Ahead Of The Storm: Jim & Rich

Bob Mills Sky News 9 pilot Jim Gardner and News 9 photojournalist Rich Kriegel have been chasing together for a while.

Jim said, “How long have we been chasing together?”

Rich added, “Forever.”

It may not actually be forever but between the two of them, Jim and Rich, have 60 years of storm chasing experience. Together they have witnessed some of Oklahoma’s most fascinating weather events.

Jim said, “The twin tornadoes and some of the atmospheric effects we shot like the one up in Guthrie and everything.”

There’s also been plenty of frightening weather situations too like the Moore tornado in 2013.

Jim said, “When the schools got hit and the kids that lost their lives in it. That’s pretty devastating.”

Rich added, “That was horrific.”

But from the air, they provide a valuable and unique perspective to keep Oklahomans safe.

“When you’re on the ground storm chasing you have a little picture. When you’re in the air you have a huge picture. You can see multiple things going on,” Jim said.

That’s where Jim said it’s important to have someone he trusts along with him.

He said, “There’s a lot of stuff going on. He watches my back a lot of times because I can’t be looking everywhere.”

When you are chasing storms 6,000 feet in the air, that trust has to go both ways.

Rich said, “Jim’s a super safe pilot. I trust him with my life.”

Jim added, “People don’t understand just exactly what we’re going through up there to bring what we bring on the air.”

But that doesn’t stop these two from being committed to what they do.

Jim said, “The biggest thing is I know we’re helping people.”