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CNN Live Today

Interview With Storm Chasers

Aired May 09, 2003 - 10:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about something that quickens the pulse of some people, the mere mention of violent weather and the thought of a week at the beach. If it puts you to sleep, have we got an idea for you. How about spending your down time chasing storms. Our next two guests have done just that.
Rebecca Dyer and John Larew, joining us from Oklahoma City. They, in fact -- John got up and close and personal with yesterday's twister. Hello, good morning.

REBECCA DYER, STORM CHASER: Hi, Daryn.

JOHN LAREW, STORM CHASER: Good morning.

KAGAN: So, John, you were out there in it. Rebecca, did you have a chance to get out there in it?

DYER: No, we just missed it. We were sightseeing in Oklahoma City.

KAGAN: OK. So you missed it. John what did you see when you went out there?

LAREW: For a long part, it was just a lot of cloud shrouded area, but for a short moment we saw the funnel as it was going towards the ground, and then we saw heavy smoke that came from over where it hit the shopping center across the southern part of Oklahoma City.

KAGAN: So, Rebecca, you came to town specifically for this idea? I mean, you're chasing twisters. You want to see them?

DYER: Yes, but not like these. This was pretty wild. We're more of the textbook, middle of the plains, Texas, Oklahoma, and you see like an F1 or an F2. That is more what we are into. We did not expect this.

KAGAN: Nothing this big?

DYER: No.

KAGAN: But you've done this before. Have you seen an F1 or F2, a twister? Have you had that experience?

DYER: No, not yet.

KAGAN: But you're trying.

DYER: We're trying.

KAGAN: You're doing this on purpose?

DYER: Yes, well, you have to really love weather. And really love -- well, the science of it, and that's what we're into. My husband's into lightning, I'm into tornadoes.

KAGAN: And hopefully a great vacation is one that can combine both, a little tornado for you and some lightning for him.

DYER: Absolutely.

KAGAN: John, explain to me the thrill you get out of seeing this stuff up close.

LAREW: Well, part of it -- I deal with emergencies on a daily basis through the 911, but I've never been out side to see them. I would like to see more and to get more understanding about why events like this, how to predict it, and possibly in the future be able to help people get to a safer place quicker.

KAGAN: So there is some good intentions in doing this? Because some people might be critical, Rebecca, saying there are a lot of people who have pain from this, they lose their homes, and you're kind of voyeuristic almost.

DYER: Yes, I guess you might say that. But we're also, I think -- Todd (ph), our tour guide, he's bringing security and comfort to a lot of people. Whenever we're out on the road, people stop by the van where we have the radar and the equipment, and they'll say, Hey, I have got to drive this way home tonight, is it safe? He can let them know. We're not -- these -- we go with one guy who goes to National Weather Service conferences. Todd (ph), our guide, he has the latest equipment...

KAGAN: So basically, you want to see the weather. You don't want to see the destruction...

DYER: No, absolutely not. No.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: ... exactly what you're into?

DYER: I don't think anyone -- I mean, tornadoes are going to happen. What we hope, like what John was saying, hope someday I can help. The more we know about tornadoes and why they form and where they form, hopefully we can save lives.

KAGAN: Like the science part. I think we have some pictures to show folks how this looks when you all get in this van and you chase -- you chase the twisters. There we go. Can you guys -- do you see that picture, too?

DYER: And Daryn, when we chase, I think people -- you see the movie "Twister"... KAGAN: Right. That's what I'm thinking, Helen Hunt...

DYER: And that's like really Hollywood. What's happening is we -- early in the morning, we figure out where is it going to happen, and we try to be in the approximate area, and then Todd (ph) keeps us like, kind of, to the southeast of the storm. So like most storms go towards the northeast. He tries to keep us to the southeast, so that we see it in the distance. So we're maybe -- the closest we are is like half a mile.

KAGAN: Here's the thing, though. It's all a gamble because, like you were saying, Rebecca, you came to town to see this, but you missed it.

DYER: Yes, that is right.

KAGAN: So you could go on an entire vacation and never see what you came to see?

DYER: Exactly. Super cells, 2 percent -- 2 percent of all super cells produce a storm -- or produce a tornado. So, yes, absolutely. It's definitely a crap shoot. We never know where we're going to be. You know, tonight we don't know where we're going to be.

KAGAN: Yes, because I hear more weather -- if you are listening to Chad Myers, our meteorologist, he was saying that more is on the way.

DYER: Right. I know. And if you get these dry lines or jet streams, it's very unpredictable, which is why people should try to -- maybe during the day check in the morning, see the probability, in the middle of the day check and see how things are going. I mean, always kind of keep an eye on it. Don't let it ruin your life, but keep an eye on where they are going to be, and where you should be to be the safest. Weather...

KAGAN: Sorry. Didn't mean to jump in there. It sounds like you guys have found a passion, something you're really interested in and the science of it and not the destruction, the negative side. And it's not such an easy hobby, so we wish you luck.

DYER: Oh, well, thank you.

KAGAN: But be safe out there, OK?

DYER: Oh, yes. We are. We are.

LAREW: Very confident (ph).

KAGAN: OK. Well, thanks for coming in from the weather for just a moment to talk with us. Rebecca Dyer and John Larew joining us from Oklahoma City. You be safe out there.

DYER: Thank you, Daryn.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 9, 2003 - 10:24   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about something that quickens the pulse of some people, the mere mention of violent weather and the thought of a week at the beach. If it puts you to sleep, have we got an idea for you. How about spending your down time chasing storms. Our next two guests have done just that.
Rebecca Dyer and John Larew, joining us from Oklahoma City. They, in fact -- John got up and close and personal with yesterday's twister. Hello, good morning.

REBECCA DYER, STORM CHASER: Hi, Daryn.

JOHN LAREW, STORM CHASER: Good morning.

KAGAN: So, John, you were out there in it. Rebecca, did you have a chance to get out there in it?

DYER: No, we just missed it. We were sightseeing in Oklahoma City.

KAGAN: OK. So you missed it. John what did you see when you went out there?

LAREW: For a long part, it was just a lot of cloud shrouded area, but for a short moment we saw the funnel as it was going towards the ground, and then we saw heavy smoke that came from over where it hit the shopping center across the southern part of Oklahoma City.

KAGAN: So, Rebecca, you came to town specifically for this idea? I mean, you're chasing twisters. You want to see them?

DYER: Yes, but not like these. This was pretty wild. We're more of the textbook, middle of the plains, Texas, Oklahoma, and you see like an F1 or an F2. That is more what we are into. We did not expect this.

KAGAN: Nothing this big?

DYER: No.

KAGAN: But you've done this before. Have you seen an F1 or F2, a twister? Have you had that experience?

DYER: No, not yet.

KAGAN: But you're trying.

DYER: We're trying.

KAGAN: You're doing this on purpose?

DYER: Yes, well, you have to really love weather. And really love -- well, the science of it, and that's what we're into. My husband's into lightning, I'm into tornadoes.

KAGAN: And hopefully a great vacation is one that can combine both, a little tornado for you and some lightning for him.

DYER: Absolutely.

KAGAN: John, explain to me the thrill you get out of seeing this stuff up close.

LAREW: Well, part of it -- I deal with emergencies on a daily basis through the 911, but I've never been out side to see them. I would like to see more and to get more understanding about why events like this, how to predict it, and possibly in the future be able to help people get to a safer place quicker.

KAGAN: So there is some good intentions in doing this? Because some people might be critical, Rebecca, saying there are a lot of people who have pain from this, they lose their homes, and you're kind of voyeuristic almost.

DYER: Yes, I guess you might say that. But we're also, I think -- Todd (ph), our tour guide, he's bringing security and comfort to a lot of people. Whenever we're out on the road, people stop by the van where we have the radar and the equipment, and they'll say, Hey, I have got to drive this way home tonight, is it safe? He can let them know. We're not -- these -- we go with one guy who goes to National Weather Service conferences. Todd (ph), our guide, he has the latest equipment...

KAGAN: So basically, you want to see the weather. You don't want to see the destruction...

DYER: No, absolutely not. No.

(CROSSTALK)

KAGAN: ... exactly what you're into?

DYER: I don't think anyone -- I mean, tornadoes are going to happen. What we hope, like what John was saying, hope someday I can help. The more we know about tornadoes and why they form and where they form, hopefully we can save lives.

KAGAN: Like the science part. I think we have some pictures to show folks how this looks when you all get in this van and you chase -- you chase the twisters. There we go. Can you guys -- do you see that picture, too?

DYER: And Daryn, when we chase, I think people -- you see the movie "Twister"... KAGAN: Right. That's what I'm thinking, Helen Hunt...

DYER: And that's like really Hollywood. What's happening is we -- early in the morning, we figure out where is it going to happen, and we try to be in the approximate area, and then Todd (ph) keeps us like, kind of, to the southeast of the storm. So like most storms go towards the northeast. He tries to keep us to the southeast, so that we see it in the distance. So we're maybe -- the closest we are is like half a mile.

KAGAN: Here's the thing, though. It's all a gamble because, like you were saying, Rebecca, you came to town to see this, but you missed it.

DYER: Yes, that is right.

KAGAN: So you could go on an entire vacation and never see what you came to see?

DYER: Exactly. Super cells, 2 percent -- 2 percent of all super cells produce a storm -- or produce a tornado. So, yes, absolutely. It's definitely a crap shoot. We never know where we're going to be. You know, tonight we don't know where we're going to be.

KAGAN: Yes, because I hear more weather -- if you are listening to Chad Myers, our meteorologist, he was saying that more is on the way.

DYER: Right. I know. And if you get these dry lines or jet streams, it's very unpredictable, which is why people should try to -- maybe during the day check in the morning, see the probability, in the middle of the day check and see how things are going. I mean, always kind of keep an eye on it. Don't let it ruin your life, but keep an eye on where they are going to be, and where you should be to be the safest. Weather...

KAGAN: Sorry. Didn't mean to jump in there. It sounds like you guys have found a passion, something you're really interested in and the science of it and not the destruction, the negative side. And it's not such an easy hobby, so we wish you luck.

DYER: Oh, well, thank you.

KAGAN: But be safe out there, OK?

DYER: Oh, yes. We are. We are.

LAREW: Very confident (ph).

KAGAN: OK. Well, thanks for coming in from the weather for just a moment to talk with us. Rebecca Dyer and John Larew joining us from Oklahoma City. You be safe out there.

DYER: Thank you, Daryn.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com