In The Vortex

Author: David Drummond

  • Storm Chaser Mike Umscheid

    Continuing my series of interviews from the 2010 National Storm Chaser Convention, here is one with Mike Umscheid.  Mike has been storm chasing for quite some time and has built up an impressive gallery of photography he sells to support his storm chasing.  Mike’s regular job is Lead Forecaster at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Dodge City.  Mike was working the radar the night that Greensburg, KS was devastated by an EF5 tornado. Mike correctly called what I believe was the first ever “Tornado Emergency” when he realized what was about to happen, and no doubt saved many lives that night.

    In this video he shows us around some of his photography and gives us some personal insight on his Greensburg experience.

  • Verne Carlson – The Flying Monkey

    As I have mentioned, while at the 2010 National Storm Chaser Convention, I interviewed a number of storm chasers and vendors that were in attendance and let them tell us what they had going on.  Here is Verne Carlson telling us about his very cool RC Helicopter called the “Flying Monkey” that carries around a nice HD camera and can stream live video!  He also has RC planes he calls the “Wicked Witch”.  Both of course references to the historic movie “The Wizard of Oz” that no doubt most storm chasers watched as children to see the tornado (and some of us still do).  I have many more interviews to come!