After a week of nil information about Austin Hudson-LaPore, a 20-year-old biochemistry major at the University of Chicago who went missing during a powerful storm last week, his family has decided to conduct its own investigation. They have decided to inspect commercial surveillance cameras installed on the route near Lake Michigan in hope of finding some clues.

"We found several of these cameras with some at restaurants with outdoor seating, at dive bars, at liquor stores and at high end condo buildings. So, tomorrow morning we'll head out early to start watching security tapes to see if we can get a glimpse of Austin. That will establish time and direction of travel for him," the family wrote on a website 'www.findaustinhudson.com' they had created to assist the police in their search.

Hudson-LaPore left his apartment a little after 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday night, leaving behind his wallet and cell phone. The family alleges that Hudson-LaPore might have gone for a walk that night to experience the unusually harsh weather over Lake Michigan.

"We think that because of Austin's fascination with weather that he set out to walk to the lake to watch the storm from there, leaving his cell phone and wallet behind so they wouldn't get wet. In walking to the lake, he probably walked along either 53rd Street or 55th Street. We believe that during his walk to the lake, something went wrong," the family continued.

Earlier, when the Chicago Police Department dispatched divers and a sonar boat around a portion of the lake near Hudson-LaPore's apartment, they could not find anything.

Weather reports from Wednesday night suggest that Hudson-LaPore may have experienced powerful winds and heavy rain during a massive storm through the Midwest.

"We love Austin very much. He is a smart, happy and outgoing young man who is fully engaged in the community and we'd like your help in getting him safely back to his family. We are appealing to the community that if anyone saw anything unusual along those routes, that they please contact the Chicago Police Department immediately," the family said.

Hudson-LaPore was last-seen near the school's Hyde Park campus after finishing his finals, wearing black gym shoes and blue jeans. He is described to be 5-foot-7, weighs 110 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes.