I just ordered The Storms of 2007 DVD. Featuring contributions from some of today”s top storm chasers, this disc takes you for a dramatic ride through the intense 2007 severe weather season. You can count on top-quality production and incredible videography that will bring you face to face with some of the world”s most violent, beautiful, and fascinating weather.
But here”s the best part: one hundred percent of your twenty dollars goes to disaster relief.
According to the website, “The Storms of 2007 is the 4th addition to the popular Storms of 200X series. Starting in 2004, Greg Stumpf and Jim Ladue introduced a charity project to help people affected by severe weather. Storm chasers from across the United States pulled together to produce an exciting and award winning charity DVD.”
Among the storms featured in this video is the history-making May 4 Greensburg tornado. Striking after dark, this nearly two-mile-wide monster virtually obliterated the southwest Kansas town of Greensburg. Thankfully, due to today”s sophisticated warning system, the vigilance of chasers and spotters, and a sharp and gutsy Dodge City NWS forecaster who snapped the imperiled community to high alert with a timely “tornado emergency” broadcast text, the loss of life, while tragic, was remarkably low. Not many years ago, the toll could very conceivably have been in the hundreds.
The Greensburg tornado became the first tornado to receive an EF-5 rating under NOAA”s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admnistration) new Enhanced Fujita Scale, which replaced the familiar F Scale in February of this year. Greensburg was also a storm that demonstrated the storm chasing community at its best as chasers hot on the trail of the tornado shifted from chase mode to first-response emergency relief.
Storm chasers come from all walks of life. Many are meteorologists, met students, and media personnel. Others are volunteer firemen, physicians, and EMTs. Many more, such as me, are simply decent people who will do whatever we can to help. The dark side of our hobby brings out the best of what we have to contribute as people caring for other people. In the immediate aftermath of a tornado, caring may consist of clearing a road of debris, helping to direct traffic, providing emergency medical care, or simply getting the heck out of the way so relief work can proceed unimpeded.
nFarther down the road, caring may take the form of a charity DVD. Kudos to the producers and contributors who have offered the best of their time, expertise, and material to make The Storms of 2007 happen. I can”t wait to get my copy. And I”m blessed to have this means of making a difference in my own small way. I hope you”ll take advantage of it as well.
