We had told you Monday on air the concern of Emergency Management Director Bill Guy had over the number of vehicles on the road when the storms were rolling through the county. Sheriff Randy Henderson also voiced concern over the issue during the County Commission. He says his deputies had to fire the lights and sirens just to get through the traffic, which he estimated ar 300-vehicles on K-17 between Hutchinson and where a tornado was spotted near Pretty Prairie.

Apparently, local officials aren’t the only ones concerned with this issue. Central Kansas safety officials say storm chasers created traffic jams and put others in danger while following severe weather that hit the state during the weekend in the north central part of the state as well.

But professional storm chasers are defending the practice, saying they provide valuable information to public officials during stormy weather.

Dickinson County officials compared traffic to a funeral procession along some roads and highways during storms Saturday in northwest portions of the county. They told The Salina Journal that some storm chasers would not move for emergency vehicles and drove over active power lines.

Lanny Dean, who runs an Oklahoma-based storm chasing company, contends legitimate storm chasers help provide information and educate their customers about weather dangers. He says amateurs who cause the problems are giving professionals a bad name. And there were plenty of amateur chasers out there as well.