Storm chaser near Louisville

[DerHntr]

Real nice guy here in Louisville chasing. Looks like he drives right by a destroyed house at about the 2:15 mark. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W5C_1Hmx82M

I guess getting more footage is more important for revenues and helping people is not a concern. These types aren't good for the community of chasers out there.

 

[Hump4Hoops]

If chasers stopped to help everyone in need they came across

Would they have time to do anything else? Not that I approve or disapprove of what they do, but I bet they come across that type of devastation and folks in need everywhere they go - if they helped them all, they would just be fast red cross volunteers.

 

[DerHntr]

I've watched a lot of the shows and know several very active chasers. None of them would have passed that scene and kept going. They would have at least checked to make sure no one was severely hurt. It was literally seconds later. I don't think they have to stay if it isn't life threatening.

I get what you are saying though.

 

[yjnkdawg]

Real nice guy here in Louisville chasing. Looks like he drives right by a destroyed house at about the 2:15 mark. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W5C_1Hmx82M

I guess getting more footage is more important for revenues and helping people is not a concern. These types aren't good for the community of chasers out there.

Reed Timmer said he tries to help people to get out of danger when he is storm chasing. A life saved is a lot more important. I guess it depends on the individual and what the person's priority is?

 

[DerHntr]

Reed Timmer said he tries to help people to get out of danger when he is storm chasing. A life saved is a lot more important. I guess it depends on the individual and what the person's priority is?

Exactly. And I am not a fan of Timmer at all but he does stop when first on a scene.

 

[tb2]

I didn't see a house at the 2:15 mark in the video. there was a house later that had some roof damage. Did i miss something?

 

[DerHntr]

I didn't see a house at the 2:15 mark in the video. there was a house later that had some roof damage. Did i miss something?

Just a few seconds after that he passes a small hill on the right. Looks like what is left of a house. You can see the highway lines end on the road and a driveway leading in. It appears to be water spewing from a pipe in the front and a bunch of debris everywhere. There is also a white vehicle in the foreground in the ditch. It could be just storm debris from the direct path of the tornado but he didn't drive over much in the road right there.

 

[starkvegasdawg]

As a chaser I have to agree with you. When I go out I have a first aid kit and chainsaw in my vehicle. Our first job is to report to the NWS what is actually occurring in the field. However, just having a conscious dictates you stop and offer help as you are often first on the scene. I was at the Louisville tornado but not at the damage path. Just as I was relocating another storm came in with a funnel cloud that was right on top of me. I had to beat a hasty retreat to avoid being another stat. But, some are only out there for the video. That's just part of it. When I was watching the tornado had two chasers from CA next to me. One thing that made this storm even more real happened yesterday. I live in Starkville and was out walking my yard to see if it was dry enough to mow. I started finding debris from that tornado in my yard. One item in particular was a receipt made out to Ruth Bennett. I googled her name and she was the daycare worker that died protecting that child at her center.

 

[Latham12]

That's on hwy 25, north Leake County. Looks like those cars have been there awhile. I pass by them all the time. I see nothing the storm chaser did wrong.

 

[ckDOG]

What's your opinion on how close that guy trailed?

Seems pretty reckless to trail that close. You can hear debris hitting the vehicle. I'd want no part of being so near a tornado twisting off tops of hundreds of large trees. Seems like you are rolling the dice with having lumber thrown your way.

That said, awesome footage!

 

[starkvegasdawg]

Seems pretty reckless to trail that close. You can hear debris hitting the vehicle. I'd want no part of being so near a tornado twisting off tops of hundreds of large trees. Seems like you are rolling the dice with having lumber thrown your way.

That said, awesome footage!

I'd almost be willing to bet he didn't mean to be that close. If he did then he is more concerned getting video than he is his life. A lot of tornadoes here move upwards of 50-60mph. If, by the time you see it, it is only half a mile away then you have around 30 seconds to get out of its path. And if it was like the Louisville tornado and 3/4 of a mile wide you'll spend most of that 30 seconds just trying to clear the edge of the funnel. It's a dangerous business but for those that do it for the right reasons (help warn the public, it's a risk worth taking. That being said, I want to stay around two miles off.