If you are a fan of Discovery Channel\'s "Storm Chasers," then you probably know Tim Samaras. Word is now coming in that he, his son, and storm chaser Carl Young were among those killed in Friday's El Reno tornado.

Jim Samaras, Tim's brother, is now confirming that Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras, and Carl Young were killed.

Onward and upward,
airforce

Like a miniature dog chasing a big truck, when it catches it what is it going to do, seems the storm caught them.

Yep. I was a weather forecaster in the Air Force, and I've done some volunteer work as a storm spotter from time to time. But what they were doing just seems a little nuts to me. Tornadoes are notorious for making unpredictable turns, and this one did.

Onward and upward,
airforce

They chased and lived a dream. If you had a choice to choose how to go, wouldn't you want to choose doing something that you loved?

We actually have government representatives that want to outlaw storm chasing. What happened to freedom and liberty?

I knew these guys, I chased several of the same storms. I still chase when I can and will continue to do so. If I were to die, I would want to be doing something I love when it's my time.
As far as the govt, yes they've been working toward outlawing chasing without a govt approved and issued ID and license. They've been trying for over 15yrs now, they just can't figure out how to enforce it. The LEO's keep telling them, your crazy, I'm not getting out and wrighting a ticket in the storm. I will continue to chase, I will just in spite of the govt!!!!

As long as you know the risks, and how to mitigate those risks, fine. I guess the problem I have is with those "reality shows" that effectively reward risky (and stupid) behavior. If you want to act like an idiot, that's one thing. If you want to act like an idiot and have some TV producer make you look like some sort of glamorous hero, well, that's something else again.

Onward and upward,
airforce

It's a dangerous profession and one can cheat death only so many times. It seems crazy to some, me included, but they provide valuable information on these storms. Remember their families in prayer.

I have nothing against storm spotters. These folks set up at one of several predetermined check points - with multiple escape routes - and do indeed provide valuable information before the storm hits, and afterwards with emergency services. It's the amateurs I'm concerned about, and there's a lot more of them out there after those dumb reality shows made it look exciting and glamorous.

These guys were killed because they were unfamiliar with the area, and they put themselves into a position where they had no escape route and couldn't outrun the storm. That really is a recipe for disaster.

Onward and upward,
airforce

I just found out yesterday that the father was a nephew-by-marriage to one of the Little Old Ladies ( LOL's) that we help out.
She just got the word that they died about a hour before she told me, she was so sad that not only for the families loss, but also that she had been left out of the loop for so long. By the time I left she was back to smiling and in a better mood.

Being MILITIA means being there for those in need.

The tornado that killed the storm chasers near El Reno was the widest tornado ever recorded . A mobile radar unit measured it at 2.6 miles across.

Onward and upward,
airforce