Originally Posted by Carl Spackler

ATC can never "put" you in a storm. You can willingly fly into one, but they can't put you into one. I've declared an emergency, ignored an ATC clearance, and flew around weather as I saw fit at least a half dozen times in my career.

Nobody likes declaring an emergency, but you have the authority...and you must use it. Another great lesson for us because it didn't cost lives.

Carl