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Cody Clair
This year will mark my fourth year chasing storms on the plains. It started out just chasing in the county with friends to chasing all over the state of Kansas and now even surrounding states.
I think what really got me interested in storms was seeing the impact of the May 2007 Greensburg, KS Tornado. For those of you who don’t know, Greensburg is about an hour and-a-half Southwest of Ellinwood (where we live). That night for Ellinwood and many cities around was an extremely crazy one. The same cell and cluster of storms that hit Greensburg and surrounding areas directly hit Ellinwood. I think it was a miracle we only received minor damage compared to the more extensive damage from a confirmed tornado on North and East a few miles. I remember that was the only time my family and I had ever made the trip to the basement for ANY severe storm.
From that night on I wanted to learn all about tornadoes, how they form, and how they could destroy homes and lives in just minutes if not seconds and how towns like Greensburg could be alerted sooner of a tornado. The next storm season I was out chasing.
My other hobbies/interests include watching movies, hanging with friends, going to the lake, camping, football and track.
Favorite College Team: OU/KSU
Ryan Koetter
February 27, 2011 marked my very first storm chase, although it wasn’t a huge sucess for us I really enjoyed it, even while we were lost on a dirt road with no data coverage in the middle of no where.
I have been interested in storms and have liked to watch them since I was little but had never thought about going out and chasing them, that is until I met my now chase partner and good friend, Cody Clair.
Cody has made me relize the importance of chasing and how it has an impact on people’s lives by providing increased warning lead time by reporting and documenting extreme weather events such as tornadoes, large hail, flooding etc.
Other hobbies include riding four wheelers, going to the sand dunes, Wichita Wild arena football, and hanging out with friends. I look forward to a great 2011 chasing season.
Favorite College Team: Nebraska Corn Huskers. GO BIG RED!
