Great men lost...

For several years we have watched the number of storm chasers grow around the country and to be honest, there have been too many. The experienced chaser will tell you that the roads are clogged during every storm with those who have ventured out with little equipment, experience or connection to any agency or association.

Storm chasing has become the sport of the thrill seeker to be sure, but let's give some credit where it is due as well:
There are men like Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras and Carl Young who dedicated themselves to not only responsibly chasing, but to mentoring those willing to learn from them. These men dedicated their lives to discovery, not of their own limits, but of science in order to save lives. Thrill-seekers? absolutely not. These were passionate men on a mission to learn all they could to save as many as possible.

There are also the characters we watch each day at The Weather Channel; individuals like Mike Bettes, who, for the last several years we have watched mature as a broadcasting personality, but also as a person as we watched him breakdown emotionally in Joplin and as he faced his own mortality this past week in Oklahoma.  A man who is passionate and not afraid to be real in the face of a camera.

For those of you watching the news this past week, here is the truth... severe weather is deadly and even for the very best like Tim Samaras, it is something to respect. If Tim lost his life for ANYTHING this week, let it be to deter hundreds from venturing out where they do not belong. Folks, there is a definite purpose for the experienced chaser to be out there and it is to keep you alive... these brave adventurer/researchers cannot do this if you are right behind them in your Honda Civic.

As for Mr. Bettes, just look in his eyes and listen to his voice as he retells his experience... you really do not want this for yourself. Learn from his ordeal.
This week I want to give honor to these men and women that have dedicated themselves at risk to themselves to save a public that heeds warnings so little...

To the Young and Samaras families: our prayers and thoughts are with all of you. To Mike Bettes and the TWC Team, you are always on our minds and we thank God you are still with us.

To the thousands of meteorologists who tirelessly report for hours on end...we thank you.

To Tim, may you rest in peace knowing you are remembered. Thank you for your input all those years ago as you were so willing to teach me...for your time and your wisdom, I am forever grateful.

To our readers...heed warnings, listen, learn and when severe weather threatens, take cover.

CNN STORY: http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/02/us/midwest-weather/index.html