Sun, Sep 14, 2008
As residents of the Texas coastline flee to safe havens, the Air
Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters continue fly right into the center
of Mother Nature's fury Sept. 12 from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
Hurricane Ike made landfall Sept. 13 along the Texas coast near the
city of Galveston and put forth tropical storm force winds
along the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines.
Keesler Air Force Base Hurricane Hunters have been flying
nonstop for more than three weeks into hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and
Ike. WC-130J Hercules aircraft, flown by the Airmen of the 403rd
Wing, pass through the eye of Hurricane Ike every three hours, 24
hours a day, collecting lifesaving data that is sent directly to
the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
This data increases the accuracy of the National Hurricane
Center's forecasts by 30 percent. With the warning bubble expanded
by nearly a third, hundreds more communities would be forced to
evacuate ahead of the storm. At a cost of $1 million per mile of
coastline to evacuate, the increased accuracy saves tens of
millions of dollars on every flight. In addition, more lives are
saved because residents heed the more accurate National Hurricane
Center's warnings.
Hurricane Ike has been slow to change in reaching the coast,
leading National Hurricane Center forecasters to believe the storm
will not significantly increase in strength. However, by the time
Ike reaches landfall Sept. 13 it could near Category 3 wind speeds.
The additional concern is the storm surge created by Ike, already
covering some low-lying roadways along the Louisiana and
Mississippi coastline with water.
Officials in the 403rd Wing said they will continue to track the
hurricane until it makes landfall. [ANN Salutes Maj. Chad E. Gibson
403rd Wing Public Affairs]
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