Greensburg Revisited

This is video of me reporting for KAKE the evening of 5-4-07, the night of Greensburg. I was going through some of my old tapes and found this and quite a bit of other video from that infamous night. I plan on posting some more video from that night sometime in the future.
Please note: ALL VIDEO IS COPYRIGHT KAKE TV OR LANNY DEAN.

Pictures of Lone Grove & MOC #6

Spent the day on Sunday down in Lone Grove with Jeff Smith, I was able to participate in Mission Of Compassion and although I had some reservations about going down there, I had a wonderful time. It is not often that we as chasers are able to help in the recovery process after a tornado, we basically focus on the forecast, the nowcast and the chase so this was a little different for me. It was difficult to go in and view the damage in Lone Grove and at times it felt like I was back at Greensburg. This was a killer tornado and the damage was reflective of that

especially south of town in the mobile home park. What were once trailers were basically nothing more that splinters now. Of course there was stuff everywhere and while my sister and I walked around and took pictures and video we realized that the "stuff" was once some ones life. It is something that most people just simply do not understand.

To me, it was very clear why and how so many people died in this tornado. Most of the deaths came from the mobile home park and in driving through the local area it was very apparent that these people had basically no where to go. The park was located to the east side of a north/south road and had only one way in and one way out. There were not any tornado shelters nor were there any low areas that provided any real protection. With the tornado moving from southwest to northeast, driving away or escaping in a vehicle was not an option once the tornado was south of the trailer park. I spoke with a survivor who told me that they waited to see just where the tornado was going to go and when they thought about leaving, they did not have time.

Had any of those people tried to escape via driving out of the park they basically had only two options, drive north into town and go east or west on hwy 70 or drive south to the next county road and go east or west. Both options would no doubt have been costly as the tornado appeared to grow to its strongest and widest width through this area. It looked to me like the maximum tornado width in this area was 1/4 to 1/2 of a mile wide.

While we noted some massive damage some of which did appear to be in the EF-4 range,

WE DID NOT SEE ANY SIGN OF SCOURING OF THE ROAD, STREET OR CONCRETE ANYWHERE NEAR LONE GROVE! This includes 7-8 miles south of town where we picked up the damage path all the way through town and back north of town 4-5 miles.

The pictures and reports of what was referred to as "peeling off of the pavement" was simply bogus. The road had a small washout and had been unimproved for over 3 years per one of the locals who lived just down the road. It is a shame that some felt the need to sensationalize this tragedy and terrible destruction for self promotion.

I plan on posting video and some more pictures as I get time. A big shout out to Jeff Smith for putting MOC 6 together and for allowing me to go. Thanks Jeff!

On a different note, some of my video from Greensburg has been shown on the promo for The Weather Channels "Tornado Week" Tonight more of my video will be shown as the latest show tells the story through the eyes of the locals in Greensburg. And then on March 29Th my story including my interviews and video will air, some of the video has not been seen before and should prove to be interesting. If you have had any interest in Greensburg this may be something to see.

Greensburg on Dateline NBC plus TWC TORNADO WEEK!

Dateline NBC will air some of my Greensburg video tonight during a show called "10 DEATH DEFYING MOMENTS CAPTURED ON CAMERA" from 6pm - 8pm

I am not real sure of the in's and out's of the show but I suspect with a title like that it may be somewhat lame given the circumstance, but I am excited to see what and how they portray the tragidy. As most of you know I have been extremly busy with trying to complete the shows for The Weather Channel regarding Greensburg. The series consists of 2 shows and although I am not exactly sure of the air date, after finally completing it as of today, I am being told that it will air later this month (Feb. 22-27?) I have not been told the name of the shows other than "Storm Stories" but again, I am pretty excited about it. The series will air during TORNADO WEEK and should prove to be pretty interesting. My only issue is that I do not know how they plan on portraying the tragidy that took place.

I think that is one of my biggest fears in dealing with any production company now days and it does not help that Greensburg has been such a big part of my life for the last 2 years. The last thing I would want is for some sort of misrepresentation about the events and what really happened that night. I have done a few other Storm Stories and I suspect they will represent the situation as it was.....at least I hope they do.

I also thought I would post some info for my good friend Jeff Smith. Jeff and company plan on doing another Mission Of Compassion for the folks down in the Lone Grove OK area. For those that do not know, Lone Grove was struck by an EF4 tornado last week and sadly 9 lives were lost. I will post more info and contacts about this within the next few days. If you think you might be willing or wanting to help please feel free to contact Jeff at: stormrider1970@gmail.com

Greensburg Tragedy and Advanced Storm Spotter Class

This Saturday, February 7 2009, I'll team up with famous KJRH Channel 2 meteorologist and storm chaser George Flickinger to present an advanced weather program in Mayes county Oklahoma. You are welcome to attend if you are a storm spotter, emergency or law enforcement. This program isn't for kids-- it's not a "family" or a "fun" show, but instead deals with advanced spotting techniques, survival and mental anguish.
My part of the program regards the tragedy of Greensburg and how we prepare. I will be showing some video that has never been seen before from that night.
Mr. George Flickinger will be doing an Advanced Spotter training class for all who attend and will also have some great tornado video from last year! I have seen his video and it is some really good stuff!!!!
If you are interested in attending, please contact Kevin Bruce via e-mail at:
kevincbruce@sbcglobal.net

Look forward to seeing everyone out there!

"Advanced Spotter Training/Greensburg review with George Flickinger and Lanny Dean. Sat Feb 7 at 7pm. NE Vo-Tech Center 5 and 1/2 mi west of Pryor on Hwy 20."

"Storm Stories" Greensburg and Chaser-fest

(C) Lanny Dean 2007 watermarked
Greensburg tornado at 9:48pm just as it was hitting the south side of town


For those who have been keeping up with The Weather Channel since the NBC buy out, good news.... they are bringing back "Storm Stories" These 30 minute shows touch on human nature in relation to severe weather events of all kinds.


I have been fortunate to have done a few of these shows with most notably the Mulvane event coming to mind. I have enjoyed doing them and so far, the production people have been a blast to work with. I will be taking part in another one regarding the Greensburg event and its after effects. We are set to do the interviews tomorrow evening (weather permitting) and various b-roll stuff. Anyone who knows me or got a chance to see our show Tornado Hunters, knows that the whole Greensburg deal was pretty tough for me to deal with. I am not ashamed to say that I had to go see a psychologist due in part, to what I saw, and had to deal with that night. In looking back, I sometimes wish that I had not driven into what was left of Greesnburg. I know that sounds selfish and it is.....but I wonder where I would be today (as a chaser) both mentally and physically if I had bypassed the whole situation? After many deadly weather events through the years, including 5-3-99 and 5-4-03, I have seen my share of and death destruction so why was this event any different than all the others?

I suspect, after many hours on the old leather couch, that the base reason and difference was that I became a part of the story....and in some crazy way, I saw my own mortality.
At the time, I was working for KAKE in Wichita as their severe weather reporter and in house photographer and I loved the job. It was a dream job that most chasers could only wish for....getting paid a real salary to chase severe weather, and when there was no weather, I "became" an in house photographer, I loved it. In the 3 years I spent at KAKE, I filmed more than 60 tornadoes with almost half of them "live" I was even lucky enough to receive two Gold awards from the Society Of Professional Journalist (SPJ), one Bronze award and was nominated for an Emmy regarding my weather reporting. I was in heaven until Greensburg. That's when things really changed for me
Some of you may read this post and wonder why I am bragging about my accomplishments, for those who may be curious.....I am not bragging, that's the last thing I want to do. I guess I am just trying to set the stage to show what was and what is now.
Of course its my blog, I write what I want and I am focused on myself but there were other people who were affected in much the same way if not more so. At this point I do not feel the need to name names but I do feel I would be remiss if I did not openly show respect for those directly involved with Greensburg including those who were first on scene that fateful night...
Those guys are the true heros.
For obvious reasons, I left KAKE about 3 months after Greensburg.......I left Kansas soon after and for those that do not know, I basically took a year away from chasing, if for nothing more than self preservation, I had to. After leaving KAKE, I went to work down here in Tulsa at KJRH as their weather reporter and photographer, but again, I just could not do it. I had basically lost my edge, no questions, no exceptions.
So here I am almost two years later with a tour company and getting ready to do another show regarding Greensburg, and of course speaking at public forums and get togethers, anywhere I can get the word out, anywhere I can send the message to be prepared because you never know whats going to happen.

On to other things......The Tulsa area Chaser-fest is still on for Jan. 31 in Catoosa, OK

I am excited to be a part of it and although I am somewhat reluctant to speak about Greensburg, in doing so, I can only hope that the message gets out as it is intended. I will be showing some video from that horrible night that has not been seen before as I beleive it may help to show what it was really like. Everyone is welcome and I would encourage all to come by.
Jeff Smith is also going to present his "mission of compassion" and there is even a "car show" to boot!
For directions or info, feel free to send me a message here or through my e-mail at:
lannydean@extremechasetours.com

!Chaser Get Together!

BIG CHASER GET TOGEHTER IN CATOOSA OK, SAT. JAN.31!!!!
Everybody is welcome from chasers to spotters.
All chasers are invited! The meeting will be in the Catoosa Community Center. Catoosa is a suburb just northeast of Tulsa, along Highway 66. The address is 105 E Oak, Catoosa OK. Info on the Community Center can be found here. I have been asked to give a presentation called "Greensburg Tragedy, How do Chasers Prepare?" and will talk about the psychological aspects of being first on scene of a disaster, and also will speak about night chasing/spotting and the inherent dangers. Channel 2 Storm Chasers Jeff Smith will introduce Mission of Compassion, a ministry that goes into an affected area after a natural disaster and delivers relief supplies, water, food, and a little love. We will have a projector complete with a sound system, so please bring your chaser video to share! If anyone has a topic that they would like to talk about, please PM me. (I hear rumors of a chaser car show)...We will order pizza in the afternoon. Everyone will just pitch in on the pizza costs. I estimate no more than $10.00 per person should buy food. The cost of the Community Center has been provided graciously by the Catoosa Emergency Management.This meeting will be informative for all and also FUN!! We all need a little SDS relief about this time of year, so everyone c'mon out & have a little fun.

Would love to see everyone out there!!!!!!!!

Greensburg Supercell May 26 2008

Eric and I looked at morning runs and targeted SW Kansas for the day. Informed the tour and took a chance and drove to Pratt. After spending several hours sitting and whatching "others" drive East, then West then back East and then West again( I hate stupid people) We drove west and intercepted the non severe storm just south of Greensburg. After much waiting on 54 it finally went severe and then finally tornado warned. We got a nice wall cloud and a few funnels but after the rain wrapped for the 3rd time we decided to go east and let it go. Heard reports of a few brief tornadoes on the ground and was not surprised but we did not see any of them.
All in all not a bad day...good forecast and great stucture for a few minutes. Thanks to Big Daddy for helping us get the tour out of the core.
Will post pics if I have time later. Congrats to many who had a good week...Shane Adams for one, who we saw many times but did not have time to stop and chat with. Dick M. who had a "close call" in Norther Kansas we drove right by a little further South....great catch!!!!!! By the way Jay C. I am sorry I could not talk longer down by Marshal....just to much going on.

Greensburg

Since the first of May I have been asked from other chasers as well as quite a few production companies about my video and selling it again for the year anniversary. Until now I have not really responded to the request but after seeing more of Dick M video on his blog site I thought I might address the issue.
For those who want to see what it was really like in Grensburg, and I say "really like" because there have been many people that went into Greensburg the day after or a week later or longer and somehow they say "it was bad" There have even been a few chasers implying that they were in the city that night when they were up in Northern Kansas! I find myself sick when I think about all the ignorant people trying to capitalize off of someone else's tragedy.
For the ones who were really there...they know what it was like and certainly do not want to re-live any of it.
I have had many people ask me "what was it like?"......since I am no longer posting any of my video from Greensburg, I would encourage all interested people to go to Dick M site at:
http://www.stackedplates.blogspot.com/
Dick, Darrin and company were right there right after the tornado went through and were able to help out quite a few people. Eric Duncan was helping as well.
Although I hate to say it, I still deal with Greensburg day to day, it is still a struggle. For many of you who saw our show "Tornado Hunters" saw what I went through.
For those who want to see more, please check out Dicks site...he was right there just like me or anyone else.