Planning to chase Ernesto

[Scorpion]

If the current trends hold, it looks like Ernesto might make landfall from New Port Richey to Cedar Key, perhaps as a Category 2 or 3. As a student, I am quite poor so all I have really is a camcorder and my car. I might purchase a handheld anemometer just to get some wind readings. I would probably need to find an open area with few trees or buildings around(flying debris). Anyway, it might be an interesting time .

[CajunMama]

Being that you're not a professional and just a student doing this doesn't impress me. You're going to more of a hinderance to local law enforcement than anything.

[MetroMike]

If this track holds true I may not have to chase. It may chase after me.

[chris_fit]

Being that you're not a professional and just a student doing this doesn't impress me. You're going to more of a hinderance to local law enforcement than anything.

And just because he is a college student does not mean he is stupid and will drive his car to the beach and wait for the hurricane.

As a college student myself, I "chased" Frances and Jeanne... with some planning and using your head a little it sure does "hit the spot" for us weather guys.

[miamicanes177]

Being that you're not a professional and just a student doing this doesn't impress me. You're going to more of a hinderance to local law enforcement than anything.

I say be safe and have fun. No need for what you said in my opinoin.

[Scorpion]

Thanks everyone. With my tight schedule I'll probably only be able to drive out the day it hits, and then come back home once its done. Get in, get out, get on with my life .

[chris_fit]

Thanks everyone. With my tight schedule I'll probably only be able to drive out the day it hits, and then come back home once its done. Get in, get out, get on with my life .

I would give it two days man, get there before, get to know the area. Find a place to hunker down but also a place where you can experience the storm. Plan a way out and a few others just incase some roads are blocked off. Also, I wouldnt do it alone.

My mother and brother live in Sarasota. I will probably be spending time with them if the storm hits there.

[Scorpion]

Thanks everyone. With my tight schedule I'll probably only be able to drive out the day it hits, and then come back home once its done. Get in, get out, get on with my life .

I would give it two days man, get there before, get to know the area. Find a place to hunker down but also a place where you can experience the storm. Plan a way out and a few others was incase some places are blocked off. Also, I wouldnt do it alone.

My mother and brother live in Sarasota. I will probably be spending time with them if the storm hits there.

I'll have to see if its plausible, because I still live at home and I doubt my parents would let me go if I told them. I'm sure getting there several hours before it hits will be enough to find a fortified parking garage or something.

[conestogo_flood]

Have fun and don't do anything stupid. I'd love to chase a hurricane, just got to wait for one to come up the east coast, so we don't have to travel hard. We've done a lot of storm chasing, but hurricane chasing... It's like the ultimate chase.

[Hurricanevideo]

Thats a bad idea if you have never chased a hurricane before. First you need to know the area your going to be chasing in, how it floods rain wise and surge wise if close to the coast. Your better off finding a group that has done it before and learning that way if your wanting to chase hurricanes. Remember if you get stuck, no rescue is coming until after the winds are below 50mph most of the time. Just driving in on the day of the landfall at the last minute could make it real hard. I would have a better plan.


Alot can go wrong being out along the coast and roads during a storm. I learned the hard way many years ago when I first started in the 90s. Safty first when chasing and documenting hurricanes.

Im all for new chasers, just think and plan your chase right and don't put yourself in harms way, or have to have local EMS help you when they should be focused on the local residents first.

JG

[chris_fit]

Thats a bad idea if you have never chased a hurricane before. First you need to know the area your going to be chasing in, how it floods rain wise and surge wise if close to the coast. Your better off finding a group that has done it before and learning that way if your wanting to chase hurricanes. Remember if you get stuck, no rescue is coming until after the winds are below 50mph most of the time. Just driving in on the day of the landfall at the last minute could make it real hard. I would have a better plan.


Alot can go wrong being out along the coast and roads during a storm. I learned the hard way many years ago when I first started in the 90s. Safty first when chasing and documenting hurricanes.

Im all for new chasers, just think and plan your chase right and don't put yourself in harms way, or have to have local EMS help you when they should be focused on the local residents first.

JG

Ditto!

Welcome to the board btw Post some clips of your chasing

[JonathanBelles]

i starting to think i may as well chase. if its a cat 3 or higher i will evacuate tho.

[chris_fit]

Maybe we should all meet up and chase together :-D

[kevin]

This is dumb. Dumb. But understandable. However, its dumb even though that might hurt your feelings. This is personal safety.

You don't know what intensity the storm will come in with. You will be driving through squalls. You will perhaps crash your vehicle, driving in tropical storm winds is rather difficult. You will perhaps not find accessible shelter. An object may destroy your vehicle or you. You may be stranded for days.

[GalvestonDuck]

I echo the above.

Be careful is you really plan to do this and, not trying to be smart aleck, but write your next of kin's phone # on your forearm in indelible ink.

[crab_storm]

ehhh... you should be fine. just stay informed. Stay on the main
roads... interstate and highways and all should be fine. Looks like
a cat 1 or 2 at most. Good Luck! Let us know what's going on!

[jlauderdal]

If the current trends hold, it looks like Ernesto might make landfall from New Port Richey to Cedar Key, perhaps as a Category 2 or 3. As a student, I am quite poor so all I have really is a camcorder and my car. I might purchase a handheld anemometer just to get some wind readings. I would probably need to find an open area with few trees or buildings around(flying debris). Anyway, it might be an interesting time .

hey good luck and stay safe. i drove up 95 with a friend to palm beach when frances was rolling in and was glad we did it. there was hardly any traffic, all i can say is watch out for flying debris because it is an issue and be preperaed to hunker down in your car on the leeward side of a building and ride it out if the going gets tough. also if you are going to be near storm surge then have a place you can get up high if need be like a parking garage.

always have a safety escape and you should be fine, there are risks of course but frankly the police are out driving around in that stuff and so is the media.

[Aquawind]

I do think that this kind of descision should not be made lightly.

Do adhere to the requests of local officials and enforcement at all times. Make sure you are reading the Local Hurricane Statement. Do not take storm surge lightly..get the facts. Keep informed at all times. Have options. Heck you can even get IPR live on your cell phone.. You can not go hours without information..things can change to quickly.

[BayouVenteux]

Just a random thought, but it might be a nice gesture if following landfall, the amateur "storm chasers" out there make it a point to drop a check or some green in the coffer of the local chapter of the Red Cross or United Way in the area where they set up shop to experience the effects...particularly a of major storm.

JMHO, but it just seems poor form to travel to a community with the express purpose of seeking the thrill of facing a storm head on and then once you've experienced it, be back on your way home while the locals are left to begin the difficult task of picking up the pieces and struggling to put their lives back in order.

Just makes good karmic sense to do something positive to help alleviate a negative.

[Rainband]

If the current trends hold, it looks like Ernesto might make landfall from New Port Richey to Cedar Key, perhaps as a Category 2 or 3. As a student, I am quite poor so all I have really is a camcorder and my car. I might purchase a handheld anemometer just to get some wind readings. I would probably need to find an open area with few trees or buildings around(flying debris). Anyway, it might be an interesting time .

Sounds dangerous.