STORM CHASING INSURANCE

[stevestorms]

OK check this out, for a long time it has been impossible to gain insurace for an individual to storm chase, you can get it if you go on a pro tour but not on yer own and if you thought you were covered under hazardous pursuits extra cover -------then think again!! same thing --only covered if you are on a pro tour.

So have been speaking to the main man Harold Lawrence of OUTBACK INSURANCE http://www.go-walkabout.co.uk/ they have been providing cover for pro tour chasing for some years, so I spoke to Harold at some lenth about our plight to gain individual insurance for those of us that want it, and lets face it upto now it has just been a big fat NO! <_< after a 30 or so min phone call giving my thoughts and opinions on Storm Chasing and its risk Harold went direct to the insurance underwriters and 24hrs later we have a result ENDORCED INSURANCE FOR STORM CHASING which is added to the first class cover the fee £105 FOR UPTO 32DAYS

So thats it at last its here, give OUTBACK a call if you are interested as this cant be done online atm.

Hope this is useful, I for one trumped up the 105 sobs for peace of mind, well worth the dosh.

Cheers all, Steve

[pottyprof]

Nice one Steve.

Well worth the money for peace of mind. That's brilliant news.. <_<

[Pickles]

Good news then, Well done Steve.

Although knowing my luck I would end up stumbling upon an angry alligator and have it chew my leg off.

[Stratos Ferric]

OK check this out, for a long time it has been impossible to gain insurace for an individual to storm chase, you can get it if you go on a pro tour but not on yer own and if you thought you were covered under hazardous pursuits extra cover -------then think again!! same thing --only covered if you are on a pro tour.

So have been speaking to the main man Harold Lawrence of OUTBACK INSURANCE http://www.go-walkabout.co.uk/ they have been providing cover for pro tour chasing for some years, so I spoke to Harold at some lenth about our plight to gain individual insurance for those of us that want it, and lets face it upto now it has just been a big fat NO! after a 30 or so min phone call giving my thoughts and opinions on Storm Chasing and its risk Harold went direct to the insurance underwriters and 24hrs later we have a result ENDORCED INSURANCE FOR STORM CHASING which is added to the first class cover the fee £105 FOR UPTO 32DAYS

So thats it at last its here, give OUTBACK a call if you are interested as this cant be done online atm.

Hope this is useful, I for one trumped up the 105 sobs for peace of mind, well worth the dosh.

Cheers all, Steve

Er, what does the small print say? From experience of winter sports cover, just make sure what you're covered for and what you're not covered for. I'd be astonished if there was an insurer out there who was going to protect you against gross stupidity, and in SOME people's books going standing close (and deliberately trying to) to a tornado is precisely that. Just a thought.

[stevestorms]

Yep will check that out, but the first stage was actually getting an insurance company to play ball , and im sure it will have nitty gritty writing somewhere like putting yourself in harms way, or something like that, hey! dont knock it, its a start.

[PersianPaladin]

Insurance?

But you're going out looking for danger. I wouldn't expect insurance for that mate.

[acbrixton]

Er, what does the small print say? From experience of winter sports cover, just make sure what you're covered for and what you're not covered for. I'd be astonished if there was an insurer out there who was going to protect you against gross stupidity, and in SOME people's books going standing close (and deliberately trying to) to a tornado is precisely that. Just a thought.

Quite so. I would be interested (as a former insurance lawyer) to see the extent of coverage and the exclusions if no-one objects. I also suggest that it may be worth paying for a comprehensive review by a specialist lawyer of the policy so that you have a better idea of where you stand.

Regards

ACB

[stevestorms]

Well if your going to pay be my guest!

I dont know the ins and outs I go to a broker and ask the question which I have asked before and they all say NO this time it was a yes with the appropriate fee ie £50 THIS IS FOR HAZARDOUS PURSUITS "AND STORM CHASING" I have declared that this is for myself to go and do it not with a tour.

the cover says that if a claim is made under hazardous pursuits then it must be within a 35 day limit trip, the hazardous activitys are not more than 15% of the trip time which for my 23 days is over 84hours or 3.6 hrs per day which is about right for a active tour. I cant see anything else in my documents but hey I know these insurance lot stack the cards so there yer go, I dont see anyone else trying to get insurance , and of course you do actually have to go out to the USA and chase to actually need it!!!

[acbrixton]

Well if your going to pay be my guest!

I dont know the ins and outs I go to a broker and ask the question which I have asked before and they all say NO this time it was a yes with the appropriate fee ie £50 THIS IS FOR HAZARDOUS PURSUITS "AND STORM CHASING" I have declared that this is for myself to go and do it not with a tour.

the cover says that if a claim is made under hazardous pursuits then it must be within a 35 day limit trip, the hazardous activitys are not more than 15% of the trip time which for my 23 days is over 84hours or 3.6 hrs per day which is about right for a active tour. I cant see anything else in my documents but hey I know these insurance lot stack the cards so there yer go, I dont see anyone else trying to get insurance , and of course you do actually have to go out to the USA and chase to actually need it!!!

I will decline your kind offer but I repeat that I would be happy to cast an eye over the documentation for you (no charge but also no liability in the event of negligent advice!)

Regards

ACB

[stevestorms]

Thats a good idea thanks, well time is short atm,leaving on May 3rd, so on my return I will get touch and send the docs for you to look at, thanks for the offer, it would be most useful to hear the downsides and the good, cheers, Steve.

Edited April 22, 2007 by stevestorms

[acbrixton]

Steve please see pm sent...

Regards

ACB

[stevestorms]

REPLIED, CHEERS

[Paul Sherman]

Er, what does the small print say? From experience of winter sports cover, just make sure what you're covered for and what you're not covered for. I'd be astonished if there was an insurer out there who was going to protect you against gross stupidity, and in SOME people's books going standing close (and deliberately trying to) to a tornado is precisely that. Just a thought.

Why is it gross stupidity ?? Last time I checked absolutely not one Storm Chaser has died since Chasing was publicised some 27 years ago, i'd have thought an Insurer was onto a pretty good thing.

[PersianPaladin]

Why is it gross stupidity ?? Last time I checked absolutely not one Storm Chaser has died since Chasing was publicised some 27 years ago, i'd have thought an Insurer was onto a pretty good thing.

Guess you've got a fair argument there if that is the case.

Edited April 22, 2007 by PersianPaladin

[Paul Sherman]

Guess you've got a fair argument there if that is the case.

Sorry Mate, i just realised I screwed that up, I did of course mean 37 years, with the great David Hoadley chasing in 1970

[Stratos Ferric]

Yep will check that out, but the first stage was actually getting an insurance company to play ball , and im sure it will have nitty gritty writing somewhere like putting yourself in harms way, or something like that, hey! dont knock it, its a start.

Hey, not knocking it, but you might end up paying for something that's essentially worthless. back to the discussion in the serious thread re banks the other week: I wonder how much money Dixons / Currys / Comet make selling insurance policies on kettles that work out more expensive than just buying a new kettle / hairdryer / food frier. The industry relies on ingenues. I'd take ACB's offer up if I were you.

[Stratos Ferric]

Why is it gross stupidity ?? Last time I checked absolutely not one Storm Chaser has died since Chasing was publicised some 27 years ago, i'd have thought an Insurer was onto a pretty good thing.

Maybe not, but it's still more risky than not being close to the storm. Actuaries are interested in what might happen, not the evens outcome. Why do you think all those Lloyd's names make so much money? In any case, I'm assuming the policy doesn't only pay out on death. If no storm chasers have ever been injured then you start to have a stronger argument. The fact that somebody wants to take insurance out is de facto evidence of the presence of risk. Furthermore, it's not in the interest of the insurer to set premia at levels that actively encourage risk taking.

[Paul Sherman]

Yes, Put like that there seems to be 2 sides to the arguement, good debate though none the less SF.

Paul S

[AudMun]

Maybe not, but it's still more risky than not being close to the storm. Actuaries are interested in what might happen, not the evens outcome. Why do you think all those Lloyd's names make so much money? In any case, I'm assuming the policy doesn't only pay out on death. If no storm chasers have ever been injured then you start to have a stronger argument. The fact that somebody wants to take insurance out is de facto evidence of the presence of risk. Furthermore, it's not in the interest of the insurer to set premia at levels that actively encourage risk taking.

I'm sorry SF but I have to strongly disagree. I haven't checked the statistics but I would have thought that something along the lines of skydiving, rafting or any other active sport would potentially equate to the same or greater risk level than storm chasing. It isn't a competition to see who can get closest to a tornado, should you actually be fortunate enough to see one. As someone who genuinely knew nothing about this past time until recently I don't for one moment believe that I can pretend that I have a strong grounding for what I am saying. I do however believe that if it were truly that dangerous no company would offer any insurance for anything less than a small mortgage! If it were much more likely that there would be a claim made then would surely 'Storm Chasing' would be covered by something far more stringent than a 'Hazardous Pursuits' clause?

By going to the USA you are taking a risk, whatever you may be doing, due to the extortionate cost of healthcare. If you were to go the somewhere such as New York then there is surely a far greater chance of being mugged! At least I know that I will be there with a group of people who do have some interest in my continued well-being as it is so closely linked to their own.

Stewart

[stevestorms]

Yep well said, however this is open to debate and I wouild like to know if me 105 smackers is gone in the toilet, however time is short and I leave on Thursday for the Alley, so when I return hopefully 100% sound im sending the expired policy to acbrixton who has kindly offered to cast a expert eye over it :-)

My own personal views, if you have never done storm chasing before --proper! ie in the USA and chased tornadic super cells then you are a risk, insurance aside you cannot do this if you have no experence, and yes you can get hurt.

However go with someone who has experence and you should have a fantastic safe trip, no saine Storm Chaser puts themselfs or their mates in harms way, we always try to track a storm on the South East side at the rear so the storm is always slightly in front of us and moving away, we also have Baron to check our position against the storm.

If you have not been to the USA you cannot imagine the size motion and nature of these storms they are tricky buggers they change shape on you they collapse and reform and they do it FAST!

There are all sorts of dangers but its like this---- would you walk out on a motorway and roll around on the tarmac hoping you will be ok??? well these Storms are traffic great big huge juggernaughts traveling at upto 60mph across land are you going to stand in its way--- Im not, Im going to stand back and watch it from the Kerb :-)

Edited April 30, 2007 by stevestorms

[NL]

Totally agree with you there Steve, Ive never been to the States nevermind chasing, but my brother suggested we go next year and i said only with experienced chasers, i can see in the not so distant future inexperienced chasers getting seriously injured or worse, as stormchasing is becoming more popular.

[stevestorms]

Ok in the picture it shows the dence rain and hail of the Core, being at the front is likely to be strong winds, inside the core is not a nice place to be, poor visibility and hail. To the far left and back of the storm is the clear slot this is where it can become angry and if develops is what is called the "bears gage"

[pottyprof]

Super photo Steve. I love the contrast that some storms produce.

[stevestorms]

DOH!!!! MY SMELLING IS TERRIBLE!!! IT SHOULD READ OF COURSE THE BEARS CAGE!! UGGGGGGGGGGGGGG