Hurricane Awareness Tour



Hurricane Awareness Tour stop #5

2018 Hurricane Awareness Tour Coming to Lakeland, FL!

Ever been fascinated by hurricanes or wondered how in the world people fly safely into them? Have a passion for flying and love viewing various aircraft? Check out this 2-minute video about what it is like to be a Hurricane Hunter then mark your calendar for the 2018 Hurricane Awareness Tour in Lakeland on May 11th!

As part of a week-long tour along the Gulf Coast, the NOAA Hurricane Hunters will be making a stop at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Come tour two of the Hurricane Hunter aircraft, speak with the pilots, and walk through vendor exhibits from various local agencies and organizations. The event is FREE and the public is invited to attend from 2 pm to 5 pm!

Event Information

What: 2018 Hurricane Awareness Tour

Where: Lakeland Linder Regional Airport
3900 Don Emerson Dr, Lakeland, FL 33811

When: Friday, May 11th, 2 PM to 5 PM

Admission: FREE!

Things To Do:

Tour Hurricane Hunter aircraft
Meet the pilots & flight crew
Speak with hurricane forecasters
Meet with local National Weather Service meteorologists
Walk through exhibits from various agencies & organizations
Learn about weather safety & preparedness
FEMA Immersed - a virtual reality experience about floods
Hurricane terms and definitions

About the Planes

WC-130J - "Hercules"

The WC-130J is a high-wing, medium-range aircraft used in weather reconnaissance missions. This plane is configured to penetrate tropical disturbances and storms, hurricanes and winter storms and obtains data on the movement, size and intensity of these systems. The WC-130J is the weather data collection platform for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. It carries a minimal crew of five: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and weather reconnaissance loadmaster. The crew collects and reports weather data as often as every minute. Click here to learn more.

NOAA Gulfstream IV-SP (G-IV) - "Gonzo"

NOAA’s Gulfstream IV-SP (G-IV) jet is a high-tech, high-flying, and high-speed platform used for hurricane forecasting and research. It is a sophisticated twin-engine jet piloted by NOAA Corps officers and crewed by NOAA civilian engineers and meteorologists. The G-IV flies around and over developing tropical cyclones to create a detailed picture of the surrounding upper atmosphere. It a range of nearly 4,000 nautical miles and a cruising altitude of 45,000 feet. Click here to learn more.

Participants

Federal Alliance for Safe Home
USAA Catastrophe Response Vehicle
Cummins Power with large generator
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport
FEMA Immersed - A VR Experience About Flood & Resilience
Salvation Army Trailers - Shower, Polaris, and Canteen
Florida International University - Wall of Wind
University of Rhode Island - School of Oceanography
American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle
Polk County Retired Senior Volunteer Program
Volunteer Polk
Polk County Citizen Emergency Response Team
Volunteer SKYWARN Spotter - Severe Weather Intercept Vehicle
Lakeland Fire Department
Polk County Emergency Management
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Polk County Sheriff's Office
NOAA National Ocean Service
NOAA Aircraft Operations Center
NOAA National Weather Service in Ruskin