07/29/2026
Just a little PSA,
In the wake of a major tornado impact: if you really think getting your drone shot is more important than providing aid to those affected, then you need to step aside.
The content we create from chasing is great yes. And the damage videos definitely help to a point. But LIFE comes first. You should not be entering highly affected areas, in the way of all first responders and/or storm recovery teams, just to fly a drone and capture everyone's losses. Not only is it incredibly disrespectful to the victims, but it also majorly interferes with disaster relief operations
As a storm chaser, our priorities should be information relay during storms, and mutual aid in the aftermath. Our content creation should come in second. If you think your content creation game is more important than the lives we try to save, then you are part of the problem.
Some storm chasers have no limits to how far they will go to get their content. And it's branding us all with a really bad name. Flying drones in restricted/highly affected areas, blowing stop signs, criminal speeding, illegal overtakes, hit and runs, or even just congregating so much we cause traffic jams for miles. So many incredibly dangerous or annoying manuvers being performed that make us as a whole look bad.
During the father's day outbreak, mere minutes after the Chandler Twins struck, we were tasked by the Warrick county sheriff's office to shut down a road/re direct traffic to nearby detours due to downed LIVE power lines.. during that time, we also came into contact with a Vanderburgh County Dispatcher. While we were talking and directing traffic, another storm chaser came across our road block. Did not offer to help, was not working to get to affected areas for help. He practically bullied his way through the roadblock, drove his SUV off road and almost got himself stuck in the mud by driving around the downed pole. Which again, was LIVE. Even tried encouraging others to do the same. All of that? For a picture.. of a downed power line. (Said road closure pictured below. Picture was taken right as we found it, sheriffs deputy arrived on scene seconds later)
It's to the point where individual states are trying to pass laws to ban or regulate chasing, news stations warning the public of us, even the National Weather Service beginning to discourage people from chasing because it's gotten so bad.
As storm chasers, some of us need to do better. Need to re-evaluate our priorities in the field. And need to show some compassion to storm victims. If you can't do that? Can't respect storm victims, their privacy, or the responders working the disaster? Then you need to step aside. You are not a true chaser. Youre just an adrenaline ju**ie with a camera. Get out of the way.