Kent Boughton

(NTV Photo)


"The other weather guy is right over there!"

We heard that all day yesterday. The Chasing4Life Team was out at the Eustis-Farnum School in Eustis, Nebraska all day yesterday at their annual "Sod-House Days" showing off the trucks and talking about severe weather safety.

What the kids were referring to was that Nebraska NTV Weatherman Kent Boughton was also at the event. Kent is a well-respected weather personality in these parts and kind of an "icon" now in Nebraska television. The kids were so excited to see Kent and talked about him all day as they visited by our trucks.


After the event, we packed it up and headed west to an evening event, but on the way, heard reports of a serious accident to the east toward Axtell, Nebraska. We were shocked to find out this morning that Kent had been in a serious accident.


According to NTV News, the station's Chief Forecaster is still hospitalized with injuries from an accident occured around 3 p.m. on Highway 6 and 34, about a mile west of Axtell.
Kent's vehicle collided with a semi-trailer truck.


An Air Care Helicopter transported Boughton from the accident scene to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He underwent surgery on the hip that last late into the night. Boughton is currently in intensive care and cannot receive visitors. However, he is expected to make a full recovery.


Kent, the team is praying for your quick recovery.

To find out more about Kent, visit http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=6910584

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.

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

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

Weather Radio time

Last night's storms in the Southeast included two confirmed tornadoes -- damaged 108 homes and injured 24 people, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Operations Center. The region has continued to get pounded all day including the town of Enterprise, Alabama bringing back memories from two short years ago when the town was wrecked by a tornado outbreak.

Folks, last night's issue was that these storms came in the dark after most were sound asleep...NOW IS THE TIME to be getting that weather radio out and tuning it up. Get fresh batteries and make sure it is placed in your home where the family will hear it. Please don't screw around this year when it comes to this!

Statistics show that in today's society the majority of citizens get their severe weather information from television, but what about the times when your television isn't on, say for example in the middle of the night while you are sleeping? This is where a working Weather Radio can save your life during severe weather...day or night. These radios are affordable, and are well worth the investment.

We have pretty strict rules for our chase team that include speed limit adherence and seatbelt use. It's because we care about each other. Weather radios are no different an issue- look at your family and ask yourself if they are worth $30. if you don't have a radio, then go get one; you don't have to spend much to save them all.

The March 23rd chase day

If you would like to hear the story of the March 23rd storm chase as told by Peter McConnell, visit http://www.severewxchaser.com/ and go to the forum or simply click on http://www.severewxchaser.com/forum?func=view&id=17&catid=9#17 to go directly to the story. Nice post, Peter...and you're right...we've only just begun!

Spring marches on...

Well, last night we tracked storms through Southern Missouri and in to Pontiac, Illinois and it was good to have the tracking center busy again. Still warming up all the parts after a cold winter, but it has been a bit chilly here at home! With snow on the way and no hope for any good chases in the next two weeks, it is a good time to let you all know that a new fan club site is on its way and we have several great events coming up in the next two months and hope to see you all out there!

To the kids at Eagle...We have been thinking a lot about you today and want you to know that we hope to see you all soon. We are trying to put together a day trip to visit you all.

While we are experiencing this chilly weather here at home, make some time to put together hat home disaster kit and make a plan for tornadoes with your family!

We have some more dates available on this present tour schedule, so if you have been thinking about a Chasing4Life event, now is the time to act. Contact us at tour@chasing4life.org as soon as possible.

The first Nebraska chase

Hey Nebraska! Wake up and get ready! Season's here!

We hooked up with Pete McConnell of http://www.severewxchaser.com/ yesterday for a romp around Nebraska and it proved to be a great day! The day started out normal enough near Miller, Nebraska, but soon, we were in Hastings after picking up KHAS TV Meteorologist Travis Klanecky and Channel 5 reporter Adam Lefkoe.

Hours into the day, while heading into Giltner, Nebraska, Zephyros lost a rear window to hail, we lost side mirrors, lost lights, got wet and had an absolute blast together! The greatest reward has been watching it on the Weather Channel who picked up some of the footage from our outing!

Pete was great to travel with and we enjoyed having both Travis and Adam along for the ride. All in all it was a great day and really got us excited about the possibilities of this year's season.

This was Cheyenne's inaugural run in her own vehicle and it has officially become a chase vehicle with repairs to be made! Congratulations Cheyenne, not everyone can get that much hail INSIDE their rig on their first run!

the storms have started, and if you haven't noticed, we have been kinda out-of-touch the last two months. The blog has run dry, and I want to apologize. We have been EXTREMELY busy getting the trucks ready and we have a few more things to do now as we make some last minute changes to the vehicles and even the drivers.

Cory has a new ride, so watch the site for pictures, and make sure you check out the new pictures of Cheyenne's new "Aura" in a few weeks as well!

Dan's "Windrider" was in a serious accident just days after we finished getting it ready for storms this year, but it has already been completely repaired and is out in Illinois storms as I write this.

We have some new stuff for you this year including an activity book coming out before March's end and a full line of Chasing4Life Team apparel! If you would like to receive an early order form, just email us at info@chasing4life.org for now. We have some of the shirts in stock already.

If you have not seen the new commercials, Viaero wireless came aboard as our communications provider, so make sure you watch for the new ads!

We'll start updating here regularly, I promise...in the meantime...stay safe and get that weather radio on!

Happy New Year!

Well, we all made it through the holidays and it is time to get back to business. Everyone took a break from emails, meetings and promotions and spent time with family and friends, but the Nw Year is here and the time to get serious has arrived.

The team has been busy while you were all out celebrating- Ben, Eddy, Dan, Cheyenne, Cathy, Brandi and Cory all were in the shop over the last two weeks and the trucks are looking great! The new Motorola systems are in, the Viaero phones go live on Wednesday, the KC HiLites are next. We welded, cut, fabricated, painted, repaired, replaced and completely changed the look of some of the vehicles.

If you would like to see some of the activity, you can visit http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3620665827427232838&hl=en

This week we will be getting the vehicles cleaned up and will be preparing to mount the last of the new equipment. While we normally try to get ready for the season to start, we are keeping a watchful eye on a number of things that may push our schedules WAY ahead. Yellowstone is staying active, so we are watching that, the tornadoes of two weeks ago may not be the last of those, and the weather seems to be full of suprises.

We'll keep you updated as to more changes and progress later this week!