Posted on 06/02/2013 9:29:32 AM PDT by jimbo123
Storm chaser, Tim Samaras, his son Paul and crew member, Carl Young were killed Friday in a tornado that ripped through El Reno, Oklahoma.
Samaras followed storms for over 30 years. His fascination with tornadoes began when he was about six years old and saw the tornado in The Wizard of Oz. Samaras once stated, “My passion for storm chasing has always been driven by the beautiful and powerful storms displayed in the heartland each spring."
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
“Don’t fool with Mother Nature”
Were they in that demolished TWISTEX vehicle they showed on the news Friday night? I thought Shep had said they escaped with minor injuries. Guess not. Dangerous work.
Samaras was my favorite chaser. He wasn’t in it for the fame and never usually tried to get closer than close.
One of the met boards I frequent seems to think he was at a ‘safe’ distance and then the storm took a 90deg turn and they lost control of their vehicle trying to get away.
At least he died doing what he loved best...
And another group of three (grad students) came damn close.
Sad. Very Sad.
Ina twister of fate...
RIP.
Sorry the guy and his son didn't make it. I choose not to engage in risky behavior unless it's really required.
/johnny
This man and his son were VERY experienced...and yet, they were unable to avoid death.
These tornadoes are fast and unpredictable while on the ground...and deadly. If you are in their path, and the road you are on does not give you a chance to get out of the way...they will run you down. The best thing is to seek a place of shelter that is underground, with a strong structure around you. If it is a large enough tornadoe, and strong enough, hiding under a bridge for example, will not save you, even if your place of refuge is below ground there. Winds too strong...forces too strong...too much deadly debris in the air.
No, you have to either leave soon enough, or have a strong place below ground with a strong door designed for this to be sure of surviving.
God rest the souls of these men, and comfort their families. These crews have brought us some of the most unbelievable images of these storms at deadly peril to their life. As this stroy illustrates.
I have worked for two storm chasers.
These guys are really pretty smart, but sometimes they are too smart by half.
Gotta get to the action.
A guy one his own.. get in.. get out..
RIP brother.
Flashback video of Samaras:
He’s the God of Creation - not a Wiccan “Mother Nature”
Nature always has the final word.
This was the guy who was always dropping probes in the path of the storms to get various types of data. He was more than a thrillseeker.
What’s the point of chasing storms? What’s the advantage of being in hsrm’s way as opposed to a safer distance?
Problem is “If you screw with the bull, you get the horns!” Something’s are better left alone. Perhaps you want to pet the Polar bears? Or feed the Sharks? Break into the Leopards/lions den (like the guys did in San Diego). Here’s a good one: Try to file a Non-Profit status with the IRS with the word “Patriot” in your name!!
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