I understand how a spotter works to observe and report in efforts to provide as much advanced warning as possible. And there are many good minded spotters. But these chasers are simply dangerous. No EVOC training, a self imposed feeling of 'my speeding through debris is saving lives', someone posted up a a few how he was saving lives chasing an F5 passing soccer moms and other people following the storm. I really wonder how this guy is 'saving lives' speeding with amber lights, behind a tornado, around other panicked motorists. I've been unlucky enough to have had a tornado cross my path and be the only public safety official close to it. I had a police radio, and was in direct communication with city EM dispatch, and still the only thing I could do was report where it was and what it hit. I was roughly half a mile parallel to the tornado, and never ever want to do that again. I had to stop to clear a roadway where a building had taken a hit, so the FD could get to the building. At no point did I think to my self, "self, I'm saving lives by following this thing", more like "self, this is the scariest thing I have done". Storm spotters are vastly different than chasers. I think chasers are nothing more than action junkies, that have convinced themselves that they are legit and 'save lives' even though they are not ahead of the tornado, and are driving like douchellamas. Chasers do not need lights, and never ever have any use for a siren. I seem to recall SkyWarn getting very clear about spotters having lights being a frowned upon thing. That boosted my respect for SkyWarn and spotters.
opcorn:
