Bio: I am a native Austinite and have been Chasing severe storms in central Texas for over 20 years now, (except for 3 years where I was in college and otherwise busy). Working one of the Jarrell tornadoes at 4am with my Fire Dept in 1988 is what sealed the deal for me and I was hooked. I chased on my own mostly, working closely with KXAN. I founded TSSI in 1993. My history prior to this was mainly many years of Fire/Rescue, along with 4 years of EMS (payed-ALS). I have also enjoyed numerous years of riding out with Law Enforcement buddies, riding Motorcycles, having a Suzuki GSX-R 1300 Hayabusa, and building a big block 73 Pro Street Camaro. I have been a Cell Technician for a Wireless company since 2000, and own a home in Cedar Park.

Accomplishments: Chasing for 23 years, Founder of TSSI© in 1993, Moderator and now owner of Lone Star Storm Spotters Network, Founder and Owner of a Texas based Paranormal/Phenomenon research group, N.W.S. Damage Survey assistant, Fire/EMS since 1987-(Texas A&M Fire School, Air Force Aircraft Crash Training, Search & Rescue, JAWS-Rescue-Extrication, all other standard facets of Fire Fighting, 2006 largest wildfire in national history in Texas Panhandle), Ham radio operator since 2002, Travis County ARES Duty Officer 4 years, Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery Net Ops 2003, Digital Wireless Technician since 2000, Fire Dept. history- progressed from Firefighter, to Lieutenant, to Captain, NREMT, multiple FEMA classes/certificates in Incident Command-Fire Officer-etc, many weather video clips on various local TV news casts and weather specials, shows on The Weather Channel and Discovery Channel, and a handful of photos used in a recent motion picture. (our media is requested by these entities, not promoted by us)

Lee joined TSSI in 2001, after he and Jeff became friends through ham radio and TCARES. He has been a vital role in many of the behind the scenes operations of the team. Jeff dragged him all over the state for 2-3 years on mostly core punching but failed chases, trips to seminars at NSSL, TESSA, etc. and burned him out early on. However he has persisted, and earned the right of being the "negative ground" or "naysayer" if you will on outings, which sometimes saves us gas. He continues to be a vital role, and a useful sounding board or assistant , and is often asked to field advise on legal issues and suggestions that involve the team. Kind of an unlicensed legal counsel if you will, but has vast experience in business workings and legalities.

Bio:"I spent ten years in the Military serving in locations such as the Far East, Europe and Key West Florida. After that I spent time traveling the world for the defense industry, which has taken me to the Middle East on several occasions, and we now live in Leander. For the last twelve years I have been an Information Systems specialist for the clinical industry. I am also an Amateur Radio Operator and Skywarn graduate with strong interest in public service and severe weather. I also helped Jeff build the beginnings of this website. I am also the former Travis County ARES Emergency Coordinator, currently the AEC, and now work for the Texas Department of Public Safety."

Shane was invited to join TSSI in early 2006, and has been out on numerous chases with us, has the experience required, and will go far with us. He also has experience as a firefighter, which is a plus. He usually rides navigator with Jeff. Shane has been a great benefit to the team with his experience in forecast models, professional photography, ameteur radio, and other benefits that all help us. He is also a pilot, and can provide the aircraft so we can do aerial flight surveys when Jeff is asked to do a damage survey by the NWS. Although a ground damage survey is a must, an aerial view of a damage path is hugely beneficial and gives a view of things that would likely not be seen from the ground only.

 

Bio:

"I moved to Austin in August of 2005 after completing a spring an summer tour with the US Forestry Fire Service based in Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Utah. I graduated from Spartan School of Aeronautics in September of 2000 with a private pilots liscense and moved to Durant Oklahoma to start my bachelor of science degree in aviation science. I also joined the local volunteer fire department as well as the local Bryan county emergency management office. From that point I started as a stationary spotter for them as well as haz-mat response for the next couple years. We had an unorginized chase team that chased from Oklahoma City all the way over to Arkansas. After school I took on my first tour with the forest service and joined a helitack team out of Lufkin as well as spotted an chased in north central Texas for the next few years. I then moved up to Nashville Tennessee where I joined the Almaville Fire and Rescue and served with them as weather spotter and engineer. In college I studied advanced weather as well as basic and advanced meterology, as well as advanced skywarn."

Tim lives on the Northern edge of Round Rock just off of I-35. Tim has been with LSSN for several years and has assisted with duties within the group, and is the Net Operations Coordinator. He has been very active with the group, as well as assisting Jeff with behind the scenes duties. He works for Dell in an unspecified secret group of I.T. personnel. Tim has alot of similar interests as Jeff which generates some interesting discussions. Tim was invited to join the group in late 2004, and has been a beneficial part since.

 

Bio: Tim's fascination with weather began as a child when he witnessed a weak tornado tearing the roof from a large building behind his house. In 3rd grade, his school was hit by another small tornado during his reading class. It was the only time he can remember actually doing the 'duck and cover' routine for real. He experienced similar incidents through the 60s and 70s in San Antonio and, by the mid-1980s, in Florida, he had been in several hurricanes and countless violent storms. Tim worked at remote outdoor sites in San Antonio and the Hill Country for 10 years, which gave him many opportunities to experience the extremes of Texas weather up close. After attending his first Skywarn training class in 2003, he met Jeff and became involved with local spotting/chase efforts. His most memorable experience was an unexpected 'chase' while being evacuated from Garner State Park in the Hill Country during a late night flash flood. Lightning forked over the vehicles, repeatedly hitting fences on the road side for about 30 minutes.

Aaron is a Captain for the City of Lockhart Fire Dept, and also dispatches for an EMS service. He is also the Communications Coordinator for the City of Lockhart, and runs our paging system. He and his wife reside in Luling. Aaron joined TSSI in 2004, but has been a member of LSSN for most of its existence. He has been very active and is building his vehicle out for spotting in the area. Aaron is a great guy and is upbeat and ready to jump in when he can. Aaron is also ARES EC for Caldwell County.

Bio:I began my fire service career while still in high school in 1994 as a volunteer with Luling Fire department. After high school, I graduated from Taylor Fire training academy and worked part-time for Luling Fire Department and Travis County ESD 4. In 1999, I was hired by the City of Lockhart as a part-time firefighter and a year later hired as a full-time firefighter for Lockhart in a landmark event for the City by increasing the number of full-time on duty firefighters from 2 to 3. I became interested in severe weather during this time when a Skywarn Class was held at the Sheriff's Office. In 2002 I attended the start up meeting for LSSN (formerly CTSS) in Waco and was invited to join TSSI in 2004. I currently have my 2001 Explorer full of comm. Equipment including 2m/70cm dual band, VHF, 800 public safety radios and APRS for tracking during severe storms.

Clint was also a Captain for the City of Lockhart Fire Dept. but is now the county Fire Marshal, as well as preacher of Staples Baptist Church. He resides in Lockhart with his wife and family, and like Aaron, has joined TSSI in 2004, but has been a long standing member of LSSN. He is also very active and willing to learn and equip his vehicle, mostly serving his local community. Clint is a great guy and we are glad to have him aboard. He also shares some side interests and activities with Tim & Jeff.

Bio:I have been married for 16 years and have two wonderful little girls. I have served in various Emergency Service departments for the last 20 years from EMS, Sheriff's Office, Communications, and Fire. I currently work for Lockhart Fire Rescue as a shift captain and the departments Training officer and Public Information Officer. During my off duty hours when not chasing weather. I serve as pastor or Staples Baptist Church and have been an ordained minister for 2 years. I look forward to new challenges everyday.I started weather related training and chasing in the late 80's growing up on the coast I was very familiar with hurricanes and the weather spawned by them upon moving to Central Texas in 1988 I found that my first spring semester of college was under a constant state of severe weather watch or warning. My interest as well as training has only grown. The first thing you learn is you can never have enough training, lack of experience will get you or someone else killed. I look forward to the knowledge and experience I gain every time the team deploys for an event.

Jason joined TSSI in 2004 and has been progressing since. He has been rigging out his truck, and picking up on things, mostly by going out and getting live OJT. Usually not recommended, but was allowed to and it has worked out well. He has also been a member of LSSN for about the same amount of time.

Bio:"Graduated from Sam Houston State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography. Has participated in almost every chase since joining in 2004 including the Manor F0/F1, and Corpus chase. Acquired my HAM license just prior to joining TSSI and participate in the yearly SKYWARN training sessions. Currently I work as a GIS Analyst at an engineering firm in North Austin and live in South Austin with my wife. Severe weather has been a passion of mine since witnessing the Rabbit Hill Tornado as a young child."

Steven is a Senior Firefighter with Bastrop Fire Rescue and has served with them since 1991. He has attended multiple schools and training and is currently a Basic Accredited Firefighter through the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association. Steven is also the Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Bastrop County ARES and the CLO for Bastrop County RACES. He has been involved with LSSN since 2006 and spotting weather since he was in High School. Steven attended the first Lou Withrow Skywarn training sessions in 1990 at 3M while he was a weather intern for Channel 24 meteorology department in Austin. Steven assisted the KVUE team in setting up the first citizen weather watcher networks for the station.

Recently Steven assisted Bastrop County in becoming StormReady certified through the National Weather Service. He also assisted in putting together the local EOC’s for Bastrop City, Bastrop County and Smithville, Texas. All of these stations are outfitted with radio equipment and computers provided by grant funding. Yes, they run GRlevel3 and APRS along with Airmail, Winpack and a host of other programs to help assist local officials during a natural or manmade disaster. All station have VHF, UHF and HF voice and data capabilities.

Bio:

Steven lives in Bastrop, Texas with his wife and two daughters. He is a professional conference planner at his day job and had earned the title of Certified Meeting Professional. Steven is also involved in many of his career oriented associations and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Bastrop County Teen Court. Steven obtained his BS degree in Tourism Resources Management from Texas A&M in 1997. He started out as a Meteorology major and changed along the path as many college students do.

I truly believe that most people chase storms for the wrong reasons and do not understand what they are getting themselves into. It takes a lot of dedication and involvement to make a difference and the goal is to help save lives, not endanger them. The trend in glamorizing such a powerful force had lead many people into very dangerous situations sometimes ending in death. I look forward to working with the TSSI team to make a difference in Central Texas in terms of educating the public to the dangers of severe weather as well as chasing the storms for the NWS.

CHASE-9 : MARCUS GELLNER - W5MEG

Marcus has been a friend of ours for several years, and is a really great guy. He has shown legitimate interest in severe weather, as well as the science of dealing with it and watching it. He has been a member of LSSN for a few years, and was invited to join TSSI in 2009.

Bio:

My interest in weather began as a child in “Tornado Alley”. I remember running in the yard only to stop and wonder what the clouds were doing as they drifted lazily by. As I grew older, I began to watch the news and weather, which included tornado video footage. This was brought closer to home when I was in 7th grade, standing on my aunt’s back porch watching funnel clouds, as many as four, passing by the horse pasture in one night. Even though the transformers on the power lines and oil pump jacks were being blown as the tornados passed by, we stood and watched. Later, the destruction of Wichita Falls on April 10, 1979, brought me a sense of public safety as I witnessed first-hand the destruction these amazing miracles of nature can cause. Family friends’ JT and Mary were in the path of the F5 tornado. Pulling up to their drive the morning after, I counted 3 different roofs in their back yard; the only walls standing were those which housed JT and Mary. It amazed me that across the house across the street had minimum damage. As an adult, my interest in these strong gusts of winds manifested into a passion. I received my technican class license for ham radio in November, 2004, and in February 2005, I attended my first Lou Withrow Skywarn class at the urging of a licensed co-worker. I was then introduced to the Lonestar Storm Spotters Network. I decided to join in on their nets and was interested in this group as this is a public safety group interested in early warning and not just video camera wielding publicity seekers trying to recreate “Twister”. I was honored to be asked to join this group.

Shawn has worked with TSSI for years, along with the rest of the weather anchors at KXAN. Shawn has been an extremely integral friend over the last few years. He is always doing things for us behind the scenes, from secret site links on experimental radar features, to advising in direction of future workings, to giving us SWAT assistance while we're out chasing, even when in Oklahoma. He is an absolute genius in the workings of computers, media events, and many other important roles. Jeff and Shawn are always working on new things (mostly Jeffs computer) and ideas to try out. Shawn is non-stop and a fantastic friend and associate. Shawn is a consulting/staff meteorologist for the team.

Bio:

Shawn is the father of two sons, two foster daughters and husband to Kathy for 10+ years, has interests in software development, meteorology, and amateur radio. His contributions to storm-chasing are centered around tech support and net lead from home, when severe weather hits. If you've heard of LiveStrike, then you have heard of one of Shawn's more notable ideas, brought to market in 2000, and to date, is the only live, three dimensional, lightning acquisition and display system. His latest projects have centered around the Gibson Ridge radar software, including integration of A.P.R.S., and Gibson Ridge AE... and of course, Shawn is the morning weather guy at KXAN TV, in Austin, Texas.

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Bio being updated at this time.

Blake Roberts graduated from the University of Washington in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Sciences. He specialized in forecast modeling and climatic data analysis. Blake has been a Skywarn spotter in the Seattle, WA area since 1995, and was working for a local TV station when the last known funnel cloud passed over Seattle on September 2, 1996. He moved to Austin, TX in 2001 and now lives in Georgetown. Blake currently works as a Systems Administrator in the electric utility industry. Blake joined TSSI in 2002 and while he no longer chases, he is still our consulting certified Meteorologist.

S.W.A.T. Team (assistance)

Shawn Rutherford-N5SMR

Rick Kirchhof-NG5V

KXAN TV-36

KVUE TV-24

Mark Murray-KK5DC

Troy Kimmel-KE5BCK

Tim Stevens-KD5WML

Weather Net Controls

Tim Stevens-----------------------KD5WML

Shawn Rutherford---------------N5SMR

Blake Roberts--------------------W5XDG

Jeff (occassionally)-------------N5SSI

Larry Eblen

Cristy Mitchell, Joe Arellano, Jon Zeitler = N.W.S. New Braunfels

Gary Woodall = N.W.S. DFW

City of Austin Emergency Management, Emergency Operations Center, Staff of the CTECC facility.

Travis County ARES, ARO, AARC

Williamson County ARES

Mark Stennett - NA6M

The fine folks at 3M

Lone Star Storm Spotters Network

Mark Murray-KK5DC, Ilona Torok=KVUE Ch. 24

Jim Spencer, Shawn Rutherford--N5SMR, Laura Skirde =KXAN Ch. 36

Troy Kimmel-KE5BCK=UT, KASE/KVET, SKYWARN

Steve Lanore=KEYE Ch. 42

Tim Marshal=StormTrack

Gene Rhoden, Carson Eads, Chris Novy

Josh Wuhrman=N.S.S.L.

Warren Faidley

Zubey and gang at the Texas Chili Parlor

All owners of the repeaters in Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida that we've used, (or annoyed) : )