Chasing Storms: The Adventure and Humanity Behind Live Storm Chasers' Mission

The thrill of chasing storms. The rush of adrenaline. The pursuit of nature’s most powerful and dangerous phenomenon. For many, these elements combine to form an exhilarating adventure. But for Matthew Smith and his team at Live Storm Chasers, storm chasing is more than just an adrenaline rush—it's a life-saving mission. On March 6, 2017, an EF3 tornado barreled through Oak Grove, Missouri, and Matthew was there, not only to witness the awe-inspiring force of nature but to save lives in the process.

A Dark and Dangerous Pursuit

“I was tracking the tornado from Independence, Missouri, heading eastbound along I-70 during the night,” Matthew said. “Since I was tracking the tornado in the dark, the only way I could see it was by power flashes.”

Power flashes, the sudden bursts of green and blue light that signal a tornado’s violent contact with power lines, were Matthew's only clue as he drove at 60 miles per hour through the night. This phenomenon, often the only visual indicator in the darkness, would guide him as he pursued the tornado into Oak Grove—a small town of approximately 15,000 to 20,000 residents.

As he followed the twisting funnel of destruction, Matthew's primary focus remained on one thing: tracking the tornado safely while maintaining the speed and precision needed to stay ahead of the storm

The Calm Before the Storm

“I saw Channel 9 come flying past me,” Matthew said, referring to the news crew who had also been on the trail of the storm. But Matthew was on a different mission—his objective was not to simply report on the event, but to help those who would be affected by it.

When he reached Oak Grove, he turned off the highway and positioned himself to watch the tornado rip through the town. It was eerily quiet at first—an unsettling calm after the tornado’s violent passage.

"It got quiet," he said. "You could hear the roar of the wind and the rain, but then, once it went through the town, it got creepily quiet. That's when the real damage became apparent."

In the dark of night, Matthew was faced with the surreal sight of tree limbs, insulation, and debris falling around him, making it nearly impossible to assess the destruction at first glance. His high beams illuminated a scene of complete devastation, while his floodlights did what they could to reveal the scale of the wreckage.

Searching for Survivors

Despite the overwhelming damage, Matthew wasn’t there to simply observe—he was there to help. With his flashlight in hand, he navigated the debris-filled streets, looking for survivors and checking for anyone who might be trapped.

“I know the town, but when I got there, I didn’t know where I was—that’s how bad it was,” he said. The storm had left such destruction that even a familiar place became unrecognizable.

But as Matthew drove through the wreckage, he heard a voice—a desperate cry for help.

"I heard an older lady say, 'I'm over here!'” he said. The woman had been trapped inside her home by a tree that had crashed through her bay window. Debris blocked her door, leaving her stranded. Without hesitation, Matthew ran up the road, helping her out of the window and guiding her safely to the road where she could be assisted by law enforcement.

The Human Side of Storm Chasing

This is where the adventure of storm chasing meets its true purpose. While the act of chasing a tornado may seem like a thrilling adventure, the lives saved in the aftermath are what make this dangerous pursuit truly meaningful.

“A lot of people think we’re just chasing storms,” Matthew said. “But it’s not just about that. There’s a human aspect to what we do. After helping that lady, I went house to house, checking to see if anyone else needed help.”

As part of his work with FEMA, Matthew, like many of the Live Storm Chasers, is trained to follow the protocol of a FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). When storm chasers like Matthew arrive in a disaster zone, they use a specific code—marking each house with an “X” to indicate it has been checked for survivors. The symbol also helps track when someone enters and exits a home, and if anyone was inside.

Despite the chaos and danger of that night, Matthew's focus remained squarely on saving lives. As he walked through the devastation, he smelled the unmistakable scent of gas—a gas line had ruptured.

“I smelled the gas and said, 'We’ve got to move," he said. He quickly turned off the gas and continued to assist those in need. “You don’t stop when you’re on a mission like this. You just keep going.”

The local chief of police personally thanked Matthew for his efforts in Oak Grove. The community had been hit hard, but the storm chaser's presence made a huge difference in the aftermath.

Giving Back: The Storm Chaser’s Role

The next day, Matthew returned to Oak Grove with cases of water and other supplies for the residents affected by the storm. But he didn’t do it for recognition—he did it because, as a storm chaser, it’s his job to go beyond the chase.

“We buy supplies out of our own pockets to help people,” he said. “When the adrenaline dies down, we’re still there, making sure people are taken care of.”

Despite the excitement that chasing storms brings, storm chasers are volunteers who understand that the real mission is saving lives. “The name of the game is saving lives. It's not just about the chase; it’s about being there for the community.”

The Adventure with a Purpose

Storm chasing is, without a doubt, a dangerous and thrilling adventure. But for Matthew Smith and the team at Live Storm Chasers, it’s more than just a pursuit of nature’s fury—it’s a call to action. It’s about being on the front lines when disaster strikes, helping in any way possible, and providing aid to those in need.

For Matthew, the true reward isn’t the rush of the chase—it’s knowing that, when the storm is over, he was there to help those who needed it most. And that’s what makes storm chasing not just an adventure, but a life-saving mission.

For more, visit LiveStormChasers.com