By David Krell
We spend our lives chasing the unknown- whether we choose to or not.
We try to imagine the different scenarios and picture what they will be like, but in reality, we have no idea, and even if we did know, that knowledge is our biggest detriment.
Not in the case of chasing tornadoes.
This exists for two reasons. For one, a person must know what he or she is getting into before actually partaking in such an exhilarating, yet dangerous adventure.
Don't let the soccer mom and genius engineer fool you, because as was the case with my trip, this soccer mom was fearless and the engineer, a high-ranking officer in the navy.
And second, the magnitude of a tornado is beyond the comprehension of anyone outside of tornado alley.
One learns very quickly that the entire population of Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska have their share of tornado stories. They all know someone who has died or almost died and everyone has a bunker to escape to should the time arise.
Not only that, but the land is so flat, and the tornado sirens so plentiful, that one begins to constantly feel the inevitably of a tornado. It is this feeling of anticipation and anxiety that fuels the entire adventure.
Our driver and storm chaser, Eric Duncan of Extreme Chase Tours, is best known for his extensive knowledge and fearlessness when it comes to chasing tornadoes.
And yes, they are- and he is- chasing tornadoes.
Imagine spending the day hunting for a deadly encounter between lion and prey.
Tracking the footsteps, listening for howls and looking for signs of the lion's presence and future stronghold. It can take hours, but it's worth it, even if you are only able to see a lion lounging around. Predicting when and where a tornado will strike is impossible, and for now, the best option is an experienced storm chaser such as Eric.
Since "Twister" was released in 1995, many wannabe storm chasers have filled the roads.
Either that, or school trips, in which a professor frantically pulls over to the side of a major highway in order to get a picture of "dark clouds looming," as I overheard one professor call it.
This has caused state troopers and local police alike to become skeptical of storm chasers in general, and has made things quite difficult for them to actually do their jobs.
Eric, for example, mentioned that a cop referred to him as a "thrill-seeking yahoo," and then proceeded to give him a ticket for driving above the speed limit as he raced towards a possible tornado outbreak.
This "thrill-seeking yahoo" is actually a hero, as Eric rescued a countless number of people from the devastation of the Greensburg tornado over five years ago.
Despite the obviously negative effects of "Twister," it also provided the necessary attention which brought about a more advanced warning system- but not in the manner the movie attempts to outline.
That said, the best aspects of the movie were represented in full force on our "extreme chase tour."
There was a 1980's-like rivalry between storm chasers, locals frequently telling us "not to bring the storm," and torrential downpours leading to skepticism towards whether we would make it out alive. But I did not expect these things to actually happen.
If I had time to conjure up every image I associated and hoped this experience would provide, I still would not have thought of everything I witnessed during my four days with Extreme Chase Tours.
For example, there were frequent emergency reports by the National Weather Service which cut off live programming in a way that reminded me of the September 11th announcements, a Charlie's Angel-like dialogue between the dispatcher and Eric, and every cliche you ever heard in every movie you have ever seen.
"Come on, Mother Nature! Put on your makeup and dance!" was recited every time a storm cell came close to reaching severe status.
Despite the constant ring of cliches, storm chasing is a very serious endeavor. If this weren't the case, there would be no need for radios, a wireless computer system, multiple cell phones and the overly equipped storm vehicle.
Again, this vehicle is the tracking system. People listen to the weather report on their local news station, but who do you think those meteorologists get their information from? In fact, these storm chasers become meteorologists themselves. Eric, for example, represents a news station in Kansas.
Most importantly though, storm chasers such as Eric are the best warning system we have, and although my tour was for the fun and excitement of chasing tornadoes, they serve as the best example of how things can get better for the communities of tornado alley.
The irony of it all is that the people who can most save the community from disaster are the ones who are usually connected with bringing them.
For example, if Superman actually existed and I saw him flying overhead, I would be terrified, because if he's around, then that means his arch nemesis, Lex Luther, can't be too far away.
It's similar to the manner by which one looks for sharks. When looking for sharks, one must look for seagulls hovering over a portion of water.
If you see them, proceed with caution. But also, get excited because you are about to see a shark up close. If tornadoes are what you seek or what you fear, look for Extreme Chase Tours, they are your seagulls.
