Continue reading »]]> Today, we lost a friend, a father, a husband… one of the greatest chasers, Andy Gabrielson. Andy was killed in a head-on accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma today (2/4/2012) heading home from a storm chase in Texas just the day before. Erik and I had the privilege to know Andy. Reading all the other posts and blogs, you could tell one thing, the storm chaser community took a  large hit. One of the most kind, caring people in the community had been taken from us.

On Friday, the first Chase of my season, a minimal … okay it wasn’t even minimal.. it was just a lets go see a storm chase. Andy was ther with the TVN crew, making everyone laugh as always. We joked about November 7th, about how he thought Dick McGowan stole his wallet.

*Sunday Morning*

I had to stop writing last night as the words were still not coming to me of what to say. This morning the words are pouring into my mind of what to say. The next few paragraphs will be just free writing. Whatever comes to my mind is what will be portreyed through my fingers and typed for the public to read.

Andy Gabrielson. One of the most amazing chasers in the world. One of the most dedicated. It doesn’t matter if he had to travel all day and night, for the most minimal of set ups.. he would be there. His passion drove him. That’s why he was the best. It didn’t matter who told him it was a bad day to chase, or who he had to drag out, he was going to be there no matter what, chasing. Never stop chasing. Reed’s line has echo’d in my mind since I heard the news. I really don’t know why. Maybe because even in this time of tragedy Andy would still want us to chase… hell, I bet if there was even a 2% chance of tornado’s on his funeral day, and we were at his funeral he would be pissed at us for not chasing.

What is equally astounding is the people in the chaser community. It doesn’t matter if you disliked a person, or had competition against one another, all of that was left at the proverbial door.  Everyone came together, to mourn and to comfort. To laugh and to cry.  Everyone was there for everyone. It’s truly amazing what the chaser community is capable of. I find myself blessed to know and have met the people that I do know because of this… hobby.. passion.. profession..

The Weather Channel has been doing tributes all morning, talking to different chasers. One of them is our close buddy Mike Scantlin. I think I’ll end this post on a phrase he just said to me over facebook chat.

He was a f***ing Champion.

Continue reading »]]> We’re winding down yet another year. A year of Happy days, a year of tragic days, a year of catastrophic days. It only seems like yesterday Erik and I were desperately looking through wreckage trying to find a missing woman, knowing one of her family members were already deceased behind us… only to find her body a few minutes later. A life changing event for Erik and I. But we were able to help save a life that day.

We often talk about that day… What we could have done.. should have done. But we always come to the same conclusion that on that day, we did what we set out to do. Save lives. Although we can’t save everyone, we know at least we helped save one that without our help, could have very well been a statistic. The feeling around that area on that day was…. unsettling to say the least. As soon as we pulled up, you could almost FEEL something wasn’t right. The air.. it was dense, cold, dreadful. After a few seconds of looking at the house, you could tell what that feeling was. Death. As you walked around the house, breathing got harder. Erik said he couldn’t really feel what I felt. I’m not a very spiritual person, so all these…. senses I guess you could call them, were very overwhelming.

After we had found the missing person, I could not take it anymore. I went and sat down in the vehicle, rolled up the windows, and looked at the computer screen. All I could do is stare. At that time there was a male in very critical condition. We had a police officer on the scene and a nurse, but the Police officer could not get through to dispatch on his radio. Nobody knew we needed an ambulance. Erik and I tried 911 about 20 times, but nobody answered… at all… I finally said screw it, got my GPS coordinates, and called The Weather Channel. They threw me on air and I was able to give our coordinates out on air. Within 15 minutes, an ambulance pulled up and we were able to get the guy to a hospital. It’s an eerie feeling when you cannot reach 911… or any type of help. Thank god The Weather Channel was able to help us. I think any longer of a wait, the man would have died. Now, I’ve seen dead bodies, I’ve seen death, it really has never effected me, but this day, I still think of. Those feelings, senses, I’ll never forget.

6 months later, I received an email. It was from a family member of the man we helped save. She updated me that the man finally was released out of the Hospital. After 6 months. That shows the extent of his injuries. She thanked us, called us heroes…. I was overwhelmed with emotion… but I have to say, we are not heroes. The men and women over seas, in the armed forces, police officers and firefighters/emt’s. THEY are the heroes.

The rest of the year was filled with even more tragedy and devastation. Joplin, Missouri hit… Alabama and Mississippi hit just as hard, if not worse. I watched live as a Tornado tore through Tuscaloosa, Alabama in fear. Just knowing that I was watching people die right in front of my eyes. Knowing that I could not help. It’s a horrible feeling. Watching youtube videos, one after another from fellow chasers chasing those days, both Joplin and the Mississippi/Alabama days, just in awe.

But this is why I chase, and this is why Erik chases. Most people think Storm Chasers are just thrill seekers. Although yes we get a thrill chasing these beasts, it’s not our main goal of chasing. People must understand we’re out there to document, report, and respond. We document by taking pictures/video, report them to the National Weather service to give earlier warnings, and to respond to houses and places hit by these beasts. Most people do not know, but 99% of the time, Storm Chasers are on the scene before EMT/Fire/Police.

I have to work in a few hours. Hope this is enough. Here is to a less tragic 2012.

Continue reading »]]> It’s that time o’ season again. Cold.. Ice.. Snow.. Dont get me wrong, I LOVE severe weather season, but I also love the winter weather. Get’s you in to the Christmas spirit!

We’ll be making some changes to the website in the coming months. Slowly but surely we’ll have a new layout by next season. We’re still taking reservations for us to come talk to schools!

Continue reading »]]> SCHOOL IS HERE! Just in case you didn’t know

The 2011-2012 school year is here. We announced late last school year our plans to come and talk to schools around the metroplex and Wichita falls about tornado preparedness and safety. If you would like more information and if you would like to schedule us, click on “TXCHSR @ YOUR SCHOOL” up in the links area!

Continue reading »]]> This spring tornado season has came to a end and as I reflect on a historical year I stop and think about the lives that were lost. How I almost lost my life driving to a chase, The up’s and downs of the season. Going from near bust days and close calls to epic outbreaks across 11 states. Chasing is a brotherhood/sister and the pure joy of seeing mother nature at it’s finest and deadliest. I chase for the public and to help the warning process. This year just put what we do in even greater light, and I am proud of each and everyone of you that put him/her self on the line to make sure fellow human life had a chance to make it to another day.