"Hurricane Katrina: Through the Eyes of Storm Chasers" -- New Book Provides Chilling Photos of Catastrophic Storm Striking Mississippi

Columbia, SC (PRWEB) October 11, 2005

Have you ever wondered what it must have felt like being inside Hurricane Katrina as it devastated the Gulf Coast? Here’s your answer: "Hurricane Katrina: Through the Eyes of Storm Chasers." This newly released book is co-authored by award-winning extreme weather photographers Jim Reed and Mike Theiss, professional storm chasers who rode-out the hurricane from a beachfront hotel in Gulfport, Mississippi less than 100 yards from the shore.

Publisher Farcountry Press describes "Hurricane Katrina: Through the Eyes of Storm Chasers" as a one-of-a-kind documentation that offers an unprecedented view inside the most destructive natural disaster in United States history. Reed and Theiss put themselves in the path of Katrina to chronicle the evacuation, the largest storm surge ever recorded in the U.S., and the unmatched destruction.

From Katrina’s first landfall in Florida to the aftermath in Mississippi, the photographs offer a rare and historic look behind the scenes of one of America’s most incredible weather events. This 96-page book includes chilling “before and after” images, documented rescues, detailed aerial photos and personal notes by the storm chasers. A watertight unmanned camera was also used to record never-before-seen images from inside the 27-foot storm surge.

Reed and Theiss sneak-previewed their dramatic images, which included Katrina’s storm surge pushing a car through their hotel lobby, on NBC’s The Today Show, CNN, MSNBC and The Weather Channel within days of the storm. A longer version of the video is now available for screening.

Reed, 44, is emerging as one of the world’s most accomplished extreme weather photographers for his striking images of America’s changing climate. A 15-year veteran storm chaser, he has documented nearly every type of metrological phenomena, including 19 hurricanes.

Theiss, 27, set his sights on studying meteorology in college, but chose to pursue hands-on fieldwork instead. In 2001, Theiss combined his love of weather and filmmaking and started Ultimate Chase Video Productions. He currently works as a stringer for The Weather Channel.

"Hurricane Katrina: Through the Eyes of Storm Chasers" is available at most major bookstores, online at Barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com, or through the Farcountry Press website at http://www.farcountrypress.com Sample photographs from the book can be viewed at http://www.jimreedphoto.com A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book will be donated to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.

To schedule an interview, please contact Jim Reed directly at: (803) 782-6226.

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