Quote Blog

“There was a specific call to evacuate all trailer parks in southern New Jersey. Churchill’s double-wide was among the smaller of the park, and we were about to take on a force 4 hurricane in it.”

Reed Timmer, author of "Into the Storm"

Corresponding with this quote, storm chaser Reed Timmer, he also being the author, is on his first career storm chase in southern New Jersey. CNN happened to come across footage he captured of a vicious tornado touching down in Nebraska about three months prior to this and got back in contact with him to see if he would be down for the task again. Reed’s shared experience huddling under the underpass, where he recreationally filmed the tornado, discouraged most of his friends to join him on the next ride. He and his pal Ryan drove down to southern New Jersey under CNN’s request to get footage of a menacing purple blob (meteorologists refer purple blobs to large storms as they appear this way on a base reflectivity satellite images) for them to use during their news coverage of the event. News stations often send out thrill seeking young guys to do this since they do not have the funds to provide the chasers with much protection from the storm. This leading Reed and Ryan to end up staying in Churchill’s double wide trailer. Churchill was a nice man they met in a refuge location carrying with him wife and two kids. After hearing Reed’s story, Churchill presented Reed with the option of staying in his house. By this we can tell Reed had no real plans or intentions for safety, and was completely unprepared for this.

Luckily, the storm ended easing off back to a category 2 due to headwind coming off the shore. However, from Reed’s descriptions during his overnight in the double wide, it is easy to see that this storm was still nothing to joke about. The broken windows, soaked interior and minor structural damage are all pieces of evidence of this not being a pleasant event. Unfortunately the hurricane struck after hours and because of the lack of light Reed and Ryan couldn't capture any footage. Reed still describes this to be one of the funnest times in his career, Ryan would disagree.  

The element of fear is seen by everyone. It can be seen either as a thrill, or a fear. One is not typically willing to be scared or intimidated unless some sort of a thrill or positive experience is presented. Its people who bypass the fear aspect of situations to seek the experience who push the industries. This is broad, the idea can relate to many different circumstances. Connecting this to myself, this is how I have always felt about going about my life. Supporting those who carry out their ideas and myself carrying out my own.