MovingPictures

Some Images from Fremont, OH Memorial Day Parade...

Jim Ellis for Mayor Campaign in Memorial Day Parade...

The Jim Ellis for Mayor of Fremont, Ohio hits the parade circuit in the Fremont, Ohio Memorial Day Parade. Like Jim's FaceBook page HERE...

Photo of Wood Through Concrete from Joplin, MO...

This photo from @mdrache on Twitter from a friend of his from Joplin, MO. It is AMAZING the power of an EF 5 tornado...

Joplin Death Toll up to 125 People, 1000 Injured...

Most of Joplin had been searched by noon today for survivors, according to the State Emergency Management Agency. Three of the search teams have been dismissed, and a team from St. Louis team will be working with the cadaver dogs which are specially trained to sniff for bodies. The death toll is at least 125, making it the deadliest single twister since the weather service began keeping official records in 1950. St. John’s plans to build a mobile hospital by Sunday at or near the Joplin hospital that was hit by the tornado, officials announced this morning. The mobile hospital will have 60 beds, an emergency room area and will be able to withstand 100 mph winds, said St. John’s spokeswoman Cora Scott. Medical staff will be able to do surgery there and perform imaging tests. The hospital is currently providing some medical services at the nearby Memorial Hall, but the mobile hospital will allow staff to provide more care for the people in Joplin. More than 1,000 people have been treated for injuries stemming from the tornado that struck Joplin at 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Freeman Health System in Joplin treated 467 people in the hours immediately after the tornado struck. More than 396 people sought treatment for injuries Sunday night at hospitals outside of Joplin. That was continuing on Monday.

Some Crazy Cloud Structure Yesterday...

I chased into Indiana and Western Ohio yesterday and got some crazy cloud structure near Greenville, Indiana and near my favorite, Van Wert, Ohio. I was on several tornado warned storms and you can see my whole shoot HERE.

Tornado Caught Close to Home Today...

I caught a tornado tonight just South of Van Wert, Ohio looking south on SR 127. The leading edge of the tornado is visible, but the back end was rain wrapped. The death toll for the tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri yesterday is up to 116, with search and rescue still continuing.

At Least 89 Dead in Joplin, Missouri Monster Tornado...

A massive tornado that tore through the southwest Missouri city of Joplin killed at least 89 people, but authorities warned that the death toll could climb Monday as search and rescuers continued their work at sunrise.

City manager Mark Rohr announced the number of known dead at a pre-dawn news conference outside the wreckage of a hospital that took a direct hit from Sunday's storm. Rohr said the twister cut a path nearly six miles long and more than a half-mile wide through the center of town.

Much of the city's south side was leveled, with churches, schools, businesses and homes reduced to ruins.

Fire chief Mitch Randles estimated that 25 to 30 percent of the city was damaged, and said his own home was among the buildings destroyed as the twister swept through this city of about 50,000 people some 160 miles south of Kansas City.

"It cut the city in half," Randles said.

Audio From Rescue Efforts in Joplin, Missouri...

 

JoplinAftermath

I searched on my iPhone and found the Jasper County Missouri Law Enforcement audio feed and recorded just over 30 minutes of their rescue efforts tonight in Joplin, MO. It is a haunting, interesting look at what these people have to deal with in the wake of a disaster like tonight's tornado. Click the above bar for audio clip.

Joplin, Missouri Hit Hard by Huge Tornado...

The Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management has said at least 24 people are dead after a tornado tore through Joplin, MO. around 6 p.m. Saturday. National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Griffin has said that Joplin was directly hit by a tornado that touched down in the center of the town. Jasper County Emergency Management Director Keith Stammer said the St. John's Regional Medical Center on the city's south side took a "direct hit." Witnesses said windows were blown out on the top floors of the hospital. Cora Scott, a spokeswoman at the hospital's sister facility said patients were being evacuated to other area hospitals. Missouri National Guard Maj. Tammy Spicer said more than 100 members of the 35th Engineer Brigade, which has a battalion based in Joplin, were expected to immediately report for duty to aid in search and rescue efforts, clear roads, provide security and help with radio communications. The guard's armory in Joplin suffered only minor damage but was without electricity Sunday night, Spicer said. One of the challenges facing the guard was simply getting in touch with all of its members in the area, she said.

A Down Day BBQ, Recharged for Tomorrow's Chase...

Niccolo Ubalducci from the Italian Storm Chasers enjoys his steak.

We drove South from our overnight stay in Valentine, Nebraska to the small Kansas town of Colby. We found a cheap but nice motel and executed our BBQ plan flawlessly. My brother Matt manned the grills along with the help of Chris Howell and Niccolo Ubalducci from Italy. The beef was quickly consumed and some adult beverages consumed. As of right now the SPC day 1 outlook shows a 10% hatched chance for tornadoes and a whole lot of chase fun...

Chris Howell and Matt Kassawara look at forecast pages for the chase.

Nicollo Ubalducci looks at the forecast.

Bust Day in South Dakota, now on to Kansas Toto...

Jim Leonard in his chase van.

We had a long day of playing hurry-up and wait with almost every major name in storm chasing in the country. Reed Timmer, Joel Taylor, Tony Laubach, Tim Samaras, Jim Leonard, Roger Hill, Verene Carlson, Mike Umschied, Adam Lucio and many more were there waiting with no less than 100 other storm chasers from all over the world. The day did not produce what was expected, but it was a nice social day for all of the chasers. I met one of my FaceBook friends from England, Vicki Redwood, and many others for the first time. We caught some night time structure, lightning and a wall cloud north of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. We will be taking tomorrow to drive to Kansas after overnighting in Valentine, Nebraska to set up for Wednesday and a already forecast moderate risk.

North of Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Nice Surprise Structure After Dark...

Tonight we got a little after dark surprise shelf cloud which was being lit up by lightning near Mitchell, South Dakota. See my other photos from today, CLICK HERE. 

Travel Day to Grand Island, Nebraska, Cool Clouds...

Lenticular type clouds and a bridge in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Our group MESO all hooked up today in Kansas City, Missouri, by plane truck and rental car and then proceeded to our "Aunt Meg's" house for our annual BBQ dinner. The Italian Storm Chase Team also met up with us for the second consecutive year for our chase. We set a target in lower Nebraska and headed out for a 350 mile jaunt to Grand Island, Nebraska. We saw some incredible lenticular type clouds on the way, and some clouds I can't name, but I can show them to you in photos. They looked to be twisting sideways, with lines in the bizarre formations. If anyone has idea what they are, please leave a comment. We will see what tomorrow brings...

One of the bizarre twisting clouds we saw on the way to Grand Island, NE.

Some Photos of the St. Louis Tornado Damage...

Members of Disaster Relief Service International clean up the property of the Temple Christian Fellowship Church in Bridgeton, MO.

Today my chase partner Chris Howell and my brother Matt Detrich traveled through the damage path of the 04/22/11 tornado that did significant damage to the town of Bridgeton, MO and the St. Louis Lambert Field airport. Click HERE to see a slideshow of the photos. We are overnighting in Kansas City, MO and will meet up with the rest of the MESO group tomorrow and then head out to Kansas to get into position for some possible weather on Sunday. We are also joined by three Italian storm chasers, (yes from Italy), and will once again enjoy the company of Niccolo Ubalducci and Valentina Abinanti and their friend Michael. We will be picking up Nancy Bose and Joe Falci at the KC airport tomorrow and Matt Kassawara will be driving in from Lawrence, KS.

Chris Howell looks at a twisted I-beam in the damage path of the EF-4 tornado in Bridgeton, MO.

MovingPictures Blog just hit 95,000 Views - THANKS!!!

Thanks to all that have been checking in on my blog for the last few years, I just hit 95,000 views, and hope to hit the 100,000 mark during this years storm chase, keep checking in, THANKS to you all...

Jim Ellis was Victorious for Fremont's Future...

L-R, Jim Ellis celebrates with his wife Marlene Ellis, Michelle Cummings, Jim Sherck, and Kellie Sears after results of the election are announced at the victory party in the Ellis Law Offices.

For the last several months I have had the privilege of working on the election campaign of Jim Ellis for Mayor of Fremont in the Democratic primary. With alot of hard work and miles put on his feet going door to door, Jim was victorious over his opponent Jim Nalley by a 65% to 35% margin. Tis is an amazing feat, considering this is the first office Jim has ever run for, and the fact that Jim Nalley is a siting Fremont city councilman and a lifetime politician. Maybe the last reason I sited was part of the downfall of Jim's opponent. Jim Ellis stands for change in Fremont and is not afraid to take a stand for the right side of an issue, even if it might be an unpopular one with the good old boy network. Fremont is on its way to change, now we are onward and upward to the race for Mayor in the general election in November.

Jim Ellis thanks his campaign workers with his wife Marlene and Jim Sherck

 

G-Form Extreme iPad Case, in my Hands, in Time...

The G-Form Extreme iPad Sleeve on my desk today.

With the help of Cathy from G-Form, I now have in my hot little hands one of their newest products to protect my iPad for my upcoming storm chase into the plains, before its official release. The G-Form iPad Extreme Sleeve™ protects your iPad or iPad2 from impact by utilizing RPT-Reactive Protection Technology, a combination of PORON® XRD™ material and proprietary G-Form design and manufacturing. The Extreme Sleeve™ is water-resistant, soft, flexible, lightweight and changes its molecular structure on impact. Cathy tells me it is a bit of miracle molecular manipulation that makes the sleeve so impact resistant. They have a bunch of great products and I recommend a visit to their website.

12 Years Since May 3, 1999, OKC Tornado Outbreak...

Tweleve years ago, I was in Oklahoma City shooting photos of the aftermath of the May 3rd, 1999 F5 tornado that hit most Norman, Midwest City, OKC, Mulllhull, Bridgecreek and other small towns around the OKC area. The tornado outbreak killed 48 people, and spawned 66 tornadoes that day. If I had looked back at this event a month ago, it was a holy crap event in my mind, but as I look back on it today, I think, what was the big deal when I compare it to the tornado outbreak a week ago in Alabama and the South. Not to diminish 05/03/99, but when you compare numbers, 04/27/11 were more than four times greater, four times!!! Lets all remember the victims for years to come, and may we never forget to pay attention to, and take action when you have a weather warning in your area. Your life depends on it!

Jim Ellis is the ONLY Choice for Fremont Mayor...

Jim Ellis out meeting with the people, getting and sharing ideas for the future of Fremont, Ohio.

I have had the pleasure to work on the election campaign of Jim Ellis. I have know Jim for years, Our sons are best friends, our wives and kids go skiing in the winter. I find Jim a honest, and trustworthy man (who I do trust with the life of my child, ha) on those nights Noah sleeps over with Oliver. Jim Ellis has a B.I.G plan for the revitalization of Fremont, don't just take my word for it, take a look at all the Letters to the Editor from the people of Fremont who share my feelings about Jim. Jim Ellis has sought to bring the workings of our City Council out from back-room politics into the open. When he asked to get the agendas and minutes posted online, he was told, "It would be too expensive", and was brushed off by the current administration. Being Jim Ellis, he took the matter into his own hands and did it himself, for little or no money. This is why Fremont, Ohio needs Jim Ellis. He is not a part of the "Good Old Boys Club" and not a self-proclaimed "Full-time Politician" like his opponent. Why elect the the "Same Old, Same Old"? It is time for a change, and that means electing Jim Ellis on May 3rd in the Democratic Primary election for Mayor of Fremont, Ohio.

I am primarily a Republican voter and I am going to ask for a Democratic ticket on Tuesday so I can cast a vote for Jim Ellis and the future of Fremont. I encourage others to do the same! - Allan Detrich

From my Wife...

Accountability is a key factor for economic growth. It is not a coincidence that the population of Fremont as fallen by 3.7%. Our complacency with the status quo is to blame. It is because of Jim Ellis’ responsible citizenship that we are now aware of the culture of disrespect on city council for its citizens. A vote for Jim Ellis in the democratic primary election for is a vote for accountability. - Mary Bower

Jim Ellis working tirelessly on his campaign in hopes he can serve the city of Fremont as Mayor.

Want more of the same? Vote for Jim Ellis' opponent, it's YOUR choice!

A Night to Remember, Osama Bin Laden is Dead...

Osama Bin Laden is dead.

Tomorrow morning most of the population of the United States will wake up to the news that Bin Laden has been killed. If you were like me, you went to bed and might not have know about the new until tomorrow. But, I listen to my iPhone through the night and all of a sudden the news alerts started dinging like a winning pull on a slot machine. I checked the messages and saw the news. I was not able to go back to sleep and can down when I saw that President Obama was going to speak soon about the kill. A history buff, I snapped a few photos of my high-def TV as Obama spoke with my iPhone, sounds silly, but hey...

Finally after over ten years the US has tracked down the mastermind of the 911 terrorist attack and served justice on a silver platter. Details are sketchy, but reports say he was shot in the head during a raid on a compound in Pakistan, which also killed his oldest son. My hat is off to the soldiers that choppered in and made the successful raid on the complex and brought justice to the victims of 911 and the military personnel that gave their lives in pursuit of justice. 

The shot of President Obama as he gives some details on the death of Osama Bin Laden today in Pakistan.

Can't Believe how Soon News Organizations Forget...

MSNBC Website

It has just been a few day since the 04/27/11 tornado outbreak in the South and already the story has rolled off the main page of most news organization webpages. Pope John Paul, Gahadfi, Obama joking on Trump at the White House Correspondents dinner; they are all more important than the continued pain that the people in the South are going through as they prepare to bury some of the 347 killed in the rogue storms. It is unfortunate that we forget so quickly, hell, how much do we hear about Japan anymore, 13,000 dead and 14,000 still missing and their whole country is royally screwed for a long time. As a photojournalist, I have found that some of the long term follow-up stories I have done are the most compelling stories you can come up with. Lets not forget the people in Alabama and neighboring states, even if the news outlets have. They deserve better.

Associated Press news Website