Hurricane Landfall Project

[hurricanetrack]

Hello everyone. As many of you know, I "chase" hurricanes. Well not really chase, but you get the idea. Last year I was in the core of every landfalling hurricane- all six of them. One of those times I placed an old SUV of mine out on Gulf Shores, AL and let Ivan smash it to bits. I placed cameras and weather equipment in/on the old SUV (Isuzu Rodeo). What I recorded was awesome- but would have been emmy award winning had it been daytime. So it goes. I proved that various methods of remote observing would work and have now worked hard since Feb. to produce year two of the project.

Thanks in part to Sprint and Lowe's for their funding, I now have a completely automated, unmanned wind tower unlike any other ever built. While some universities have larger ones, none are equipped with the amount of surveilance grade cameras that we will have. Using nitrogen sealed bullet cams that are watertight to like 50 feet, we will attempt to place the steel tower in the worst possible location- if you catch my drift. We will then run as many as eight video cameras in to Storm Cases, water tight, crush proof boxes. The video will be recorded on to hi grade S-VHS tape for a total of nine hours per camera.

We will also have a full suite of weather gear on the top of the tower to measure wind EVERY MINUTE. You can watch as the wind increases and the pressure drops in real time! Plus- you can see a live web cam still image from the location as well.

And- if we're LUCKY, we'll be able to actually stream live video from one of the bullet-cams. Imagine seeing the wrath of Dennis LIVE in the comfort of your own home knowing that we are NOT there to get hurt. No more being called "idiot" for going out in to harm's way- and no one can complain that we're putting ourselves and others in peril just to capture video.

The scientific and educational as well the shear "awe" power of this project is incredible. So as Dennis draws closer, know that I will be working with my good friend and business partner Jesse Bass to pull this off. You can follow along on a special Dennis page on my site- http://www.hurricanetrack.com.

Who knows, we just may accomplish the impossible. We'll see.

[HurryKane]

Sounds exciting, good luck to you!

[sweetpea]

Sounds exciting, I just bookmarked you. Good luck and be careful in your chasing!!

[Ixolib]

Also beats losing an SUV in the process!!

[vacanechaser]

Hey guys,

As we drive south and get into position, I will try and have photos and a write on my site as the day and days progress. I am sure Mark will link to them as well. Gonna be an intersting few days ahead..


Jesse V. Bass III
http://www.vastormphoto.com
Hurricane Intercept Research Team

[crazycajuncane]

What a cool ife to be living. I'd love to get to do that.

[Ixolib]

What a cool ife to be living. I'd love to get to do that.

I'll second that!!

[MGC]

If you guys decide to set up along the Mississippi coast for Dennis drop me a line. I know of some good spots in Pass Christian that has good south wind exposure and is up on a bluff so your SUV won't get swamped again......MGC

[baygirl_1]

wow! very impressive project! i just wish y'all were heading elsewhere. i mean, two visits to our fair part of the gulf coast whithin a year is just two much... not that we don't enjoy your company but it's the other "guests" that come with you. our exploreum here has been showing the imax film forces of nature. it's really good! but, i'm afraid a major force of nature might be making a personal appearance to check it out.

[bevgo]

That sounds like a very ambitious project and I hope you are successful but if you come here--let me know--I want to make sure I get the H___ out!!!!!!!!

[Valkhorn]

Just a guess, but if I were you I'd set up shop in Dauphin Island or Ship Island if you can get a boat out there to it for Dennis.

Since he's likely going more NW than N or NNE or NE Dauphin Island seems like it'll get the best impact on the current model plots in my opinion.

That is to say if it comes in at a Frederick angle, Dauphin is the place to be.

[Ed1]

Thank you Mark, Jesse and the HurricaneTrack team for bringing us this great coverage.

[x-y-no]

Mark and Jesse:

Good luck guys, and please stay safe.

Jan

[Anonymous]

Good luck with your encounter with Hurricane Dennis!

[hurricanefreak1988]

This is gonna be crazy! The HIRT is getting better and better every year. Can't wait to see how this all works out!

[HurricaneGirl]

Good luck and stay safe Mark and Jesse.

[iluvseashore]

Stay Safe!!!

Can't wait to see the results.

[vespersparrow]

Yall are

Evel-CANE-neivels!

Go guys!