In 2020, as much of the world sought safety, O'Neal decided to leave his office job to pursue his passion for storm chasing. He never imagined that this personal choice would make him a prominent figure on Instagram and TikTok, where his extreme weather videos attract thousands of followers.

However, at 45 years old, O'Neal wants to correct a critical misunderstanding about his profession. "People often think we are madmen, adrenaline junkies, doing crazy things for excitement," he states. "That's the biggest misconception."

Professional storm chaser Edgar O'Neal. Photo: Edgar O'Neal

The "storm chaser" community has no formal degrees. They are engineers, nurses, firefighters, or office workers like O'Neal, united by a desire to reach disaster sites as early as possible. According to O'Neal, meteorologists are skilled at forecasting, but they are not trained to approach storms safely. This is a gap that people like him fill.

To professionalize, this community organizes training programs and safety workshops. Storm chasing is not simply driving towards a tornado. It requires skills in map reading, radar analysis, terrain assessment, and calculating escape routes in an instant. "Just one wrong decision on the road can cost a life," he warns.

The motivation that keeps O'Neal in the profession is community responsibility. After a storm passes, his team is often among the first to arrive at the scene, even before rescue forces. With their first aid skills, they shift from filming to searching for victims. "In those first few minutes, our presence makes a critical difference," he shares.

Edgar O'Neal, a professional storm chaser, during a chase. Photo: Connor McCrorey

Beyond rescue efforts, they serve as the "eyes and ears" for the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS). Direct observational data, such as tornado confirmations, pressure readings, and wind direction, help improve the accuracy of warning bulletins.

O'Neal recalls one storm where radar did not clearly display the situation, and the town's sirens remained silent even as a tornado caused devastation. "We continuously called and messaged, demanding an immediate warning. Only then was the system activated," he recounts. This data ultimately helps build more resilient homes and reduce casualties.

As storm chasing gains popularity on social media, O'Neal worries about misconceptions among young people. "There are 8-year-old kids who are fascinated by storm chasing. This is an exciting job, but it's also very serious and dangerous," he cautions.

Nhat Minh (from People)