Hurricane Hunter visits Grand Cayman

(CMR) A Hurricane Hunter arrived in Grand Cayman on Wednesday as part of a regional tour to educate and prepare people for the 2023 hurricane season. The visit is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) and the United States Air Force Reserve’s annual tour of Latin America and the Caribbean, during which they advise on their role in assisting countries in hurricane regions. 

Acting Director of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Jamie Rhome, said, “We are excited to be face-to-face with community members to discuss specific risks people face during a major hurricane, especially the dangers of water and storm surge.”

During the visit, the Acting Director of the NHC along with other high-level representatives of the NHC will meet with Premier Wayne Panton, who in addition to his Ministerial Responsibilities for Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, is the current Chair of the Caribbean Meteorological Organization.

The Premier said, “On behalf of the Cayman Islands Government, I am pleased to welcome the visiting representatives of NOAA and the United States Air Force Reserve to our islands. As we look ahead to another Atlantic hurricane season, it is reassuring to know that our region has the technical support of the experts at the National Hurricane Center. These relationships are incredibly important to improving our national disaster preparedness and resiliency.”

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, an elite United States Air Force Reserve Unit, form the crew of the Hurricane Hunter aircraft. They showed the WC-130J Hurricane Hunter to a number of scheduled school groups from both public and private schools in Grand Cayman and shared their experiences of flying through hurricanes. 

During hurricanes, military aircrews fly state-of-the-art WC-130J aircraft directly into the core of the storm to gather critical data for forecasting a hurricane’s intensity and landfall. The data is sent in real-time via satellite from the aircraft directly to the NHC for analysis and use by hurricane forecasters. 

Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) Director Dani Coleman said the work of the National Hurricane Center was of critical importance, with hurricanes being the number one threat to life and property in the Cayman Islands.

“We appreciate the work of the brave and intrepid crews on these Hurricane Hunter aircraft who fly directly into these hugely powerful storms and help keep us informed and prepared for all significant threats,” he said.

Director General of the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, John Tibbetts, also added his gratitude for the visit and the work of NOAA and the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron.

“Every year we work in close partnership with the National Hurricane Center and to have the senior leaders of the NHC here in the Cayman Islands is a great opportunity for us. They will certainly inspire the students who get to tour the aircraft and meet with these top experts,” he stated.