"They put themselves in harm's way so that they can educate the public about the destructive power of these storms," he said. It was, however, economical, and TWISTEX operations were on a shoestring. Kurtz knew something big was about to happen.section break. Five tornadoes battered the Oklahoma City area on Friday, while another tornado hit the Tulsa area early Saturday. Yet Dan Robinson had saved himself, a fact that had not ceased to puzzle him. None from their ranks had ever died in a tornado. Though the state's transportation authorities strongly advised citizens not to drive, some interstate highways in Oklahoma were jammed with stalled traffic, as heavy rains drenched roadways and flooded low-lying areas. 'It was chaos. At the end of the day, he wanted to save lives and he gave the ultimate sacrifice for that," Jim Samaras said. Tens of thousands were without power, and only eight minor injuries were reported. Discovery Airing Tribute to 'Stormchasers' Stars Killed in Oklahoma Sheriff Cody Carpenter and a wildlife officer had been checking on houses that were in danger of being flooded. The rain was coming down horizontally in front of my car. Samaras replaced the film technology with digital sensors that allowed him to capture up to 1 million frames per second. DEATH: BURIAL: November 12, 1988 Lakewood, Jefferson County, Colorado, USA May 31, 2013 (aged 24) El Reno, Canadian County, Oklahoma, USA . "Though we sometimes take it for granted, Tim's death is a stark reminder of the risks encountered regularly by the men and women who work for us.". Tim Samaras Dead: Oklahoma Tornado Kills Storm Chaser, Son Paul Samaras I dont think they realize how lucky El Reno was.. It truly is sad that we lost my great brother Tim and his great son, Paul. They commented on how poor the visibility was becoming. The Gulf air wanted to rise, but it was being blocked by a cap of dry desert air. Tony Laubach, a TWISTEX team member who had driven one, likened it to a pizza-delivery car. 'We're scrambling around,' said Lara O'Leary, a spokeswoman for the local ambulance agency. Meteorologist Mike Bette is nursing minor injuries after his 'tornado hunt' car was thrown some 200 yards by the storm.
We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. When the storm passed between El Reno and Yukon, it barreled right down Interstate 40 for more than two miles, ripping billboards down to twisted metal frames. Samaras, who always made the final call in deployment situations, didn't override him. It is unclear if the three men were chasing a "very brief" tornado that was spotted nearby near the time of the crash, according to online storm sighting information posted by the service. He began chasing in his twenties, wanting only to be near them, transfixed by their terrible beauty, by the sounds and the way they smelled. Nine were confirmed dead in the Oklahoma City area on Friday evening, though the death toll has since risen, and flash floods in Arkansas caused additional fatalities, including a sheriff trying to rescue people from rising waters. He knew it when a two-inch hailstone opened up a bleeding gash over his left eye. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved. A Tribute to Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras and Carl Young At a memorial in Littleton, Colorado, she said she didn't know how she was still standing. 'I'm not sure why people do that sort of stuff, but it is very dangerous.'.