"New Tourism" Coming to Florida

[HurricaneHunter914]

If they come into southern Florida, I'll smack them good.

LOL You wouldn't know if someone was a thrill chaser. But if one of them does come to South Florida smack them with all your might.

[MiamiensisWx]

YEAH!

[Ixolib]

I hope you don't like it, Ixolib. Do you agree?

I actually don't have an opinion one way or the other. However, I guess if a van full of "hurricane tourists" would have driven through my neighborhood on August 30th - as I was knee-deep in mud, guck, and all the ruined contents of our home - I doubt I would have appreciated it very much.

But I gotta agree with Hurakan's point on capitalism. Where a buck can be made, it's gonna be made. Otherwise, Mark would be giving away his DVDs (which he ought to do anyway for all S2K members!! )

Since free enterprise is one of the major foundations of life as we know it in the U.S., I suppose I'm really in no position to criticize or to agree or disagree. To each his own, maybe??

[Sanibel]

I thought about this myself. If someone rich enough to do it put a concrete dome hotel every 20 miles along the coast from Honduras up through Yucatan, along Mexico and all the way around the Gulf. Up eastern Florida up to the Carolinas as well as in the Caribbean along the coast of the islands you would just about cover every possible landfall for the Atlantic season. People could bid hurricane reservations in advance. When a good storm looked fairly predictable they would be wisked by pre-arranged transportation to the nearest likely dome. In a well-built dome these people could safely experience any category hurricane. Special windows could be built with outdoor search lights to really light up the conditions for viewers. Ports could be designed in the dome so the leeward side could have a special opening where you could see the real winds, but be on their safe side. Persons really wanting to go, but not making the bid for that storm could opt for either dome 20 miles on either side. These people could get lucky with an unexpected veer.


I think about 300 or 400 domes would cover it.

[Dr. Jonah Rainwater]

I would go on a hurricane safari, but afterwards, I'd stay and help with relief efforts for at least a few days. That would just be part of the hurricane experience, wouldn't it? I wouldn't pay $1,500, but....I might go chase one on my own (playing it safe, of course)

[Cat5survivor]

After Andrew people actually had the gall to come and take pictures! If anyone was seen in a car with a camera they got rocks thrown at them and were told (in no uncertain terms) to get the ---- out!!!!! Anyone who would profit from someone else's misery, well as my mom would say: "they will get there's".

[P.K.]

Here is Stuart Robinson's reply to when this was posted in the Off Topic forum a few days ago.

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:17 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
You know I was not even going to respond to this thread as the article was a TOTAL misquote and really the MH should be ashamed of them selves for printing such tosh!

I see however that it has caused an emotive theme amongst S2K ers and as I am always up for an open and frank debate I would like to expand on a few points.

Firstly – the suggestion regarding stormchasers stealing in position weather recording equipment - I would suggest that you look towards the many looters that seem to appear after a hurricane has made landfall. Every hurricane I have been in I have unfortunately seen looting – actually looters scare me more than the storm itself – remember that I really have every thing with me that they would like to take, Food, water, gas as well as laptops cameras, weather equipment etc.

But the REAL question is ~ are Hurricane Tours ethical?

I will let the debate continue from here.

As for me I will intercept Hurricanes again during 2006 – this I finance out of my own back pocket ~ I don’t sell DVD’s , I don’t profit from tours, I don’t do USA media – I am more interested in the science the forecasting and making people more aware – people back in the UK have no idea (they are lucky) what it is like to suffer a major Hurricane landfall.

[Jim Cantore]

I find it disgusting that they try to profit of a natrual disaster when hundreds even tens of thousands lose everything they owned.

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

After being in a Cat 5 (Andrew); I do not think these people real know what they are in for in a major hurricane


Even storms like the hybrid in 2001 can frighten you pretty good when winds are gusts over hurricane force (confirmed at least 85 mph), and you have lost power, are hearing everything creek and groan, and you watch your heavy Steele garbage bin get hurled across the road in a really big gust

[flashflood]

I have no problem with a Storm Tourist company or whatever, if they get in and get out right away. But if they stay just to take pictures and use up the local resources, or have to be rescued, then that is not acceptable to me.

I do find that information provided by people who photograph and document Hurricanes such as Hurricane Track.com, Weathervine and others. to be a great informational service. I view their videos in order to learn, and know what happens during a Hurricane so that I can better prepare my home, life and property.

[SouthFloridawx]

These people most likely sign waivers stating they can not sue if injured or killed during the trip. Honestly what I think is that to each his own. As long as that person is not a bothersome annoyance to the local people going through the storm. They have supplies and choose a safe location away from the storm surge. Granted a safe location during a hurricane is not the best choice of words but, they are providing a service in exchange for money. I guess it just kind of bothers us becuase we know people who have lost all, suffered, lost family and friends.

[sunny]

People chase tornado's for the purpose of gathering scientific information. Granted, this is most likely far more dangerous, but after reading Stuart's response, it sounds along the same lines to me. It doesn't sound to me like this is a just for the thrill of experiencing a cane.

[Scorpion]

I don't see what the problem is. If people are willing to pay, let them do it. I would do it if I were lazy and didn't have my own transportation. But instead, I will be driving out into the middle of hurricanes, starting this year.

[hurricanetrack]

Remember- there are hurricanes. And there are Charleys. I thought I knew- but on August 13, 2004, I learned I was wrong.

Good luck to anyone driving out in the middle of a hurricane. You're going to need it. Especially those with a solid eyewall like Charley or Andrew.

[Scorpion]

Yeah, definitely will be cautious on powerful hurricanes. If its a Cat 4 or 5, I would probably not drive towards the eyewall unless I knew there was a reinforced parking garage to go in.

[P.K.]

Just watched that the other day Mark, yes you got a tiny bit worried there.

Excellent service by the way, a week to get here and through customs without having to pay any import tax isn't bad.

[MGC]

I use to chase hurricanes in my old Datsun back in the 70's. If you use your brain and don't put yourself into a stupid situation, hurricane chasing can be fun. I've been tempted to chase the last few seasons but my better half has talked me out of it. Now that I'm the big 5-0 I think I'll watch from the comfort of my couch, unless of course I'm forced to evacuate again this season.....MGC

[Downdraft]

The old joke here in Floirida is "we call it tourist season but they won't let us hunt them." P.T. Barnum once said there are a 1000 ways to separate a fool from his money. Tornado chasing in the midwest (not here) can be done relatively safely if you know your weather but chasing a hurricane from inside the hurricane makes absolutely no sense to me. People and the weather never cease to amaze me!
By the way, this does NOT include legitmate scientific interests like the team that chases and posts on this net.

[MiamiensisWx]

Wilma flipped cars with Category One/Category Two winds. Even driving into the eyewall of a Category One/Category Two hurricane is NOT safe AT ALL unless you are VERY experienced. Don't even try a Category Three or higher, even if you ARE very experienced.

[weatherlover427]

Ok, let me throw my two cents in:

I created HurricaneLiveNet.com for the purpose of streaming live video, with audio at times, of my crew's hurricane missions. As most of you probably know, we go in and set up wind instruments and other equipment to try to record data during landfalls. We also document via video what the effects and aftermath are. For the last two years, I have produced a season re-cap DVD that chronicles our work during the previous season. This has been a very successful business, I must say. And, we contribute to the science by collecting weather data and taking video of unique events, such as our best work to date: the Everglades City storm surge video during Wilma. We did all of this WITHOUT people in harm's way. Yet I made money doing so- it is my job. In fact, anyone on the planet with an Internet connection and the cost of a meal at Outback could watch, and hear, our goings on for the entire season. It worked far better than I could have expected and we are now expanding it big time.

So- my question is this:

Is there an inherent problem with taking "tourists" in to the paths of hurricanes because of the word "tourist"?

I took thousands of people in to the paths of Katrina, Ophelia, Rita and Wilma- right in the comfort of their home/office. The only difference is, THEY were at no risk at all of being hurt. I was certainly in some dangerous situations, but not nearly as much as I might be if I were trying to show paying customers who were in my van the worst the hurricane had to offer. I can do this using technology and reach a worldwide audience. I wonder if what I am doing has the same undertone of "tourism" that packing people in to a van does?

Your thoughts?

I watched the 2004 DVD (don't have the 2005 one yet ) and I must say it was one heck of an experience. I am glad that you, Jesse, and the crew made it out OK; but obviously doing such sorts of things can be (and is) very dangerous. You never know when a tree might crush your vehicle; or when a portion of a roof might whack you in the face; so on and so forth.

So many unknowns are involved in chasing (both of tornadoes and hurricanes) that it should really be left up to the experts IMHO.