Thursday, April 30, 2009

2009 H1N1 Update and thoughts

Confirmed cases of swine flu worldwide increased to 257 on Thursday, quite a jump from yesterday’s 147. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it has confirmed 109 cases of swine flu, (now being “politically correctly” referred to as 2009 H1N1), in 11 states, an increase of 18 from its previous total. The latest tally was announced one day after WHO raised the pandemic threat level to 5 on a six-step scale.

WHO did not change the threat level Thursday, and right now, there seems to be nothing epidemiologically pointing toward a Phase 6 declaration.

While this is good news so far, do not let your guard down. In each of the four major pandemics since 1889, a spring wave of relatively mild illness was followed by a second wave a few months later of a much more virulent disease. For those of you that have been to a Chasing4Life “Bug’s Life” program, you already know that these waves make it difficult for vaccinations to be created before the virus mutates.

This wave situation was true in 1889, 1957, 1968 and of course in the 1918 outbreak that sickened an estimated one third of the world’s population and killed about 50 million!

Outbreaks and Pandemics are serious situations and require the world’s brightest minds to do battle, but there is so much you can do at home and at work as well. Historically, the very best weapon has always been common sense, with proof that the simplest things make all the difference including washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough and just staying home from work or school when you are sick. Many towns throughout history were untouched by flu viruses because the residents simply decided to not travel and they quarantined themselves when ill.

Do you have a plan for different disasters in your home? Do you have a good communication plan? How much do you do online now and how many more things could be done to limit contact with those that might be ill? Should the “2009 H1N1” situation get worse, are you ready to limit travel and trips to the store?

Today, we added something to our shopping list. Amidst the diapers and toilet paper, shampoo and fish sticks, we added “1 box disposable medical masks”. They weren’t cheap! Cost for a box was around $12, but they were right there in WalMart. Now, I am hoping we don’t need them. Probably won’t; but until we know, we’re gonna make sure we have a few boxes handy.

Start thinking about what might be in demand. What might be a little harder to get. What changes would you have to make if we suddenly found ourselves in a full-blown pandemic?

Not to depress you too much, but while I have your attention, have you had a tornado drill at your house yet? Its May in Nebraska you know.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Swine Flu

As most of you know, we are not just a storm chase team, and with a staff of disaster preparedness experts here at Chasing4Life, we are very concerned about the Swine Flu outbreak. With a Phase 4 warning underway, we want you all to educate yourselves as much as possible about this threat. Please make sure you visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm?s_cid=swineFlu_outbreak_internal_003

Monday, April 20, 2009

T-Shirts are in!

The new T-shirts are here! Your kids can now get their paws on a "Chase McCloud 'n Storm" T-shirt, you can grab an "I'm Twisted" shirt for yourself, and wait 'til you see the new Cheyenne Night shirts! Watch the fan club site for the new t-shirt order forms coming this week!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Thunder Run 2009

JUNE 6, 2009

We are less than 2 months away from THUNDER RUN 2009! This event is really 2 events in one. Each year, The Oconto Fire Department holds this amazing event called the "Blowin' the doors off BBQ". The name comes from the 2000 tornado experience when a Halloween Night tornado blew the fire house doors off. The event is a big-time BBQ competition with live music- an event that fills the town with nearly 20 times its own population!

This annual event is the Fire Department's only real fundraiser and is a great day for the entire family at only $10 per person and disocunted rates for the little kids! What do you get for your $10? Aside from sunburn, you get to eat all the BBQ you can! All of the contestants feed you all day and when night falls, the volume is turned up on the stage and its party time!

Now, how do you make an event like this any better?

Each year, the Chasing4Life StormChase Team meets in Wood River and travels to Oconto in what we call "Thunder Run". Its an opportunity for our fans to take a ride with us, hang out all day and eat like pigs. The last three years the day has culminated in a storm chase!

You can find out more about Thunder Run by going to http://www.chaseteamfanclub.com/. We'd love to have you join us on June 6th!

Remember this year's theme and the history of late night severe weather we have had in the past! This year's theme? To hail and back!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

TRACK US!

A few years ago we had a contest called "Chase The Chaser" where folks around the country tried to capture one of our vehicles on the road in motion with their cameras. Now we have something far better for you!

During severe weather, go to http://www.spotternetwork.org/ and click on "Activity Map". Scroll over the icons, you can find your favorite Chasing4Life StormChase vehicle!


Keep an eye out for Eddy (C4LChaser1), Cory (C4LChaser2), Dan (C4LChaser7), Cathy (C4LChaser3), Jim (C4lChaser20), Cheyenne (C4LChaser 8), Brandi (C4LLeadTracker) and you will even be able to see the locations of our tracking centers!

Leave the map open and you will be able to watch us during storm chases! The map has integrated NexRad Radar as well so you don't have to take your eyes off the weather!

Happy Easter!


Well, severe weather will be in Nebraska shortly so we took advantage of the last couple of days to make some repairs and program a few laptops with new stuff. It was good to have the whole team together in one place yesterday without it raining!


We even got a visit from severewxchaser.com's Pete McConnell who stopped by to ask our techie Cory a few questions. Pete spent the afternoon amidst the team and a seas of laptops and wiring.


Our new driver Jim spent a good part of the day with Dan wiring up a new GoLight on that red Blazer and it looks like Black Thunder is about ready to roll!


For those of you that have been asking, Dorothy is up and running great thanks to Complete Auto Repair in Ravenna and so it now all that is left is to watch the forecasts with engines running...


We have some dates available in April and May yet, so if you have not taken advantage of the current tour schedule, now is the time to do it. All of June is full so jump now or you'll be forced into the back-to-school tour!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CORY!

One year ago today Cory Schuller was allowed by his fantastic wife to join the Chasing4Life StormChase Team! Happy Anniversary Cory! We cannot tell you how much we appreciate all you do, the efforts you have made and the knowledge you continually share with the team.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

New stuff!

Spring has arrived and with it many new things here at Chasing4Life. A new relationship with Rural Radio here in Nebraska has put the team out there more than ever before with severe weather forecasts from the Chasing4Life Tracking Center in Ravenna, live reports from the trucks and disaster preparedness tips. An evolving relationship with Coyote Country's Jimmy Rowe in McCook has also put us out there a bit!

Now, aside from an exciting photo shoot coming up with Getty Photographer Robert Pears (see the fan club blog), we have even MORE news!


In a partnership with Great Plains Communication, Chasing4Life is soon releasing "Disaster Preparedness with Chase McCloud and Storm", a coloring/activity book for children featuing your Chasing4Life characters! The book was illustrated by Chelsea Zuege and is expected to be released before May.