The Marshall County Board of Commissioners is calling for action following what officials describe as dangerous conditions created by hundreds of storm chasers during the severe weather outbreak on May 18.
In a letter dated May 26, the commissioners said an estimated 500 vehicles entered Marshall County during the tornado-producing storm system, creating major challenges for law enforcement and emergency responders attempting to keep roads open and maintain public safety.
Commissioners Jon Ungerer, Greg A. Meyer, and Austin Cline acknowledged that many storm spotters and weather researchers provide valuable public information and scientific research. However, the board said the growing number of uncoordinated storm chasers has created increasingly hazardous conditions on rural roads.
According to the letter, emergency personnel encountered long lines of vehicles ignoring speed limits, no-passing zones, and road closures established for public safety. Officials also expressed concern about commercial storm chasing tours and livestreaming chasers contributing to congestion during severe weather events.
The commissioners warned that without action, the situation could eventually lead to serious injuries or deaths involving first responders, local residents, or storm chasers themselves.
As a potential solution, the board is requesting the formation of a task force involving recognized storm chasers, emergency management officials, and other stakeholders to discuss ways to improve coordination and safety during severe weather outbreaks.
The commissioners emphasized that their goal is not to limit the rights of storm chasers, but to ensure traffic laws and emergency orders are followed so first responders can effectively do their jobs during dangerous weather situations.
Full Text of the Letter
Marshall County
Board of Commissioners
1201 Broadway, P.O. Box 391
Marysville, KS 66508
Ph. 785-562-5361 Fax 785-562-5262
Jon Ungerer – 1st District
Greg A. Meyer – 2nd District
Austin Cline – 3rd District
May 26, 2026
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
On May 18th, we had a significant storm event involving a number of tornados passing through Marshall County. Because this event had been forecasted for days in advance, it drew widespread attention from storm spotters and tornado chasers across the United States. As the system passed through our county it is estimated we had a minimum of 500 vehicles chasing the storm and associated tornados in Marshall County.
This influx created an incredibly hazardous situation for our law enforcement and emergency responders, who were actively impeded from performing their duties to keep roads open, maintain safety, and protect the citizens of Marshall County. We understand and respect that some storm spotters and chasers are working in tandem with weather media to keep the public informed, while others conduct vital scientific research that furthers our collective safety. We recognize, value, and respect those legitimate efforts. There is a distinct problem, however, when a line of storm chasers stretching at least two miles repeatedly ignore traffic laws and emergency personnel. Speed limits, no passing zones, and emergency personnel closing roads are all established for a critical reason: public safety. This safety extends to even those chasing the storms. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is growing rapidly, with companies even selling tours and rides with their guides to chase these storms and get an up-close view of a tornado, and chasers live broadcasting their efforts to locate tornados.
This situation absolutely needs to be addressed before someone is seriously injured or killed. While we also understand there is no quick or easy remedy to this issue, we must take proactive steps.
As a starting point, we suggest the formation of a task force to begin an open dialogue with legitimate, recognized storm chasers and emergency response stakeholders. An open discussion of these compounding issues needs to take place among all parties involved. Allowing the volume of uncoordinated storm chasers to continue increasing without addressing the operational challenges they create will inevitably lead to a tragedy where local responders, community members, or chasers themselves are injured or killed. It must be made explicitly clear to everyone involved why law enforcement and emergency personnel require the operational freedom to do their jobs, and why local laws and emergency orders must be obeyed.
Our goal is not to infringe upon the rights of storm chasers; rather, it is to reinforce that they do not have the right to disobey the laws and traffic regulations governing our highways and roads. With the ever-increasing number of vehicles converging on these weather events, it is only a matter of time before this congestion causes an event resulting in injury or worse, to our local responders or to the storm chasers themselves.
We welcome you to reach out to us for further information or to discuss this matter in greater detail. We urgently request that you consider forming a task force, or taking other appropriate legislative actions, to address this critical issue before the next severe weather season.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and continued support of rural Kansas communities.
Greg A. Meyer, Chairman
Jon Ungerer, Member
Austin Cline, Member
