Saturday, 10 February 2007

Hurricane Hunters Grounded

As you all know, I take an interest in tropical hurricanes. With the start of the 2007 season less than 4 months away, it was announced that the two aircraft which would fly into hurricanes approaching the US would effectively be grounded. This has implications for research into hurricanes, which has been going on for more than 50 years.

Please read the article from Dr Jeff Masters on Weather Underground.

I would like to make a special appeal to those in the USA.
Please write to your Senator to encourage NOAA to change their mind. If you live in hurricane territory, you will appreciate the importance of this work. Also, please spread the word in your local community by all means possible: copy this article to newspapers, radio and television stations to raise awareness of these cuts, and again get people to write to their Senator. Make reference to Hurricane Katrina and / or Rita to underline the importance of this issue. Hurricanes don't just look pretty on a satellite picture - they kill. If we are prepared, and know what's going to happen we may minimise their impact. Keeping the Hurricane Hunters flying helps. Grounding them will limit our knowledge and may cost lives. You may think that hurricanes only affect the shorelines of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. You're WRONG. In the aftermath of Katrina, hundreds of thousands of displaced people from New Orleans and the Gulf coast had to be housed across all States of the Union. It is something that affects the WHOLE of the United States.

So: get writing.

Thank you.



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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous10 February 2007 at 23:13

    We have had so much worse hurricanes in the US I can't imagine them cutting back on anything that might help chart their course.  I just can't get over the way Katrina wrecked New Orleans.  I hope all the people in hurricane country hear about this and make a noise about it.  Surely they will have sense enough not to do this.   Gerry

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  2. Anonymous11 February 2007 at 03:16

    I used to live in Fla. so I know what it's like living in hurrican country. My hearing dog Pickles is a Katrina rescue, I see with her everyday the devastation that is left behind, animal or human. Seems these idiots are determined to fall back , instead of moving forward with progress. (Hugs) Indigo

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  3. Anonymous11 February 2007 at 08:34

    It seems to me that these pilots ,who are brave enough to do these noble acts of flying into the storm for the future safety of others, should be allowed the freedom of the air; and allowed to do their resarch.  Jeanie

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