Three Storm Chasers Killed During Latest Oklahoma Tornado

Three storm chasers, Tim Samaras, his son Paul Samaras and Carl Young, were killed on Friday in the level EF-3 tornado that rampaged El, Reno, Okla, reported ABC-affiliate KAKE.

Tim Samaras, 55, was longtime chase partners with Young, 45. Paul Samaras was just 24-years-old. The elder Samaras founded the Tactical Weather Instrumented Sampling in Tornadoes Experiment (TWISTEX). TWISTEX’s mission was to gain more information about tornadoes in order to more quickly warn those in the path of a tornado.

On Sunday morning, a post on Tim Samaras’ Facebook page read: “I’m Jim Samaras – Tim Samaras's brother. Thank you to everyone for the condolences. It truly is sad that we lost my great brother Tim and his great son, Paul. Our hearts also go out to the Carl Young family as well as they are feeling the same feelings we are today. They all unfortunately passed away but doing what they LOVED. Chasing Tornado's. I look at it that he is in the 'big tornado in the sky…' We (the family) will keep folks aware of what the funeral estrangements are, but please in the meantime keep Tim and Paul in your thoughts and prayers."

A total of five tornados struck the Oklahoma City area between Friday night and Saturday morning, leaving a total of nine dead, including two children. This recent spate of twisters to hit the area occurred just eleven days after the devastating tornado rampaged Moore, an Oklahoma City suburb, leaving 24 people dead.

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