Yesterday I re-published an interview with storm chaser Tim Samaras. It was an interview I conducted a few years ago at a media preview for an exhibition at the Field of Museum of Natural History in Chicago. In the wake of another batch of deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma, I felt it right yesterday to re-post the feature profile of Tim Samaras, and pass on to my readers the wealth of knowledge and information that Tim Samaras acquired during his life work.
Now, about 24 hours later, I learn of the shocking and disturbing death of Tim Samaras. He devoted his life to doing research which had the ultimate ideal of saving lives. Samaras worked every day to acquire knowledge that would help us all better prepare for future storms. These storms have the potential to take our lives. And Tim Samaras sacrificed his own life and that of his son in the quest of helping to save others.
From CNN:
Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras, and Carl Young were killed while following a tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma, relatives told CNN on Sunday. They were among nine people killed in storms that struck Oklahoma on Friday night.
Their work tracking tornadoes was featured on the former Discovery Channel show “Storm Chasers.”
“They all unfortunately passed away but doing what they loved,” Jim Samaras wrote in a statement posted on his brother’s Facebook page.
Tim Samaras founded TWISTEX, the Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment, to help learn more about tornadoes and increase lead time for warnings, according to the official website
Samaras had a reputation for being one of the safest men around in the storm chasing profession. He wasn’t a thrill-seeker, he was a scientist. He had a very solid reputation for being someone who did not takes chances with these unpredictable, deadly storms. Samaras was known to always have an escape plan, and up until this weekend, always did. It’s tragic that these particular tornadoes happened to be much more unpredictable than your usual standard twister.
When I met Tim Samaras at that media preview years ago, I truly remember his charisma captivating the room. There were plenty of important scientists and museum officials at the Field that day, but Tim was the center of attention. His work and his personality drew us reporters to focus on him. He wasn’t just the rock star of the event; he was the rock star of storm chasing. He was the Lebron James of his specific field.
From Nat Geo:
Late last month, as tornado season was opening in Oklahoma, Samaras talked to National Geographic about what motivated him to engage in such dangerous work–starting with a boyhood viewing of “The Wizard of Oz.” It was our last interview with him, and one of his final interviews before his untimely death.
Samaras, a National Geographic grantee known for getting instruments inside tornadoes to measure pressure and wind speeds, talked about what we still don’t know about these devastating storms, why he chases them, and how he, his son, and others cope in close quarters during a storm chase.
Very few details regarding the death of the three men have been released at this time.
“Storm Chasers” aired for five years on the Discovery Channel. The last season ended in the fall of 2011. The network expressed condolences in a statement Sunday.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Carl Young, Tim Samaras and his son. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families,” the statement said.
Photos from a professional storm chaser
For Tim Samaras Homepage
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. (“Quasi-endorsed” by Philadelphia Eagles Coach Chip Kelly) He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
Banks has appeared on the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks), like him on Facebook