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The Record News - EMC Beckwith storm spotter/chaser sets the record straight By THERESA FRITZ Published with permission from the Record News - EMC and Theresa Fritz |
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Stephen Mayne doesn't consider himself a 'yahoo' and resents the implication that anyone who calls themselves a storm chaser is irresponsible and a potential danger to others. "We're not idiots. We're not dumb. We're not looking to create a problem," the Beckwith Township resident states. "There's a lot of us out there doing valuable and viable work." Mayne's defense of those who track and chase storms in Canada comes after he read a Canadian Press (CP) article that he says compared the situation in Canada to the United States, when nothing could be further from the truth. The article, entitled 'Expert Cites Danger in Storm Chasing' was written by Megan Thomas and published June 19th. It appeared across the country in Daily newspapers. "I was distressed when I read her article. To me, it was just irresponsible journalism," Mayne says. "There was no mention of idiots in Canada. To me there seemed to be a lot of implication that irresponsible behaviour is going on here too." The main source for the article was George Kourounis, who guides professional storm chasing tours in the United States and tracks storms for CANWARN - an organization put together following the devastating 1985 tornado in Barrie, Ontario and affiliated with Environment Canada whose members spot storms and report information. In the article, he was quoted as saying the number of 'yahoos' tearing up the roads in search of tornadoes and storms are a danger to other because they aren't paying attention to the road. He added that "thrill seekers" are not professionals with proper training. He went on to state the problem is not as pronounced in Canada as it is in the United States. "In the states storm chasing has become a little more dangerous," Mayne notes, adding movies like 'Twister' help fuel this false sense of adventure for the average person. "The whole article is out of context. There are only a few storm chasers in Canada." Mayne knows what he is talking about. Interested I weather and weather patterns most of his life, he jokes his mother told him he should have been a meteorologist and he has taken many courses and has certification in several areas.
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He became involved in Environment Canada's Weather Watchers Program in 2000, has been a CANWARN member since 2001, a member of WeatherMatrix in 2002, is a member of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society and is up for a citation next February from that organization, is the founder of a weather-related website called www.lanarkweather.org, has CPR and first aid training and is a Community Emergency Response Volunteer (CERV) member in Carleton Place. He also speaks at several schools on weather topics. "I was always fascinated with the weather," he states. "My interest sprang from a fear I had (of thunder and lightning)."Mayne is quick to point out that members of CANWARN are not storm chasers but rather storm spotters. "We (CANWARN members) report storms. We are storm spotters," he emphasizes. "CANWARN members are not allowed to chase storm for Environment Canada." In the same breath, Mayne says when he is not reporting for CANWARN, he is a storm chaser. In fact, he is one of a small number in Canada who storm chase, unlike in the United States where trained and untrained individuals storm chase and storm chasing tours are increasing in popularity. "My main focus after education is storm chasing," he says, adding he learned a lot from another storm chaser. "One of the problems facing Ontario is the lack of adequate warning (when there is severe weather)," Mayne states. "The main reason I am out there chasing is to gather information for the classroom and to provide adequate warning." While he notes that Environment Canada's Doppler radar in Beckwith Township is good, he notes the radar "cannot see down on the ground" like human eyes can. "I can follow a storm from a safe distance. If you know your roads, you think ahead and you are safe," he emphasizes. "The bulk of the people I know who do this (storm chase) are not fools. |
Mayne admits there is an adrenaline rush when chasing a storm and this is mixed in with health dose of fear. "If you are not a little bit afraid, you shouldn't be out there," he states, once again trying to quash the CP story's implication that everyone storm chasing is a danger to others. "In Ontario, I have never run into anyone (storm chasing) that I would call a yahoo." He also notes that people need to know more about what kind of things they should do in the event of a tornado. He says the old suggestion, which Emergency Preparedness Canada publicized until 1999 - that standing under a bridge or overpass was a good place to be is completely false. "It (under a bridge, etc.) is probably one of the most deadly places to be next to a vehicle," Mayne says. Mayne said the CP article bothered him enough to speak out because he believes the public needs to know that storm spotters and storm chasers in Ontario and Canada take what they do very seriously and are offering a public service, not putting people or themselves in danger. "We play a vital role without putting ourselves at risk. In the States, a lot of them are thrill seeker with no experience or training," he notes. "It's not for everybody to do." Mayne is always eager to share his knowledge with young people in the classroom or with those who are seriously interested in learning more about becoming a storm spotter or storm chaser. He encourages those who think they may have an interest in weather to check out his website. "If you've got an interest and you are willing to learn, I am willing to teach. I am probably the only active storm chaser in eastern Ontario," he says. "My 10-year-old son knows more about severe weather than most adults. He's actually a carded member of CANWARN." To contact Mayne, visit www.lanarkweather.org or leave him a message in his voicemail system by calling 253-3075.
Theresa Fritz is a freelance writer on assignment for the Record News EMC. |
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The Weekender Newspaper - Serving Almonte Carleton Place & area Tornado safety information incorrect in emergency preparedness booklet By Stephen Mayne
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Last week a much-anticipated booklet was delivered to the residents of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville counties called "Your Community Emergency Preparedness Guide Book". The purpose of this book was to supply time critical, important safety information for a myriad of possible events. One such an event is a tornado, and what to do during and after if one struck near you. Much of the information is good however one section dealing with safe places of refuge is flawed, fatally. It is stated that "If you are out driving and spot a tornado in the distance, try to get to a nearby shelter. If the tornado
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is close by, get out of your car and take cover in a low-lying area or even under an underpass
on a freeway. Crawl right up the bank to just under the road of the overpass."
In the U.S., a large number of people are killed each year because they sought shelter in, under or nearby one of these structures. Emergency Preparedness Canada produced a pamphlet called "Self-Help SEVERE STORMS" and in it was the exact phrase above. However, that pamphlet is old and in the newest publication Emergency Preparedness Canada has removed those sentences. Unfortunately that is all they have done and in doing
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so they have failed to advise Canadians that it is unsafe to take refuge under an overpass and similar structures. The following are the best, suggested practices for tornado safety when caught out driving your vehicle. Do not try to outrun a tornado. Find immediate shelter and if none is available, lay as flat as you can in a ditch or other low-lying area. Ensure that you keep away from motor vehicles or other large unsecured objects. Visit the Lanarkweather.org website at http://www.lanarkweather. org/safety1.html for more information. |
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The Weekender Newspaper - Serving Almonte Carleton Place & area Local man prepares to launch weather website for the area By Ashley Kulp, Staff Writer
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Last week a much-anticipated booklet was delivered to the residents of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville counties called "Your Community Emergency Preparedness Guide Book". The purpose of this book was to supply time critical, important safety information for a myriad of possible events. One such an event is a tornado, and what to do during and after if one struck near you. Much of the information is good however one section dealing with safe places of refuge is flawed, fatally. It is stated that "If you are out driving and spot a tornado in the distance, try to get to a nearby shelter. If the tornado
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is close by, get out of your car and take cover in a low-lying area or even under an underpass
on a freeway. Crawl right up the bank to just under the road of the overpass."
In the U.S., a large number of people are killed each year because they sought shelter in, under or nearby one of these structures. Emergency Preparedness Canada produced a pamphlet called "Self-Help SEVERE STORMS" and in it was the exact phrase above. However, that pamphlet is old and in the newest publication Emergency Preparedness Canada has removed those sentences. Unfortunately that is all they have done and in doing
|
so they have failed to advise Canadians that it is unsafe to take refuge under an overpass and similar structures. The following are the best, suggested practices for tornado safety when caught out driving your vehicle. Do not try to outrun a tornado. Find immediate shelter and if none is available, lay as flat as you can in a ditch or other low-lying area. Ensure that you keep away from motor vehicles or other large unsecured objects. Visit the Lanarkweather.org website at http://www.lanarkweather. org/safety1.html for more information. |
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