NOAA Prepares for Hurricane Season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration held an awareness tour Monday. Planes that fly into hurricanes were on display. These aircraft gather data on storm strength and movement. The event took place less than a month before hurricane season starts June 1.

These aircraft collect real-time information. Storm power gets measured. Path predictions become more accurate. Video from NOAA shows crews flying into hurricanes. They gather details to help coordinate response efforts when a storm barrels toward shore.

"You don't know when the drops will happen, you don't know when you're going to roll, you don't know when you're gonna get lifted out of your seat, and just the amount of rain is insane," said Lt. Commander Matthew Tarboletti, a pilot with the agency.

Lt. Commander Matthew Tarboletti flies aboard NOAA's P-3 aircraft, which has studied hurricanes for decades. "You feel in the middle of an eye, you feel like you are the only one out there," he said, according to Bay News 9. "But you are quickly reminded that you may be the only person here. Thousands of people are looking at you, wondering exactly what is happening, what information is going to be sent back."

The agency works with the U.S. Air Force to collect data during storms. Flight crews say they are ready. The next hurricane won't catch them off guard.

Michael Brennan directs NOAA's National Hurricane Center in Miami. He stressed the need for residents to prepare now. "It's time to put that emergency supply kit together — seven days of non-perishable food, water, batteries, medicine, medical devices — everything to be self-sufficient for several days after a major storm hits," he said.

Michael Brennan says listening to local emergency crews is critical if a hurricane approaches. "If you are asked to leave your home by your local emergency officials, that's the basis of your whole hurricane plan, because you need to know where you're going to go," he said. "Get to a safe place — tens of miles away, not hundreds of miles away."

He also stressed knowing evacuation zones and storm surge zones. Following all guidance matters, even if a storm doesn't appear to be nearby. "You can get dangerous storm surge along the Florida west coast from a hurricane that made landfall well away from your area. Some of the highest storm surge in the Tampa Bay region happened from Helene in Tampa Bay itself, even though it made landfall up in the Panhandle," he said.

Hurricane season starts June 1. Officials want the public ready.