Storm chasers - is it time for them to stop?

[hedgehog]

Twenty some years ago, there were very few films of tornadoes. Back then, storm chasers provided very important information for those attempting to design early warning systems. But today, aren't storm chasers mostly the worst kind of lookie-loos? People trying to get out of the way of tornadoes or officials trying to assess damage shouldn't have to deal with people who are driving wildly around the country side in order to film disaster porn.

[Walk away]

1. How are they having to deal with them?

I didn't realize they were a big problem.

[hedgehog]

5. I've seen numerous videos taken by people in speeding cars looking at a

tornado and trying to drive behind it or around it in order to get dramatic footage. I can't believe that safe driving is a high priority, and am surprised that collisions haven't been reported. Having additional joy riders on the roads around a tornado path can't be a good thing.

[Daemonaquila]

12. "Surprised that collisions haven't been reported."

Ergo, non-issue x 10. Maybe worrying about a REAL problem would be better?

[csziggy]

2. Most of the storm chasers are far gone by the time the recovery is begun

In some cases, the storm chasers have provided valuable confirmation of tornadoes on the ground, their direction, and the extent of the damage.

But they don't tend to hang around to get in the way of damage assessment or rescue and recovery operations - they are generally following the storms and could be in a different state by the time the people doing that arrive.

[HappyMe]

3. I still think that they can provide

useful info.

[premium]

4. If officials are assessing the damage,

isn't the storm already past? When was the last time a storm chaser got in the way of people trying to get out of the way?

[winter is coming]

6. I don't see any reason to stop the storm-chasers who are meteorologists.

And I don't see any practical way to stop the ones who aren't. You gonna take the time to ticket somebody, when a tornado's bearing down on you?

[hedgehog]

9. I agree that no cop is going to be going out there to ticket drivers

at that time. I'm simply asking if we should reconsider how we think of storm chasers.Do they really do anything productive any more, or is it mere thrill seeking?

[premium]

14. What would you do?

Make it a crime to chase a storm? How would you enforce it?

[laundry_queen]

17. Most of the meteorologists out there are conducting research.

Usually, the videos and photos are usually part of the same team (meaning the photographers travel with the meteorologists), as it can be useful to see how the video compares with the data collected.

There ARE 'amateur' storm chasers that do it for the thrill. Some are extremely educated, and some are just morons. It's hard to know where to draw the line, or how on earth you would enforce said line if there WERE one. Some seasoned storm chasers DO complain about the road congestion caused by amateurs while chasing storms but I'm at a loss at how you can regulate it. So, for now, I think it's best to just leave well enough alone.

[Logical]

10. Believe it or not some chasers know more about tornados....

Tan many Meteorologists. Some are experts on tornado's because if a life time casing them.

[loli phabay]

20. this plus how many meteorologists are out there, enough to cover every cell

These amateurs provide early warning for many communities, they dont just film it they call it in with relevant info that gives early warning. Hell we even had a tornado in the shenandoah a couple of years back and it was an amateur who called the sheriffs office and gave advance warning that allowed the responders to get moving. Luckily no one was hurt but that call was appreciated and could have saved lives.

[Daemonaquila]

7. Nonsense.

Whether they're storm chasers whose job it is to provide valuable on-the-ground info to county and local officials, or just hobbyists, it's not anyone else's business. This is such a non-issue. If someone wants to be in harm's way, whether in front of a storm or climbing a treacherous mountain, it's nobody else's business.

[Nye Bevan]

8. If you have a link to where a storm chaser "got in the way" then maybe.

If not, then perhaps they are providing a service.

[CBGLuthier]

11. Most of our storm chasers are coordinating with the tv stations

Their reporting is very valuable and they know better than to get in the way.

[GreenStormCloud]

13. There are two types of storm chasers - professionals and disaster tourists.

There are still professionals who chase storms, and use some very sophisticated gear to get various readings of the internal structure of such storms as they develop.

And there are folks that just want to take some video of a tornado and have an adventure to talk about. They are the ones that are in the way.

[Blue_Tires]

15. +1

[newfie11]

16. The ones I see here in western NE and CO are not the looky loo types

They have cars with radar on top and a weird looking car that looks like a tank. I have seen them headed south once and there was a convoy of about 4-5 cars.
That was here in NE.

Another time they once passed us headed for somewhere in CO.

I also saw one of those tank cars in Chryenne Wy.

I have no problem with them.

[Bluenorthwest]

18. No

nt

[fishwax]

19. storm chasers are pretty much out of the way when the time comes to assess damage

In the meantime, chasers still provide valuable information, both in the form of documentation of the storm and in the form of keeping news organizations informed about storms developments. The networks in Oklahoma, for instance, all have professional storm chasing crews, but they also get info from amateurs and hobbyists who are out chasing storms. As storm systems develop, tornadoes can pop up almost anywhere, and the networks' professional crews can't be in all places at once. These chasers are out there for a variety of reasons: to learn, to get practice, to hopefully be able to spot something early in order to provide footage and information. Certainly a sense of adventure plays into it for many/most, but I don't think that is bad.

[Nimajneb Nilknarf]

21. The pursuit of knowledge sometimes compels people to take extraordinary personal risks.

[11 Bravo]

22. I could not disagree more. Storm chasers such as Reed Timmer ...

and others provide real-time eyes on the ground, which assist local news teams in providing residents with immediate and precisely localized warnings. Calling it "disaster porn" is misinformed, at best.
Disaster, or "storm porn" consists of every fucking network morning news show broadcasting live from the scene on the morning after, as their stars elbow each other out of the way in order to ask survivors questions like, "How do you feel?"