of ten feet I backed out.
Immediately, a spotter indicated a tornado and there was damage in Johnson. Point is, I knew I was near a radar-indicated but I couldn't see a funnel, tornado, damage or anything. Some spotter did, it must have been at close range, with all the rain and the storm speed this spotter must have had a view for only a second and it must have been close. Also, they probably were north of a northbound tornado.
I would not put myself in a stationary position such as that by choice, but someone had to. I knew what my reaction would be once I ran into the windshift and acted upon it, but given the visibility the spotter didn't have that luxury.
I know that not all spotter networks aren't alike, but across the board I have a renewed appreciation of their dedication.
Years ago, before I had the wherewithal ($ and a reliable car for cross-country driving) I was a spotter for Douglas County (Omaha) REACT. I did it for one year, and while I understood the difference between chasing and spotting, there were a lot of factors that caused me to quit after one season. Political power plays between the graybeards and the 'freshman' class--not over the storms themselves but over radio protocol (you couldn't mention the word 'tornado' over the air, even in the middle of a warning, for one example).
That said, my chasing has been for my slavish self-interest, not for any civic duty or scientific advance. Implied in that statement is a desire, in return, to not be a burden on society by needing EMS to pull me out of a ditch or cut me out of my car, dead or alive.
This year, mostly due to tunnel vision but also due to storm-scale surprise, I've driven through circulations at least twice. June 05 just south of Johnson, NE, I almost did but I thought better or else I decided I was sick of being stupid. Once I noticed the wind shift within a space of ten feet I backed out.
Immediately, a spotter indicated a tornado and there was damage in Johnson. Point is, I knew I was near a radar-indicated but I couldn't see a funnel, tornado, damage or anything. Some spotter did, it must have been at close range, with all the rain and the storm speed this spotter must have had a view for only a second and it must have been close. Also, they probably were north of a northbound tornado.
I would not put myself in a stationary position such as that by choice, but someone had to. I knew what my reaction would be once I ran into the windshift and acted upon it, but given the visibility the spotter didn't have that luxury.
I know that not all spotter networks aren't alike, but across the board I have a renewed appreciation of their dedication.
