05-24-11 Robert Hettchen Canton Lake, OK Tornado KDR Media

[stormkid2011]

Thats sick!!!

[fxbff]

who ever is being mean to the girl in the back ground should shut up

[dragonridley]

Great shot you got their. I've been hoping to find video of a tornado like this on a body of water.

[bloodysword100]

thats when the lake had water

[WickedTornado]

I don't know who she was, but whoever she is to you, she deserves the medal for bravery. She's obviously not interested in seeing this tornado any longer, yet she hung tough and kept filming. After you buy her anything she wants in life, I'd recommend not chasing in a 4-banger anymore. You guys almost got munched. Great video! ....but please....give her - her due!

[SpartanAstronaut]

Wow, and just a EF3.

[skateboy159]

tornado is sucking up alot of water

[Hartford1992]

Looked like something out of Twister... you know a video is good when you're yelling, "GO, GO, GO!!!" At the screen.

[thettchen1]

tornado formed on land. and it was a great day!! the best videos are on my facebook. robert hettchen

[watcherman65]

You Need at least a V-6.. LOL.. ...Thanks for the great video..

[Mariposa39051]

This is the best tornado coverage on this lake that I've seen. I was even scared from the beginning.

[MrZillaman1]

did that form on the water or did it form on land and move to the water?................ BECAUSE THATS A BIG TORNADO!!!!!!

[duckfan447]

Bitch shut up and film, you don't get violent wedge tornadoes like that very often as a chaser haha, but seriously it's going the other direction anyway! Tornadoes don't turn back and go south!

[watcherman65]

F-4.. F-5 ??...

[viperr14]

@watcherman65  EF-3 :D

[huntstyle]

Why can't people learn to NOT use auto-focus?!?!

[fusionxx1000]

Thank god IM deaf.Dont hear the hysterical woman.Great video of giant waterspout/tornado.

[passiontwist]

Pretty cold-hearted to ignore her cries and pleas of fear and instead try and coach her on getting "the shot". A true media whore moment.

[WickedTornado]

@passiontwist Yeah, I gotta agree wholeheartedly.

[seekingelite]

The whining and crying ruined an otherwise great video.....

[megs4000]

I keep on thinking how lucky I was that day.I live in Piedmont,Oklahoma and one of those tornados ALMOST hit me.We are thankful that our drought is over.At Canton Lake they're still cleaning up.So much debris was thrown into the lake that noone can go boating there for awhile.

God Bless Oklahoma!

~Megs4000

[kansassti]

i just got back from vacation. went to four different galaxies! ;)

[DetroitLove4U]

I love super massive black holes. A true whirling spectacle that great friends of mine gave me three opportunities to see in three different galaxies. So when I see tornado videos, though I have never seen one in person, it's like the next best thing for me to see outside of super massive black holes. I mean the experience of being that close was enthralling. I'm glad that I have such magnanimous exoteric friends to this date that have taught me a lot in

hyper-luminary propulsion.

[Miletos2]

@DetroitLove4U LOLWUT

[Jewclops]

@DetroitLove4U ... wuh?

[forgoteness2]

i wana race one in germany with a bougey veyron super sport :)

[megs4000]

Its on the f*****g water

[adam75south]

i know who i'm not bringing with me next time i go storm chasing.

[Colostormnet]

WOW! That's insane!! Great Catch!

[watcherman65]

.... Whining - Crying - Stormchaser ...... 4 Cylinder Chase Car ..... Monster Twister ...... makes for dramatic chase scene....

[bloodysword100]

i fish,boat,and swim in that lake and that day was pretty damn scary it got a couple of my friends houses but luckly they werent home

[megs4000]

RUN EVERYONE RUN!!!!!!!!!

[megs4000]

That's the lake we go to we live in OK and that day it was SCARY

[RODALCO2007]

That was awesome, hope the girl in the car is ok now.

[AJTwister97]

scratch that, but really, how close was it

[AJTwister97]

were you in a boat next to that EF3 monster!? you sir are one of the bravest I've ever saw

[bloodysword100]

@AJTwister97 they where on a dam man

[AJTwister97]

@bloodysword100 oh, but still, to be on a dam next to that monster.

[bloodysword100]

@AJTwister97 yea true that would suck to be right there with the thing glad you guys are ok

[mshsoccer]

Too close for comfort, but that RFD was kickin. Nice vid

[fusionxx1000]

lLooks cool over the lake.

[jeromycarter]

great video hope the girl still likes chasing

[erikperozo]

That's awesome video man.  I know sometimes being a chaser we can often get to close but you were in a perfect position. I got way to close to the Phil Campbell Tornado in AL so seeing that doesn't look to bad. Great Video man. Sorry the girl felt to close which happens with some chase partners some time.

[RevolutionNo1]

That is immense! great footage. Bit too close though :S

[BeNice2yourKID]

Live in OK. We go to Canton lake every summer...it is SCARY. Poor girl! :(

[JacanaProductions]

Nice video! We were 20 miles away but I'm happy to report this very tornado was captured by one of Josh Wurrman's Radar trucks (He was in Homestead and scanning out over the lake) and the data he captured will hopefully, after the PHD's have analyzed it, help us to better understand these nasty buggers.

[nuggetz24]

Why are people making fun of the girl, nobody has a heart any more, its sad. Its a human reaction to cry or scream when your adrenaline is pumping, she probably felt scared and helpless. Just because it wasnt up to your viewing pleasure doesnt mean you should make fun of her. I think the emotion makes it more exciting. grow up.

[nuggetz24]

This is crazy, Im glad you guys made it out ok. What a sight!

[clinton872]

I live in canton... the tornado was actually moving northwest. It wiped out one of my teachers homes.

[Killercore20]

The tornado didn't want to eat you, it just wanted to travel beside you. Checkin' yer car out nawmmsayynnn??? Nice Riideee.

[kdolo100]

Why r u crying? Savor the beautiful footage!

[nuggetz24]

@kdolo100 Uhm if you were in front of a giant tornado that could kill you, you wouldnt be a little shaken?!

[kdolo100]

@nuggetz24 Not if i was able to move around it. I would get as close to it like reed timmer.Just not in it.I love tornadoes almost as much as i love women.This one is too beautiful to be scared of it.

[nuggetz24]

@kdolo100 Well after seeing all of the aftermath for the tornadoes down south, I just dont see myself acting calm around them, especially since Ive only been around one, Once in my lifetime.

[fig8man]

ITS STEALING OUR WATER

[kansassti]

lots more of this tornado and several other extremely close intercepts from this year and past years on my facebook. Robert Hettchen

[senderoluminoso9]

hysterical lady is hysterical. Chill the fuck out.

[huntstyle]

Yeah, they were never really in danger. The tornado was moving left to right in this video (I'm assuming north). I've never been this close, but I tell anyone who wants to chase with me that rule #1 is they CAN'T BE SCARED TO GET CLOSE! If they don't want to get closer than 5 miles away, then they shouldn't come with me. There's a difference between being close NEXT to a tornado or behind it, and being close in its path.

[tfp777]

Life is way too short, experience life at its peek, these experiences will stay with you forever, keep it up and the gf will want to go again. Great shot!

[thelunknownl]

Well since we have a storm chaser, or two, commenting on this video I figure this is as good a place as any to ask the following question... Does anyone actually know what physically happens to a person when he/she is sucked into the tornado itself???

[wheresmyhouse1]

@thelunknownl

I'm not a storm chaser. But, I do remember reading that in a tornado, so much dirt and dust is kicked up, that your skin and soft tissues get sandblasted off.

[bclemms601]

If you were in Smithville you should understand more than anyone the importance of tracking these storms. The people in the south have been warned a very long time without actually having a tornado of significance. When NWS can issue tornado warnings less and with a higher percentage of having a tornado in progress then people take them more serious, instead it is like the boy who called wolf. I was also on this tornado and my video is from the back side of the storm. He was not in danger.

[bclemms601]

@achzdck

I actually filmed the tornado that hit Smithville, Ms near Houston, Ms. At the time it went through Houston the media was reporting it wasn't on the ground until after my report. At the time they didn't believe me because they had EMS people in the area and didn't spot a tornado. If it wasn't for a cell picture relayed they would have continued with a radar indicated tornado instead of broadcasting they were tracking a large and dangerous tornado.

[1family4me]

That is not a great place to be. If that thing has changed direction it most likely would have caught you in no time with no place to go. Stay safe out there. Great video though!

[y2knoproblem]

Leave the cry baby at home next time.

[thejailbreaktuts]

gosh cant wait till i can drive im gonna be chasing

[soccerrokr101]

Oh my god... this is the city i was born in... this is horible!! :(



[kansassti]

This is Robert Hettchen. I absolutely warned her of the danger this day held. She knows my chasing style and has been chasing with me all year. Before I left the house I asked her to stay home. She is 19 and absolutely refused to stay home. As far as not bein in danger i do wish I would have held my location. But I was on a very elevated road (the dam) with no wind break and was worried the rfd would increase to the point of flipping the car. ( a little 97 saturn)

[KDRMedia]

Loving the comments...keep them coming! (Kendra)

[fairalways]

How old is the girl on this? Did she approve of your actions? Did she know ahead of time what position in which you might have put her? Is she a member of your company?

Just concerned, and hoping you are aware of what you are wise to consider.

[bclemms601]

The girl was never in any danger. When she started freaking out was when the rear flank downdraft began to hit them. The rear flank of this storm, like most tornadic cells, was powerful with 70 mph winds, hail and heavy rain. If you have never been in the rear flank it can be very scary, particularly when looking at a large tornado from up close. They never got closer than 1/4 mile or more from the actual tornado.

[Nina424242]

Omg! That was way 2 close

[paolozamparutti1972]

o.o are they really on the Earth?

[wetweasel56]

I would have kicked that guys ass for endangering that girl that way. If I was her father he would be a dead man.

[ieatfrisbees]

My understanding was that as long as it's on land, it's a tornado, but once it moves over a body of water it technically becomes a "tornadic waterspout" and then changes back over once it moves back to land again? I don't think either of you are right or wrong. Pretty much all semantics here lol.

[slooob23]

This is a very dramatic video, but kinda dangerous?

The girl was not over reacting in my opinion, that was getting pretty close.

[MeteoAlmennoSS]

paura!!!

[fuzzydragon]

um if its on water its a water spout not a tornado isn't it

[shaugse]

@fuzzydragon yep that is correct

[weerfilm]

@fuzzydragon No, take it from a meteorologist: this is not a tornado of the spout type. Tornadoes of the spout type are not attached to a mesocyclone (the rotating updraft of a supercell). Spouts are usually very weak. So eventhough this tornado happened to cross a lake, this doesn't make it a waterspout.

[znarf541]

I accidentally drove into a tornado once - they'll make you shit your pants...

[AaronOwenSmith]

Well done great footage, haters, you try and do better, you have know idea what its like to be in that situation..

[schlagdog]

Wow, that looked close.

[LightUptheSky000]

I've been that close, and they are so ominous and violent, and seem alive and evil. Truly awesome in the classic sense. You just kind of shrink in horror as they approach because you know there is nothing you can do. Don't blame her at all for being so scared. I wouldn't take my gf that close to one ever. It's traumatic. I've experienced earthquakes and hurricanes, and neither is nearly as terrifying as being close to a tornado.

[stfanboy]

Great video, but really dumb being that close on a bridge in the middle of a lake.

[twinn429]

Poor baby :( Bless her heart...that was close though. Glad u all made out of there ok. It could have went way different.

[camarodood]

That was awesome...just tell her next time storm chasers cant cry when being chased by a tornado... :-)

[themaclady]

OMG that poor woman wimpering!

[Pilgrimsarbour]

I'm glad I backed you up, kanssassti. Thanks for the explanation below. I also think some of the comments here are completely unnecessary. All the haters here should have waited to hear the whole story before mouthing off. But such is the sound-bite culture we've become.

Idjits.

[juemcoky]

Amazing footage! I was just there this past week fishing with my grandson. Glad it waited till we were back home. Wonder how the Walleye are biting now?

[kansassti]

This is my video. The reason I was out of the car was because of a guy that was parked there. I wanted to make sure he was ok with no car issues. Im sure that makes me a dick. as far as auto focus I had it off but it resets when the camera is shut off, which i did for a moment before the tornado moved onto the water. Either way abc, cnn, fox,and stations in the uk did not mind. ;) The car is a 97 saturn that needs a muffler, which is in the trunk. have not had time this week to put it on.

[dpain125]

that looks crazy...great video...hope nobody got hurt

[star46ish]

awesome job staying with it!

[66752063686172]

If I was his girlfriend I'd be shopping elsewhere right fking now.

[directech111]

The guy videotaping this is an id*ot. I can't wait to see people comment on how these fools are helping to save lives. Next time, please leave your girlfriend back at a safe place, then you can actually drive your car right into the tornado - imagine the great footage you'll get?!

[boik02]

@directech111

Keeping a visual of the tornado and following it isnt saving lives? We are the people that live stream this onto the internet for news stations to use and talk to us on the cell phone to ensure everyones safety. we put our lives on the line for millions to keep their lives. You don't understand the logic in that.. Then you are a misguided person. My first time this close to a tornado was quite as worrisome for me. I have since grown comfortable this close to tornadoes like him

[Archonis]

DON'T WORRY AMERICA l'il barry obama WILL BE THERE ON....SUNDAY!

hold tight now!

[KlipsiGeneva]

great tornado, but darn.... why are so many people filming in autofocus ??? IT SUCKS !!! what a waste of time ! this could be fantastic footage, if only you had locked it on infinity focus . PLEASE, everybody : NO AUTOFOCUS !!!

(sorry ..... no personal attack, just me being upset ... I've seen so much tornado footage that is out of focus because the chaser did not lock lens to infinity. )

[WxBuggin]

The fact that you CAN hear the fear in someone's voice adds a human factor to it all. Too many people are out there doing this for sport and don't realize the reality that comes with a tornado.

THAT SAID.. I hope YOU have a degree of humbility from this.. or at least something more than an adrenaline rush.

[XZerolimitz]

Holy fk i would of be crying too that is a scary tornado

[Pilgrimsarbour]

Wow, riveting! The audio of the car's engine racing really adds to the whole thing, believe it or not, as if the tornado itself weren't scary enough!

And you haters knock it off with the babe-bashing! Who knows? Maybe some of us would have whined a little in that situation; yeah, we're all big he-men!

LOL

[mariodebarrio]

I hope your "babe" left you for the news weather man poor thing.

[kstatham]

amazing footage



[franku33]

Good work!

[back2backband1]

close call

[jvg10]

I love the fact you left your girlfriend in the car. She's crying and your talking with the guy on the curb. Nice 4 banger whatever you got there. Great video.

[johnpalencia]

next time leave the skirt at home. was a great great shot but missy messed up the audio....

[LadyStonecut]

@johnpalencia How macho of you! NOT! Man you people are arrogant and judgemental. Crawl back in the hole you came out of and check and see if you have green scales! You want entertainment turn on the delusional box.This is reality and fear is a normal reaction, a human reaction which seems to be lacking in some of the comments here.

Thanks for recording this but there are still people who don't get it. They were born without an empathy gene. The way things are going, they may be next.

[kansassti]

She has been great all year including some other incridibly close intercepts. I have to admit with the high risk yesterday I was nervous that this Tornado was going to continue to grow. It was definately worth shedding a tear over!!

[utbw42]

I think you need to stop riding with a storm chaser if it upsets you that much.