Australia Storm BookSTORM CHASE ETHICSby Alan Moller
I. SAFETY:"Safe" chasing involves being well prepared (including all that is necessary to make a safe trip), having an escape route, not taking unnecessary chances, and driving carefully. These chasers pull off main roads (off the shoulder if the terrain allows, or parking in a lot or apron), and set up their cameras away from the road. Safe chasers strive to learn all they can about storms before they begin chasing. They try to avoid core-punching, as if such acts could win a badge of courage. Public safety is always a critical concern to safe chasers. They steer from dangerous storm situations when possible. It has been said that storm chasers are not storm spotters. This of course, is true. In many situations, the NWS/news media warnings let chasers know that spotters have the situation well in hand if they are monitoring radio and news reports. Experienced chasers know that telephone calls occasionally are difficult to make. Several chasers have circumvented this problem by obtaining Amateur Radio licenses. Not only does this make reporting easier (especially near large communities where Amateur radio nets are most common, and the chances for a major disaster are greatest), it also allows a chaser to receive relevant meteorological information quickly via the two-way radio. Of course, a serious storm chaser may have objectives which differ from a storm spotter. Reporting severe weather may be a secondary priority to gathering scientific data or working as a free-lance photographer, etc. Still, when chasers coordinate with local NWS offices, they likely will find the meteorologist in charge (MIC) willing to exchange information which is of mutual benefit (briefings and/or maps in exchange for real time and/or post-chase reports and/or film copies).
II. COURTESY:Courtesy is linked to safety in that they are both members of the "golden rule" club. When thinking of courtesy, David Hoadley comes to mind. NWS employees in the Midwest who know Dave refer to how considerate he is when seeking information and data, how he supplies them with reports, and how he sends them photographs of tornadoes and storms he has observed. There are scores of other chasers who are courteous, in that they respect the concerns of others. Courtesy obviously includes many aspects of chasing, from understanding when NWS meteorologists are in a "crunch" time and unavailable to brief chasers, to respecting the rights of storm victims. Indeed, it is best for chasers (particularly those prone to being in a euphoric state) to stay away from disaster areas. Most chasers have spent a considerable amount of time learning how to analyze maps and make their own forecasts. This relieves others of the burden of having to brief chasers when NWS forecasters have a heavy work load. I personally do not believe a person is a serious storm chaser unless he/she is willing to learn about forecasting. It's like wanting to become a wildlife photographer without learning the living habits of animals. The photographer must understand an animal's traits in order to achieve photographic success and to insure that the animal is not disturbed or harmed. In other words, knowledge is necessary if the photographer is to succeed. There are situations where large groups of storm chasers will congregate at one NWS office. The courteous approach is to send representatives into the office to politely offer exchange of reports for a look at the data. (If a hard copy of the data can be printed off AFOS, then many others can use this.)
III. OBJECTIVES:Safety and courtesy should be viewed as critical chase concerns. Beyond these concerns, chasers should set storm chase objectives. I think it is appropriate to ask after a chase: "What have you learned?" rather than "How many tornadoes did you see?" Learning involves making careful observations of the events occurring all around you. Whether one wants to learn about forecasting, storm structure, tornado dynamics, hail, lightning, microbursts or any other subject, the learning potential is unlimited. There are other worthwhile objectives, which may be more personal, such as obtaining "sellable" photography. Indeed, chasers occasionally take such dramatic videos or slides that the costs of an entire chase year are covered by their sales. Storm chasing has entered the realm of free enterprise. Such marketable goods should not be obtained at the cost of safety and courtesy. There is so much satisfaction to gain when a storm chaser properly mixes the quests for scientific knowledge and public welfare with the adventure, excitement, and pioneering spirit which naturally arises from storm chasing. To me this satisfaction, when combined with the pure pleasure derived from watching the natural world, is what makes storm chasing such a wonderfully unique experience.
Page 10 |