Why No Fatalities from tornadoes in DFW last week?

[Clarence Bennett]

The day the NWS starts depending on "chasers" to call in storm reports in order to issue a warning is the day even more people will get killed. I hate to beat this drum, but it drives me crazy when I hear a "chaser" say, we have to get out, get on these storms so we can call in these reports to the NWS. Very poor arguement for being out "chasing" IMO. I know it isn't always the case due to the diversity in every WFO, but I would hope that by the time I see a rotating wall cloud or even a tornado, that a warning poly will already be on the map. If it so happens I can aid a WFO while I am out or pull bodies as I did on 4/27/11 in Birmingham, I am more than willing to, but you will never hear me say that I am "chasing" because it saves lives.

 

[Skip Talbot]

Fortunatly, there was no fatalities with the DFW tornadoes. that is always the main goal of chasing, provide accurate information to the local law enforcement/911 center and the weather service so they can issue warnings earlier.

This has been said numerous times in other threads, but apparently it needs to be said again because the media and popular portrayals keep recycling it. Chasing to save lives or report is an argument often cited by inexperienced and beginner chasers who feel the need to justify why they are out there beyond seeing tornadoes. It's the primary goal of a spotter to report severe weather. A chaser pursues severe weather for their own personal reasons. While I believe chasers should make a concerted effort to report as soon as possible, the PRIMARY reason they chase is to witness and document severe weather, not report it.

 

[Brian R]

Thats true, I chase to make videos to sell, however my first priority is to report where the storm is and what it is doing to at least help the weather service and public officials out if i can, also if it is a major storm i always see if i can offer assistance of any kind.