Mapleton Iowa Wedge Tornado 4/9/11

Jordan Wrecke, Darin Brunin, and Donna Brunin get up close footage of the violent Mapleton Iowa Wedge Tornado on 4/9/11

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Mapleton Tornado
• 4/9/11 tornado
• Iowa
• tornado
• crazy footage

[jordanwrecke]

I almost forgot, dumb fucks like us helped people that day. Dumb fucks like us where there all night helping the town. Dumb fucks like us were the first responders. Why don't you first grow up and stop threatening people. If your going to call someone dumb, I would suggest first learning how to spell. And your not wreckless wanting to punch random people for reporting severe weather cause there close to a tornado and say fuck. Grow up

[PootStip]

Seriously, there is no way that you can argue that "you're a professional and you knew what you were doing". No amount of experience or equipment or "hunch" can justify approaching that close to a tornado of that strength at night. None. If anything, it speaks to a serious lack of sense or an extreme overabundance of confidence in your abilities (or luck). You were extremely fortunate not to be hurt.

[jordanwrecke]

@PootStip the tornado happened during daylight. It was after 6 o'clock. We had 2 hrs of daylight to help rescue people. It just looks so dark cause we were so close. The tornado was moving north of us, so we were safe.

[rhurkes]

Hey Jordan, we were actually in the Explorer that passed you at the end - sorry for getting in your video ;). The mesonet got a pressure drop to 988mb and possibly up to 80mph winds.

It was a calculated risk but fairly safe where we were if you know tornadoes very well. Up a 1/4 mile, Reed had to drive into a ditch and Andy G lost his back window - so the line was being toed.

P.S. 'Every year' will be the year a chaser dies. Nothing in this video was stupid if you're an experienced chaser.

[jordanwrecke]

@rhurkes no worrries at all. We were actually with Dick and Andy at the beginning of the day.It was funny to meet up with them at almost the same time.We were all there to help out people immediatley after it hit. Debris was still flying around. Our vehicle never moved or really shook. There were no powerlines too. If it wasn't so dark out you would be seeing trees getting ripped apart a lil ahead and to the left.

[2DSTORMS]

I love chasing storms and all, but why do you insist on getting into the edge of the circulation when it is that dark??

[jordanwrecke]

trust me, we knew we were pretty lucky to be alive. I never at one point felt unsafe though. i probabably wont ever get that close to a wedge again.

[jordanwrecke]

We were like deer looking into the headlights. In case you couldn't tell were professionals and know what were doing. Most people would have sharted there pants looking into that.Being that close is what I live for everyday. I'm thankful no one died in the town of Mapleton. We pulled people out of houses. It was incredible because most of the houses didn't have basements. There's some amazing people in that town

[aghinem]

I have studied tornadoes for 20 years and have never seen documented footage this dangerously close. I appreciate any chaser or scientist that puts their lives at risk for field study, but this video is beyond any comprehensible level of extreme. Whether you are an experienced chaser or not, this video represented 50% experience and 50% luck. Did anyone even consider the possibility of satellite tornadoes forming within that parent circulation?

[posh280]

yes we get it! its a tornado... but seriously RAW FOOTAGE isnt always the best to be posted...this is why our government thinks we are ALL wreckless because of dumb fucks like u!

[posh280]

how close do u need to be for good footage? how about getting a better camera or maybe a better angle? the last thing us first responders need is a body count of dumbasses that thought it was a good idea to get as close as possible. i understand the adrinaline rush but seriously if i would have u seen u 2 out that day i would have punched u in the face and how "professional" r u? how many times r u ganna say fuck?

[ellabelle2015]

I want to say thank you to you guys who helped everyone out of there homes. I live in Mapleton, and was at the high school play that night. The roof was ripped off and part of it collapsed. Only minor injures, & no one died. I loved seeing our whole town pull together and really come together as a town & help everyone get there lives back to 'normal'.In school we have always practiced tornado drills, but never in our lives did we think we would actually encounter a tornado.

[MsRaquel1999]

Well on the brightside im in 7th grade and i want to be a Meteorologist NOT A stormChaser (:

and tornadoes are my biggest fear...But if it wernt for tornadoes i wouldnt have usch interest in Meteorology.

I <3 Mother Nature (:

[Ainurah]

CREEPY - and one of the most interesting tornadoes videos I've ever seen. :O

[thoreson2000]

Land of the free (kinda). If you want to drive into a tornado...more power to ya. Cool vid. Would be even cooler if you did get sucked up and thrown 1000 yards. Either way...I appreciate it.

[DetroitLove4U]

When it's pitch dark on the open road I guess the only way one can see a tornado is predominatly if there is lightning??

[XFaye6224X]

omggg im scared watching this! u must of craped ur self

[sergeyvandaalen]

Just UTTER, UTTER luck you lot didn't got sucked up into the damn thing.