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

Fri Jun 20 15:20:18 EDT 2014

Spotters are not a dead issue, though there are issues surrounding good
reporting and local organizational drama that plague Skywarn.

I do not agree that all chasers are thrill seekers and spotters perform a
service more so than chasers. Many Veteran chasers all perform a service to
NWS and in cases out gun spotters because of their experience.  Now if we
are talking extreme chasers as in the Reed Trimmer types and the new breed
of young chasers, I totally agree.

The community is out of control and law enforcement is going to tighten the
noose as they just did in Pilger, snagging both veteran spotters and
chasers alike. Of course The Weather Channel has also become part of the
problem.

I do agree, whether spotter or chaser, continued education is needed. CERT
and I will add FEMA IS-559 Local Damage Assessments, should be part of the
normal staples. But more so "Coordination" with both the local WCM and EM
needs to be a priority...

Jay Cafasso
12559 N400E
Wheatfield, IN 46392 USA
Cell: 479.866.9579 Fax: 651-691-2608
Home GPS - Lat 41.19509, Long -86.96737

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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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