There’s certainly no shortage of dramatic footage coming from Hurricane Harvey, but this is, without a doubt, the scariest we’ve seen thus far. Broadcast live by Jeff Piotrowski, a professional storm chaser, Emmy Award winner, and owner of nerves of steel, the video comes from Rockport, Texas, taken right smack dab in the middle of the storm as it tore its way through the state over the weekend. Roughly 1.5 million viewers looked on as Piotrowski took refuge in an open car wash with the eyewall approaching, watching the intense wind and rain slam into the area, even tearing apart the building he was using for cover. Wind speed reportedly hit as high as 150 mph, and at one point during the stream, the building Pitrowski used to protect himself and his truck is ripped apart.

The stormchaser later posted pictures and video taken from inside the eye of the storm before braving the second eyewall and dodging debris. Luckily, Pitrowsky managed to make it out unscathed, but the footage is evidence of just how hairy things got. Granted, Piotrowski is a pro with decades of experience chasing down the nastiest that Mother Nature has to offer, but still – stay safe out there.

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The Full Story

While I won’t deny that Pitrowsky has the experience to better his odds in a situation like this, the danger is still obviously very real and very deadly. Furthermore, not only does this sort of activity endanger the stormchasers, but also those that would come to their aid should something go wrong. It’s something to remember should any amateurs out there think about boosting their social media followers by parking inside a hurricane.

Relief Efforts

If you would like to donate money to help disaster relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Harvey, there are several organizations available, including the American Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, The Salvation Army, and Heart to Heart International.