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H.E.R.V.
(Hurricane Eyewall Research Vehicle) by Jon Bowser and Mike Theiss |
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"I never wish for a natural disaster to happen, but
if it happens, I want to be there to document it and
share with the world an important message of
awareness and respect for nature -- Mike Theiss" |
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MISSION:
Record wind speed and barometric pressure from
INSIDE the eyewall and eye of a major Hurricane ! |
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The
H.E.R.V. (Hurricane Eyewall Research Vehicle)
is a customized Chevy Tahoe truck designed to give
"Ultimate Chase" the mobility and safety needed to
document all major Hurricanes in the continental
United States. This is the ultimate storm chasing
vehicle that's sole mission is to document every
aspect of a Hurricanes inner eyewall and calm eye.
The H.E.R.V. is equip with the tools needed for
capturing both video and weather data (Wind
Speed, Wind Direction and Barometric Pressure)
from the most extreme and powerful Hurricanes. The
data collected will be submitted to The National
Hurricane Center and other scientists to be used in
research and final storm reports. |
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<< Click
on thumbnails to enlarge |
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Tropical Cyclone
"Landfalls" Experienced or Documented: |
Year: |
Name of Tropical Cyclone: |
My Location: |
Video Link: |
1987 |
Hurricane Floyd |
Florida Keys |
N/A |
1991 |
Tropical Storm
Fabian |
Florida Keys |
N/A |
1992 |
Hurricane Andrew |
South Florida |
Video -
Photos |
1994 |
Tropical Storm
Gordon |
Florida Keys |
N/A |
1998 |
Hurricane Georges |
Florida Keys |
N/A |
1998 |
Hurricane Mitch |
Florida Keys |
N/A |
1999 |
Hurricane Irene |
Florida Keys |
Video |
2000 |
Hurricane Gordon |
Cedar Key, FL |
N/A |
2001 |
Tropical Storm
Allison |
Slidell, Louisiana
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N/A |
2001 |
Tropical Storm Barry |
Panama City Beach,
FL |
N/A |
2001 |
Tropical Storm
Gabrielle |
Ft. Myers Beach, FL |
N/A |
2001 |
Hurricane Michelle |
Nassau, Bahamas |
N/A |
2002 |
Hurricane Lili |
Cocodrie, Louisiana |
Video |
2003 |
Tropical Storm
Claudette |
Cancun, Mexico |
N/A |
2003 |
Hurricane Isabel |
Atlantic Beach, NC |
N/A |
2004 |
Hurricane Charley |
Charlotte Harbor, FL |
Video
-
Chase Blog |
2004 |
Hurricane Frances |
Vero Beach, FL |
Video
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Chase Blog |
2004 |
Hurricane Ivan |
Pensacola Beach, FL |
Video
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Chase Blog |
2004 |
Hurricane Jeanne |
Jensen Beach, FL |
Video
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Chase Blog |
2005 |
Hurricane Dennis
Landfall # 01 |
Key West, Florida |
Video
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Chase Blog |
2005 |
Hurricane Dennis
Landfall # 02 |
Ft. Walton Beach, FL |
N/A |
2005 |
Hurricane Emily |
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico |
Video
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Chase Blog |
2005 |
Hurricane Katrina
Landfall # 01 |
Ft. Lauderdale Beach,
Florida |
Video
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Chase
Blog |
2005 |
Hurricane Katrina
Landfall # 02 |
Gulfport, Mississippi |
Video
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Chase
Blog |
2005 |
** Theiss Device Deployment |
Hotel Lobby in Gulfport, Mississippi |
Video |
2005 |
Hurricane Rita
Landfall # 01 |
Florida Keys |
Chase
Blog |
2005 |
Hurricane Rita
Landfall # 02 |
South-West Louisiana |
Video
-
Chase
Blog |
2005 |
Hurricane Wilma |
Miami Beach, Florida |
Video
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Chase
Blog |
2007 |
Hurricane Dean |
Dominica - Lesser Antilles |
Video
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Chase
Blog |
2007 |
Hurricane /
Nor'easter Noel |
Peggy's Cove - Nova Scotia |
Video
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Chase
Blog |
2008 |
Tropical Storm Fay |
South Florida / Mississippi |
N/A |
2010 |
Hurricane Earl |
Cape Hatteras - North
Carolina |
Video
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Chase
Blog |
2010 |
Hurricane Igor |
Elbow Bay Resort - Bermuda |
Video
-
Chase
Blog |
2010 |
Tropical Storm
Nicole |
South Florida |
N/A |
2010 |
Hurricane Tomas |
Turks and Caicos |
Video
-
Chase
Blog |
2011 |
Hurricane Irene |
Nassau / Paradise Island,
Bahamas |
Video
-
Chase
Blog |
2011 |
Hurricane Jova |
Tenacatitia / Pacific Coast,
Mexico |
Video
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Chase
Blog |
2012 |
Tropical Storm Isaac |
Key West, Florida |
Video |
2012 |
Hurricane Isaac |
Gulfport Mississippi /
Louisiana |
Video |
2013 |
Tropical Storm
Andrea |
Florida |
N/A |
2013 |
Typhoon Usagi |
Hong Kong, China |
N/A |
2016 |
Hurricane Hermine |
St. Marks, Florida |
N/A |
2016 |
Hurricane Matthew |
Baracoa, Cuba |
N/A |
2017 |
Hurricane Harvey |
Rockport, Texas |
N/A |
2017 |
Hurricane Irma |
Key West, Florida |
Measured 120mph |
2017 |
Hurricane Maria |
Fajardo, Puerto Rico |
N/A |
2017 |
Hurricane Nate |
Biloxi, Mississippi |
N/A |
2018 |
Tropical Storm Floyd |
Florida Keys |
N/A |
2018 |
Hurricane Florence |
Wilmington Beach, NC |
Measured 87mph |
2018 |
Hurricane Michael |
Panama City Beach, Florida |
Measured 128mph |
2018 |
Hurricane Willa |
Teacapán, Mexico |
N/A |
Total Tropical Cyclone "Landfalls"
Experienced or Documented: 50 |
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H.E.R.V. Corporate Sponsors: |
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R.M. Young company provided the science mission with rugged
wind
anemometers, barometers and data loggers to collect the
best and most accurate data during landfalling
Hurricanes. During Hurricane Michael, these sensors
mounted on the H.E.R.V. measured a max wind gust of
128mph in Panama City, FL. |
http://www.YoungUSA.com |
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Special
Thanks to Jon Bowser -
Meteorological instrumentation and
data acquisition expert and personal friend. |
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Bullet
liner is a state of the art protective coating that
is sprayed on the entire exterior of the H.E.R.V.
Bullet Liner’s permanent bond characteristics have
the added benefit of fade resistance due to its
superior UV protection which helps maintain its
signature high gloss finish. Bullet Liner comes from
over 30 years of experience. |
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Aluma
Tower Company in Florida is sponsoring Ultimate
Chase, Inc with their state of the art industrial
tower set ups for future missions. Currently several
projects being developed. |
http://www.AlumaTower.com |
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Lightforce Performance Lighting has provided the
H.E.R.V. with the strongest and brightest lights on
the market to give the lighting needed to document
Hurricanes that make landfall at night. Without
lightforce performance lighting our Hurricane
Mission would be in the dark ! |
http://www.lightforce.com/ |
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Goodyear
has provided the H.E.R.V. with the most rugged and
durable tires on the market. These tires will help
our mission to be able to drive over light debris
when traveling through disaster zone. |
http://www.Goodyear.com |
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Cottrell
custom welding in Key Largo, Florida has helped and
sponsored with the fabrication of the instrument
rack and other important improvements made to the
H.E.R.V. that require professional welding. |
101801
Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Florida |
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3M Ultra
Safety film covers the windows in the H.E.R.V. The
42 micro layers make this tough and tear-resistant.
This film delivers superior performance over
standard polyester films in blast and impact events
!! |
Click Here to learn
more |
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Sundiver
Snorkel Tours - Key Largo, Florida |
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Sundiver
Snorkel Tours in Key Largo Florida sponsors the
H.E.R.V. with numerous items needed to complete this
mission including vehicle maintenance updates. |
http://www.SnorkelingIsFun.com |
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Ultimate
Chase, Inc (Stock Video and Photos) |
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Ultimate
Chase, Inc. sponsored the Chevy Tahoe vehicle that
was converted into the "Ultimate Hurricane Tank" or
the H.E.R.V. |
http://www.UltimateChase.com |
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Contact Information: Mike Theiss |
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Ultimate Chase, Inc. |
P.O. Box 233 |
Key Largo, FL 33037 |
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Phone: 305-394-6000 |
mike@ultimatechase.com |
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Website copyright notice
below: |
"Ultimate Chase"
® is a registered trademark of Ultimate Chase, Inc. |
All photographs, video stills, and sample video throughout
this site are copyrighted and protected under United States
and International copyright laws. The photographs, video
stills, and video may not be reproduced in any form,
downloaded, stored, or manipulated without prior permission
from © Ultimate Chase, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
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H.E.R.V. -
Hurricane Eyewall Research Vehicle Brand © 2019 Ultimate
Chase, Inc. |
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