Sometimes, keeping animals and people safe during a storm means heading right into it.
Scientists, and special military pilots known as hurricane hunters use their bravery to collect important data from within a hurricane. It is information that can help us figure out where the storm is heading and just how bad it might get.
When hurricane Irma rolled around, a team of hunters from Biloxi, Mississippi headed into the storm. Reporter Cameron Edgeworth rode along with them… and has more on the daring flight.
Wc130j took off Saturday at midnight for hurricane Irma.
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It's one of the many hurricanes the aircraft has flown into to gather important data.
But even veteran hurricane hunter pilot, major Steve Patook with the air force reserve had his concerns flying into hurricane Irma.
Major Steve Pituch: "Irma’s the biggest, well not size wise, but strength. You know she's the biggest they got in the Atlantic. So it'll be interesting to see from my personal perspective how that feels, how violent it's going to be on the aircraft."
At one point those concerns became reality
Cameron Edgeworth: "as we are nearing the storm right now we're experiencing a lot of turbulence. The pilot just told us to sit down and strap up."
And when we got off the flight we learned the plane had been struck by lightning. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
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Despite the risk the mission is essential to gather lifesaving data about the storm.
The team gathers it all by using a device called a dropsonde.
Meteorologist lieutenant colonel Kayla woods explains why it's so important.
Lt. Colonel Kayla woods: "it's a really good indicator of how strong the storm is, and whether or not it's intensifying, or weakening, and that actually comes from that little instrument we release."
Cameron Edgeworth: "as we're in Cuban airspace right now, we are getting closer and closer to the eye of hurricane Irma."
As we flew into the eye of Irma, crews dropped several dropsondes from the air craft.
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The data was used to determine the direction Irma shifted as well as the storm weakening to a category 3 hurricane.
Lieutenant woods says hurricane Irma still has the potential to strengthen again.
But that won't stop liteunant major woods or major patook from getting back in the dangerous conditions.
Lt. Colonel Kayla woods: "I lived through hurricane Katrina. I saw the devastation from that. I would rather fly through these storms any day, than be on the ground."
Maj. Steve pituch: "I can save more lives by being in the plane, getting the data, getting sent off to gargus so they can process the warnings and get people out of the way."
Flying with the hurricane hunters into hurricane Irma, I’m Cameron Edgeworth
Rick: whoa! Talk about bravery!
If you want to find out more about what it's like to be a hurricane hunter, head to our website NewsDepth dot ideastream dot org. Beneath the hurricane hunter story, you'll find links with more info.
Instructional Links
Website: Hurricane Hunters, Cyberflight into the Eye of a Hurricane | Join a virtual mission flying into a hurricane.
Website Article: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's, NOAA Hurricane Hunters | Learn about the planes and watch videos of hurricane recon flights
Website Article: Tween Tribune, Why Irma Is So Strong And Other Questions About Hurricanes