Let’s get a few things out of the way, I’m not one of ‘those’ chasers. I haven’t been chasing for 30 years, I can’t remember many days where I didn’t see another chaser on the road all day much less all season. However, I have been at this for almost a decade now and in that short time span chasing has gone from ‘nerd activity’ which you are looked at funny for to ‘extreme sport’ where everyone wants to join in.
And they have.
Now in the year 2010, Storm Chasing has become something that almost everyone thinks they can do — because they can — and now we are on the cusp of some kind of major pushback from people who our traffic and actions are effecting the most. And I can’t help but look around and see a lot of finger pointing going on.
“You TIV guys are so reckless!”
“Vortex II has added so many people to the roads!”
“These local yokels are following me everywhere nowadays!”
Stop, deep breath. Now look in the mirror. Yes, look at that guy/gal staring back at you. Guess what? You have to assign blame there first before you move on. Chasing has exploded in popularity because it’s now both easy and seemingly a quick way to get ‘famous.’ But also because people like you and me have made it that way.
There are a lot of people who are ‘chasers’ who probably couldn’t forecast with just a surface map and a few upper charts and soundings for the day: and that’s ok! But it also means that they are getting their info in other places — and thus they are likely using OUR forecasts to get them there (yes I’m guilty of posting forecasts too!).
That’s not the only problem — at least here in Oklahoma — everyone believes they too, can storm chase. So if a storm is near a population center of some kind, many locals will be out gawking at the storm because they can. I am certain hordes of video from chasers over the years getting close has led to this phenomenon of people no longer being scared of tornadoes like they used to be.
Politically, the end result here is simple: we are in trouble in Oklahoma. While many chasers profess about their ‘right’ to drive near a storm I just want to remind you there is no such guaranteed right anywhere in the Constitution of either the USA or Oklahoma! If anything, you should look at your ability to drive without hindrance near a dangerous storm in what people being directly effected would call an emergency situation a major privilege since it’s not allow in most other instances of dangerous weather/natural disasters.
The media has turned on the ‘amateur chasers’ and the public blowback is now beginning as well (reference several pictures posted by OKC meteorologists and the user comments on Facebook for proof of this). That means both Billy Bob Tour Operator and I’ve been chasing for 10 years Sanner are now quickly becoming public enemy #1 in Oklahoma. Politically speaking, that’s not a great spot to be.
Many chasers have thrown the ‘We are out there to warn the public’ delusion to people. But in Oklahoma: You aren’t helping the warning process 95% of days. TV Meteorologists, TV Chasers, and local networks of spotters make sure there are dozens of eyes on a storm in Oklahoma before WE ever show up. We are not only not needed, we are most likely hindering the efforts of these people who can directly warn the people in their local towns and viewing areas much faster than us!
And then there are the people who are now under the delusion streaming saves lives — I know it’s a popular thing to try to feel better about yourself and make it seem as if you are saving lives. But again, in Oklahoma — people are going to watch Gary England, Mike Morgan, and Rick Mitchell LOOOOOONNNNG before they watch Joe Chaser Streamer. You aren’t saving lives in Oklahoma. Agnus Winfield of rural Washita County will watch Gary England long before she watches you. While the NWS Mets won’t admit it, they have enough people out there in Oklahoma as is to provide info before hundreds of chasers are out there ‘warning the public’ (which they aren’t anyways, it’s just a nice crutch to stand on top of to feel better about oneself).
There is a saying that everyone views their worth as a bit higher than what it really is. In the community of storm chasers (a very weird place mind you), a vast majority believes it is their right to drive near severe weather and that they are providing a valuable warning service to the public. Neither is remotely true, and that is why the big crackdown is coming upon chasers is sooner than most think.
The end result is that there WILL be legislation of some kind that will give LEOs more power in severe weather to control the situation — and trust me, I know that this is 100% being worked on right now by legislators in Oklahoma. An OHP trooper on 5/19 proved they can easily control the situation with a tornadic storm bearing down on them. It is easily accomplished, much to the chagrin of chasers who say such a law is not easily enforced. Politically speaking, this is a slam dunk with both the media and public now not on the side of the ‘amateur chasers’ who are causing a big mess out there (I just spoke about all of us again!).
So get ready: Chasing in Oklahoma will be a lot more difficult going forward. LEOs will likely start barricading roads off as they spot to ensure the safety of their local citizens, especially when backed up with a few lines of legislative power that gives them the ability to do so.
And when it happens, look in the mirror. Until you can blame yourself for being a part of the escalation, you cannot seek to blame others. It is through each of us that chasing has expanded how it has, and thus, why the big storm is coming for us. I hope everyone is ready.
