People have largely forgotten that before the late 1940s, there were such things as surprise hurricanes. Hurricane detection required advanced experience in reading the ocean; very experienced mariners could tell there was a storm out there by the direction and period of the sea swells. Actual reports depended on ships being unlucky enough to be near a hurricane and radioing in weather reports.
The 1938 hurricane surprised millions of people in New York and New England, who had no inkling that the story was coming. It was, by far, not the only such storm.
The Army Air Force began flying tropical storm weather reconnaissance flights before the end of World War II. First in converted bombers, then in C-121 transports and C-130s. NOAA also flies hurricane reconnaissance missions.
Between the satellites and the hurricane hunters, everyone who pays attention to the news now has several days' warning of an approaching tropical storm or hurricane. This allows people to prepare and to evacuate in a timely manner.
Your tax dollars at work.
5 comments:
Good post. I live in Florida and for sure this hi tech has saved me on at least three hurricane hits.
As a mariner, a pilot and now a gulf coast resident I appreciate the use of these tax dollars.
The FAA, not so much.
/snarkon/
But...the weather channel could do it cheaper than the wasteful government, and they're on teevee 24/7...
/snarkoff/
And guess where they get their data? Bueller? Bueller?
Yet we are slowly phasing out the space program. Pitiful.
So much more could be had, if only we had the will to go forward.
Instead a few are allowed to hoard the resources which might make it better for all.
God Damn us all....
tax dollars at work? Maybe not too much longer. The GOES satellites that do this work are heading toward EOL and the money for them has been drastically slashed.
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/31/140079532/budget-cuts-threaten-noaas-weather-forecasts
Bad, bad, bad Big Gummint (except when you're talking about the M-I Complex and "Defense")
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