Sunday, June 2, 2013

39. 3 Veteran Storm Chasers Killed by Oklahoma Tornado



 

Three veteran storm chasers died in the Great Plains. Tim Samaras and his son as well as a friend Carl Young, died Friday with 13 others when an EF3 tornado with 165 mph winds hit them in Oklahoma City.   The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma said, “They put themselves in harm’s way so that they can educate the public about the destructive power of these storms.” Tim Samaras had told people before that tornadoes were unpredictable. His brother said, ““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.” Time Samaras had been featured on Discovery Channel and received multiple meteorology grants. The Storm Prediction Center was sad to hear of 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.” Since his death, those who knew him remember Samaras’ bravery and love for his job.

Authors Kelly P. Kissel and Thomas Peipert inform readers on more death tolls in the recent tornado in Oklahoma. This time, it is a story of sorts about a storm chaser named Tim Samaras. As such, they have quotes from family and people he worked with. The article emphasizes the bravery and caution the late Samaras practiced. The article even mentions the fascination of storms when Samaras was young and watching The Wizard of Oz. There is a sad repetition of the fact that Samaras died doing what he loved. Overall, the tone of the article is quite somber.

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