Storm Chaser Journal

After an exhausting, but action-packed 48 hours with little or no sleep, I have departed Galveston in route to my hurricane chase base in Pensacola. It was about a six hour adventure (using a complex of back roads), to travel from Galveston to the LA border. The two extra gas cans I carried saved me from disaster, as I just made it to the first gas station open east of Houston in Sulphur, LA. I found the last room at a second rate motel near Sulphur. I don’t care, as I’m so tired, I could sleep on cactus. Houston is a ghost town. I-10 is flooded in several places with cars casually floating as the drivers wade to shore. I was so tied, I did not even stop to photograph them. Galveston suffered some serious damage, but it will recover quickly. (Nix that last statement…. infrastructure was too delicate to withstand the storm. Sewer, and power were issues). All of the pier buildings were destroyed, including the famous Hooters over the Gulf. You know I made sure it was empty of any possible victims….. lol. Dilchrist, Texas, a town along highway 86 leading to the ferry I took to Galveston was washed away, with many missing or dead. I had that old familiar feeling when I  drove through the small town the day before Ike struck, as Gulf water was already lapping up near the main road. Had the ferry stopped operating, I would have been cut off and stuck along that highway and washed away, resorting to my PLB and emergency life vest. Yikes! Fires raged all night setting an funky orange cast to the sky as the winds howled at over 90 mph. I know there were higher gusts, as the parking garage shook several times…. just like the one I occupied during Andrew. I am guessing gusts will eventually be estimated at over 130 mph. I took over 300 photographs, some of the best ever of a hurricane disaster. I do not have time to add a lot here, but I will later.

While I was standing in the storm surge, some sea creature decided to sting me. After some medication, the swelling has gone down.

I have dramatic footage of Ike, including some of the only footage of the pier buildings as they were tore apart. See Weatherstock for commercial and editorial licensing.

Warren

A man is overcome by a massive wave along the Galveston seawall.

Explosions and flames overcome a boat storage area as a man watches.

Hurricane Ike flood victims wade through flood waters to safety.

Firefighters slammed by a wave as they attempt to fix a gas leak.

An amusement park mermaid prepares to be set free as the storm surge approaches her. (She was gone the next morning).

A truck full of spectators takes a dangerous path as a massive wave full of debris heads towards them.

With the full force of Hurricane Ike bearing down, a local resident takes a walk.

The seawall memorial, in memory of the many children killed in the 1900 hurricane, as a large wave slams into the wall. The memorial survived the hurricane despite rumors it had been destroyed.

A massive pile of debis, from the pier buildings along the seawall, lines the road and sidewalk in Galveston.

Night vision image of Ike during his full fury.

Report from Galveston:

September 12. 5:10 AM CDT.  Galveston, TX. Woke up by concussion of large waves crashing into seawall, with water spilling over the highway. Water level still has a way to go, maybe 5-6 feet. I think the expected 25 foot surge will top the wall(s) in some areas. Water appears (with night vision) to be going completely over outer regions of piers. Doubt those buildings over the water will survive. I’m leaving this motel near the water to head to a Cat-5 proof hotel (bunker). Streets empty. Police escorting last evacuees out of town, come going code 3. Unless some of the satellite trucks find high ground, they will be flooded. I don’t think some of the media are aware of storm surges. Looks like heavy (and dangerous) northern rain bands will hit in advance of the core by mid-day. A lot of people here were thinking it was going to hit (bad part) at 2-3 AM. This may not be the case as the north eyewall may be the most severe portion.

For those who have not been in Galveston, area near seawall is higher than the main portion of town to the north. I suspect this area could flood quite easily. Local media calling for a 25 foot storm surge now along the Galveston coast.

Very likely to see tornadoes embedded in rain bands.

Will update with pictures and information in the next few days.
Warren

Hurricane Gustav slammed into Gulfport, MS on the morning of September 1, with a storm surge of 9-feet. Here are some of the pictures I took during the hurricane.

8-3-08:  Hello everyone:  The SC.com Chase Team will be heading out on Sunday morning to intercept Hurricane Gustav. The expected landfall is currently forecasted by the TPC to be very near New Orleans, as a Category 4 storm. (Subject to major changes in location, strength and speed). Our team will be setting up operations in Gulfport, MS and will deploy to Biloxi, MS or safe areas to the west. (It is difficult to chase in south and southwestern Louisiana due to low-lying swamps).

I will try and post an update as soon as possible.

Warren

The Associated Press is reporting NBC and CBS has pulled tornado footage they say was “faked” by a storm chaser.

See the story here:

http://wjnoblog.com/2008/07/the-ap-runs-fake-tornado-video/

Warren

OK, I’ve been waiting to write this all chase season long…. so here goes…..

It seems that every year, more and more media and production crews are flocking to Tornado Alley to feast upon the thrills and dramatic video clips of storm chasers and tornado chasers — chasing violent weather.

Unfortunately, things have gotten out of hand. Unless you are in the tornado or so close you can spit on it — the media passes.

Unlike other adventurous pursuits, storm chasing is still a rather new entity. This means the evolution has not risen above the ranks to define the individual reasons why people chase storms. We are all still lumped into a single category, “storm chasers.” God knows I have tried for years to separate what I do for a living from the chasers who go out for a few weeks then return to their regular lives.

The media and production crews simply have not figured it out. An idiot who purposely places himself, herself or others in danger, for no real reason, is not what storm chasing is all about. Some of these fringe element chasers are eventually going to die, be disabled, or kill someone else, either by a tornado, or some other Darwinian filter. Mark my word on this — the Grim Reaper is grooving on bad behavior in Tornado Alley now days. (I thought I passed him near Wichita…. but it was some goth kid hiding in a car wash from hail).

May, 2008.

Storm Spotter Killed

Story Courtesy Of KOAM TV - JOPLIN MO

A storm spotter and volunteer firefighter from the Seneca, MO Rural Fire Protection District has died today as a result of injuries from Saturday’s EF4 tornado in western Newton County, MO. Tyler Casey was spotting at Highway 43 and Iris Road in western Newton County, and his vehicle were tossed by the winds.

Tyler is survived by a two year old daughter. He was helping the public at large when he sustained those injuries.

A memorial fund has been started: Tyler Casey Memorial Fund, Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home,
PO Box 380, Seneca MO 64865.

Warren has forwarded a contribution, we encourage others to do the same.