Storm Chaser, WJ0G Killed by Oklahoma Tornado

3 veteran storm chasers killed by Oklahoma tornado
KELLY P. KISSEL and THOMAS PEIPERT
Associated Press


Three veteran storm chasers were among the 10 people killed when a violent tornado barreled into the Oklahoma City metro area.

Jim Samaras told The Associated Press on Sunday that his brother Tim Samaras, 54, of Bennett, Colo., was killed Friday.
Tim Samaras' son, 24-year-old Paul Samaras, also of Bennett; and another chaser, Carl Young, also died.

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said it believed the deaths were the first time scientific researchers were killed while chasing tornadoes. The Samaras' and Young were pursuing an EF3 tornado as it bore down on a metropolitan area of more than 1 million people.
"He looked at tornadoes not for the spotlight of TV but for the scientific aspect. At the end of the day, he wanted to save lives and he gave the ultimate sacrifice for that," Jim Samaras said.

The classic movie "The Wizard of Oz" fascinated a then-6-year-old Tim Samaras, his brother said — not for the magical Emerald City, but by what took Dorothy there, the storm. "

He didn't give a crap about Toto, he didn't give a crap about the munchkins," Jim Samaras said.

The Storm Prediction Center issued a statement Sunday, saying it was terribly saddened by Tim Samaras' death. "
Samaras was a respected tornado researcher and friend ... who brought to the field a unique portfolio of expertise in engineering, science, writing and videography," the center's statement said.

Tim Samaras had appeared on the Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers" show until last year and also contributed to the National Geographic Society.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Tim Samaras his son Paul and their colleague Carl Young. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families," Discovery Channel spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg said.

The channel planned to dedicate a show Sunday night to the three men, capping the broadcast with a tribute that will read: "In memory of Tim Samaras, Carl Young and Paul Samaras who died Friday, May 31st doing what they love, chasing storms."
Jim Samaras said his brother, nephew and their colleague were dedicated to avoiding trouble while chasing storms, and that the family wasn't worried about whether he was taking care of himself.

"I don't know if I would say I worried about it because one of the biggest things he stressed was safety. He knew what to look for. He knew where not to be and in this case the tornado took a clear turn toward them," he said. Video taken by a number of storm chasers showed debris pelting vehicles Friday. Winds swept one vehicle with a crew from The Weather Channel off the road, tossed it 200 yards and flipped it into a field — they escaped major injury.

Jim Cantore, a Weather Channel meteorologist, tweeted Sunday that meteorologists were in mourning. "This is a very sad day for the meteorological community and the families of our friends lost. Tim Samaras was a pioneer and great man," he wrote.
n Canadian County, Okla., where the men died, Undersheriff Chris West noted the three were hoping to help understand violent storms. "They put themselves in harm's way so that they can educate the public about the destructive power of these storms," he said.

The men worked as a team and Tim Samaras had received 18 grants from the National Geographic Society for work in the field.

"Tim was a courageous and brilliant scientist who fearlessly pursued tornadoes and lightning in the field in an effort to better understand these phenomena," the society said on its website. "
Though we sometimes take it for granted, Tim's death is a stark reminder of the risks encountered regularly by the men and women who work for us."

The Storm Prediction Center said scientific storm chasing is performed as safely as possible, with trained researchers using appropriate technology.
It encouraged all, including the media and amateurs, to chase safely to avoid a repeat of Friday's deaths.

___
Kissel reported from Little Rock, Ark.; Peipert reported from Denver. Associated Press writer Lynn Elber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

06/02/2013 16:18 © Copyright The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

 

Yes, very sad, although some will say doing this is looking for trouble. I do not say that, I have stormed chased before, and luckily never been hurt. Today instead of my normal space news podcast, I dedicated my audio news to Tim Samaras, storm chasing, his possible last audio interview the day he was killed, and audio from one of my storm chases to give those who never did it a sense of a bit of what it is like. Nothing can replace the real deal, and I know exactly why Tim did it for as long as he did.
Here is the location to my news podcast if you care to listen.
http://www.spacegab.com

73, Mike, KG0UFO

 

RIP...tragic.

73,
Chip W1YW

 

I don't know when the article was originally written but the report I saw said they were hit by someone driving the wrong way on the road. While not a storm related crash it happened while they were chasing a storm. The really sad part is it could have happened anywhere! A lot of talent and knowledge lost...RIP.

 

My deepest sympathy to the loss of the three "storm chasers." AND to their families. They felt their actual scientific research would help in the knowledge if the formation of such devastating weather phenomenoa. Apparently, in their enthusiasm, despite most careful avoidance of such storms, there were caught by (at least semi) surprise, and had no way to escape the path of a deadly tornado, which had (apparently) an unpredictably path.
They DID, However, wish to get "Close up" photography of the twister, and perhaps didn't leave a sufficient escape route. should the funnel cloud come in an unpredictable direction toward them. (I don't have the morbid details.)

As a person who has relatives (albeit distant, mostly) in Moore, Normal, Shawnee Counties and other areas around Oklahoma City,) My heart goes out to those (some of whom HAVE to be relatives) who have lost all but their lives.

 

Yes it certainly is a shame to lose 3 men who take time to face danger in the face,so that the rest of us may benefit from their work.My niece es Sister-in-Law live only 12-15 miles from this destruction.I sat on the edge of my chair watching this whole thing unfold.May God bless you 3 men for the work you did so that others may survive. Respectfully,Gregory L.Mitchell-W2MYA,West Caldwell,N.J.

 

My heart is saddened by the loss of my friend and fellow chaser. May you find the answers to the questions that you have sought all your life.

 

How sad, they gave it all trying to be of help to mankind. Our thoughts with those left behind.
73 Dave W0DLR

 

It is very unfortunate that he lost his life, and his sons, in pursuit of HIS science. But remember he was a self proclaimed "CHASER" not a "Spotter". By definition "CHASERS" are willing to take high risks for fame and fortune (and adrenaline), aka Discovery Channel series.

NOAA "Spotters" (most HAMs) are trained to follow and find tornadoes from a safe distance/angle, we do NOT do this for fame and glory but to save lives. 99% of the time SPOTTERS are never known and our name is never connected to a NOAA/Sheriff Tornado warning alert.

The loss of his life is very sad, but please do not confuse "CHASERS" with the vast majority of HAMdom being trained "SPOTTERS".
HAMdom SPOTS to save lives not to get on TV.
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That is so sad and unfortunate. R.I.P: WJ0G Jim Samaras, his brother Tim Samaras, son, 24-year-old Paul Samaras and all others whose lives were taken during this tragic event. :-(

K7LQT

 

My deepest condolences to family and friends. A true loss...

 

N6JSX, HAMdom SPOTS to save lives not to get on TV.

You could have left this off and got your point across.

 

The loss of anyone in his prime is unfortunate and tragic. Yet, this incident provides an opportunity to open a debate about the ill-defined line between real research and its necessary risk, versus risks that are taken more for personal thrill or their media value. In recent years, an entire business has arisen around "storm chasing." Some of these activities are legitimate whereas others are conducted under the guise of "research" in an effort to make money or to attain notoriety.

While it is not the purpose of this forum to debate the wisdom of placing oneself and others at risk to get a valuable and marketable video, one can't help but wonder about the real "value" of some storm chasing efforts in an era of advanced remote sensing technology and similar methods designed to collect relevant data. Are all of these individuals operating in close proximity to supercell thunderstorms really collecting anything of value beyond good video made for prime time TV and DVD sales?

Let's hope that some good may come out of this tragedy in the form of a discussion about the real purpose of "storm chasing." Let's also hope this debate takes place before others are killed. N6JSX makes a very important point. Spotters are engaged in a public service and they should balance this altruistic motive against risk. Far too many "chasers" take calculated risks for questionable reasons.

73, JW

 

How incredibly judgmental and ignorant. I challenge you to spend time reading his research in tornado and lightning formation before posting something like this.

In 2011, I heard Tim speak to a huge room full of trained storm spotters, and you could feel his passion for the science of tornadoes, thunderstorms and lightning formation. Sure, he had some nice pictures and videos. But he truly wanted to understand what causes these tornadoes to tick, why do they form when they do, barometric pressure changes inside the funnel, wind speeds at different heights, etc. He and his crew would put down instrumentation to measure tornadoes, which they did successfully on a number of occasions.

Before you write him off like some extra from Twister who is implicitly inferior to a "trained spotter," please take some time to learn about him because he trained some of those trained spotters.