While most of us dread tornados, some pay good money to see them up close. But not too close, says Eric Burns, the owner-operator of Tornadic Expedition Storm Chasing Tours, based out of Whitesboro Texas and operates tours out of Oklahoma City, Denver and Rapid City, South Dakota.
Burns, who has been chasing storms since the early 2000's says some people like to vacation at the beach with a cocktail, but others want a real adventure. His company takes clients out on seven to 10 day tours from mid April through mid July. The mode of transport is a Toyota minivan. Safety is always top of mind. "Some storms need a lot of respect and we have to give them a lot of distance. Some storms we're able to get in pretty close with relative safety." They typically watch tornados from a half mile to several miles away.
He says they know where the hail is falling and where the twisters develop and the strong winds are, so they avoid those areas. "It's almost like a Hollywood movie set. When you look one way you see the set and the other way it's a whole different world."
They always have escape routes and if things are getting too close they reposition to stay ahead of the terrible weather. They offer six, seven and ten day tours and have clients from all over the world. Speaking from the van, he says his current tour has customers from Canada, Australia and the UK. He says 70 percent of his customers are repeat guests.
A typical seven day tour covers 2500 to 3000 miles.
He spoke to me from the van and said the tour he's conducting now departed from Oklahoma City with stops likely planned in West Texas, southeastern Colorado, northwestern Oklahoma Panhandle with stops possible in Nebraska and then Kansas. They drive everywhere their forecast takes them. If there's no weather to take in local activities, landmarks and sightseeing.
He says some clients are in silence and awe when they see a tornado. "Some of my guests have told me it has a calming effect on them. Other people get a rush of adrenaline. Other people get emotional. It affects them on an emotional level to where they're in tears, whether it's tears of happiness or excitement."
The National Weather Service is not a fan. A FAQ about severe weather on its website read :The NWS does not encourage anyone to pursue dangerous storms for any reason other than promoting public safety (spotting) and official research." But Burns says they report everything they see to the NWS to make sure they're giving a heads up and says that provides a service to the public.
Tours start at $2600 and up to $5,000. At the higher price mark they offer what he calls an extreme tour that gets closer and is more exclusive.
Burns adds business has been great. "It's been a very active season and a record-setting year for the number of tornadoes we've witnessed, so far."
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