[Skywarn] Pilger, Nebraska tornado photo: Why stormchasing has become unethical. [WARNING: DKIM validation failed]

[Bradly L. McGarr]

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Lloyd,

Thanks for the link. I hadn't heard anything about the photo (I've been 
so busy with other things unless it's a major breaking news alert, it 
goes unnoticed). I've always taken pains to make a distinction of 
terminology when discussing chasers versus spotters. Chasers, in my 
mind, are those that flock in from around the country looking for a 
thrill and some photographic glory. Spotters are first and foremost 
concerned with safety of their communities, and will follow storms to 
return those ground-truths that can be so vital, but aren't there to 
sell photos or video (and likely aren't shooting any).

That said, had this been a local photojournalist at the local 
newspaper, I don't think the firestorm would have been nearly as bad. 
The firestorm comes up when someone comes in from out of town, 
specifically chasing devastation and hoping to get a payday from storm 
photography.

As spotters, I think this is a good reminder we need to remain active 
in our immediate area, and not driving 6+ hours away because the SPC 
says there is a high risk of tornado activity. It's also a good reminder 
that the lens should always be on the storm, not the devastation: let 
local journalists do that work. Finally, when human lives are impacted 
and you have a choice to continue chasing or grab your first aid kit and 
start providing aid, choose the latter. Personally I think the spotter 
training should require CERT training along side it. As spotters, we in 
some cases can have the distinction of being among the first in the area 
able to respond to save lives. With our communication equipment, we can 
pivot from reporting ground-truths to reporting casualties and starting 
triage very quickly. Maybe more spotters need to leave the cameras at 
home to keep "community safety" as the task at hand. Spend more time 
explaining why the NWS alerts aren't something to just ignore to people 
you encounter.

Finally, it's a good reminder that statements hoping for tornadoes or 
other severe weather is never a good idea. It's at minimum bad taste. 
It's like being a war enthusiast and hoping war breaks out just so one 
can be a partisan. We should never hope for tornadoes, in fact we should 
hope that the extent of our experience any given day is boring and 
unremarkable. When severe weather hits, someone's life is impacted: 
someone has to make an insurance claim for hail damage, or wind damage. 
Someone got hit by large hail while out walking. Someone's house got 
flooded. Someone got struck by lightning.

Above all, I think we all need to remember we need to represent SKYWARN 
as a highly professional volunteer organization assisting the NWS in 
promoting weather safety and reporting ground-truths. That should be the 
forefront of our minds when we turn our eyes to the skies.

- ---
REV. BRADLY L. MCGARR

CompTIA Security+ Certified Technician
CompTIA A+ Certified Technician
Microsoft Certified Professional - Microsoft Technology Associate
CIW Web Foundations Associate

Phone: 720.340.2327

A Founding Member of Societas Eruditorum North America
Where Technology and Science Meet The Greater Good
https://www.eruditorum-na.net

On 06/20/2014 7:05 am, Lloyd Colston wrote:
> 
> http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/06/19/pilger_nebraska_tornado_photo_why_stormchasing_has_become_unethical.html
>
> I hope spotters stay safe.
>
> Lloyd
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