by Fran McNabb
When a storm forms over the waters of the Atlantic,
Caribbean, or the Gulf of Mexico, people tend to steer clear of those
areas—unless you’re a member of the Hurricane Hunters. The Hurricane Hunters
are a special group of men and women who put their lives on the line to help
keep people in storm-prone areas out of harm’s way.
I realize this is the twentieth of October, and in most years thoughts of tropical development have been
pushed aside, but not in 2020. I actually started writing this post the morning that Hurricane Sally plowed into the Gulf Shores, Alabama, as a Category 2, just a few weeks after Hurricane Laura, a Cat 4, had destroyed parts of southeast Louisiana. This morning (Oct. 10) I’m watching the remnants of Hurricane Delta, which made landfall near Lake Charles, LA, only fifteen miles from where Hurricane Laura came in.
I chose this topic because in my latest short story release,
“Smoothing a Rocky Road,” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G8CBY5W/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_-cvtFb8J4105J
my hero is a pilot considering flying with the Hurricane Hunters. The squadron
is a full-time Air Force Reserve unit stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in
Biloxi, MS. Years ago when my husband was in this squadron, the group was known
as the Storm Trackers. No matter what the group is known as, their mission is
the same: Gather information to save lives. Today the group is completely Air
Force Reservists or air reserve technicians.
The Hurricane Hunters fly WC-130J aircraft equipped with
palletized meteorological instruments and usually carry a crew of about five.
They go directly into the eye of the storm to gather information. The squadron
members know they must go where they are needed. If the aircraft are in the
path of the storms or if the storms are too far away to fly from the Biloxi
area, they and their crews must relocate. Family members are left to fend for
themselves in an approaching storm. For the October storms this year, the
Hurricane Hunters took their planes and crews to San Antonio. When my husband
worked for the unit, I was one of the lucky wives. I had my parents living
nearby and could ride out a storm with them.
Not everyone is that lucky.
During hurricane season, my thoughts go out to the men and
women and their families who keep the Hurricane Hunters flying. Like all
branches of the service, these families must deal with separation as well.
Remember these families the next time a storm threatens. We are so fortunate to
have dedicated and trained personnel to help keep the country well informed
about dangerous weather conditions.
Fran McNabb has lived most of her life along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico and is well-seasoned when it comes to hurricanes. She uses the coastline setting in many of her sweet romances. Check her out at mcnabbf@bellsouth.net or visit her at https://FranMcNabb.com.
