A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....05-14-03....Hurricane Hunters

dansangel; Billie

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, daisyscarlett, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear

Hurricane Hunters

While most of us who have been through the fury of a hurricane would do everything we could to avoid bearing the brunt of its destructive energy, there are some very special individuals who purposely fly into the storm to gather data for the National Hurricane Center. They have come to be known as "Hurricane Hunters."

The Hurricane Hunters who are stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi typically fly in a WC-130 Hercules aircraft. The crew is made up of six people; the aircraft commander, pilot, flight engineer, navigator, weather officer and a dropsonde (more about that in a minute) system operator.

Hurricane season lasts from June 1 through November 30 as most residents of the East Coast and Gulf regions know all too well. Most tropical depressions that grow into full-fledged hurricanes begin their "lives" off of the coast of Africa. While travelling over the Atlantic Ocean, these tropical depressions may find conditions ripe for building up to hurricane force.

Once that happens, the Hurricane Hunters swing into action. Boarding the WC-130 Hercules and taking off on their mission, these very brave people actually fly into the storm, recording data on position, dewpoint and pressure readings every thirty seconds and beaming this information, by satellite, to the National Hurricane Center.

One of the methods used to gather this information is via a dropsonde. This device is a small canister about the size of a large "Pringles" chips can. The dropsonde acts as a "mini-weather station" and is fired out into the storm by the system operator. While the dropsonde is falling, a parachute is deployed, allowing the device to transmit important information in tandem with the weather officer's onboard computer. This data is interpreted at the National Hurricane Center so that appropriate life-saving warnings may be broadcast to those in the storm's path. In addition to helping forecasters to make accurate predictions during the course of the storm, the data also aids hurricane forecasters in their understanding of what makes such a storm "tick," improving their forecast models.

In the event that Keesler AFB is inaccessible due to a hurricane positioned in the Gulf, Charleston AFB, Patrick AFB and Homestead AFB are all alternate locations for the Hurricane Hunters. No matter where the storm is located nor how intense, the Hurricane Hunters are ever-ready to put themselves into harm's way so that lives may be saved.

May God bless and protect those that risk their lives in an effort to save ours. It is with great pleasure that I bring the "Hurricane Hunters" to a Few of FR's Finest!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-12-03 Military Monday 05-13-03 How Does Your Garden Grow?

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

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God Bless Our Military

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Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Daisyscarlett; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

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We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LadyX....................grandson LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty The Mayor................niece

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........nephew gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover...........nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort...........2 daughters Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn.............2 sons kneezles...........son

[dansangel]

Thank-you for posting the 2003 Hurricane names list, (((((((((Colleen))))))))))

So sorry to hear that your step-sister was a victim of Hurricane Andrew. As I said earlier, I have seen the destruction on documentaries and it was absolutely chilling. From what I understand, it was the outbreak of tornadoes accompanying the hurricane that did most of the damage.

Driving through Homestead 9 months later was a real eye-opener. Even though most of the mess had been cleaned up and hauled away by then, the damage was still very evident. [shudder]

[HiJinx]

"...they only problem was that she forgot to pull down her pants before going .. LOL

That about sums up my life these days .. it's really really sad .. LOL

Well now, don't feel too bad. At least you don't have a 2 year old boy trying to teach a 2 year old girl how to use the potty. My poor son will never live that one down...we can still hear that sweet little girl crying as she stood on the toilet seat...!

[dansangel]

So good luck to you. I know you have got some bad storms as well.

Unfortunately, yes. But the bulk of the flooding has been to our south. Near us, the Chatahoochie River is high and running strong, but no flooding to speak of, thankfully.

I lived in Montgomery and Greene Counties in OH between 1989-96. Some of the friendliest people in the world are in OH! :-)

[deadhead]

Hello daisyscarlett!

Colleen

[deadhead]

My niece and her hubby have triplets that are in the potty-training stage, no luck yet :-)

[LadyShallott]

lived in Montgomery and Greene Counties in OH between 1989-96. Some of the friendliest people in the world are in OH! :-)

I think so as well. When we moved from California it was nice to meet so many down to earth people. Very nice people!

[HiJinx]

Montgomery and Greene?

We left Dayton in '69 to move to Arizony...! I went to school in the Mad River district, right next to Wright-Pat!

[dansangel]

we can still hear that sweet little girl crying as she stood on the toilet seat...!

ROFL

((((((HiJinx))))))

[dansangel]

I went to Wright State University (next door to Wright-Patt) from 1989-92. I was a "late-bloomer" getting my degree at age 33 - LOL!

Dayton sure has grown since you lived there!

[deadhead]

I have been to Ohio many times. Have relatives in Columbus and Hilliard. Been to the Columbus Zoo, have seen the Buckeye Football team play a couple of times---lots of fun going to a College game! Met lots of nice folks in Ohio

Colleen

[HiJinx]

That was the second time...the first time he expected her to use the potty the same way he did -- standing in front of it. When they discovered that wasn't going to work, he had her move up on top of the potty.

Pretty ingenious for such a young'un...he's still impressing us...not that I'm a proud poppa, or anything!

[dansangel]

The things I remember most are:

1)Other drivers would wave me into traffic - here in Atlanta, they would just as soon steam-roll over me!

2)Complete strangers walking down the street would look up and wave as I would drive by. Here in Atlanta, eye-contact along with *any* hand gesture is a no-no!

[dansangel]

I miss our daisy.......

(((((((((daisyscarlett)))))))) wherever you are!

[dansangel]

not that I'm a proud poppa, or anything!

Of course I *never* would have thought such a thing....LOL!!

I think it's *wonderful* that you are so proud of your son!

[LadyShallott]

You saw the Buckeyes play? We have never been able to get tickets to see a game! I have always wanted to see them play. :)We lived in Columbus for a few years and then moved to a smaller town (Circleville). I love it here.

Chris

[MeekOneGOP]

....does he *bathe*?

Shore does. Every Satiddy, whuther he needs to or not ! :O)

[deadhead]

At least you don't have a 2 year old boy trying to teach a 2 year old girl how to use the potty.

I am laughing so hard HiJinx! LOL

[HiJinx]

I bet it has! The international airport was in Vandalia, and you had to leave Dayton to get there. I suspect that is no longer the case.

IIRC, we drove past Wright State every time we went to the base...or maybe we drove past it when going somewhere else east of home.

Oh, and getting your degree at 33 isn't what I'd call being a late bloomer...I left Arizona State after 2 1/2 years and joined the Army...12 years later (in '88!) I earned my BA! Come to think of it, that would have made me 33...hmmm, never mind.

[dansangel]

Shore does. Every Satiddy, whuther he needs to or not ! :O)

LOL!!! In that case you can hug him for me this Satiddy! :-)

I thought you had left town, Meekie! Glad you could drop back in!

[LadyShallott]

Looking through my recipes

I have to go fix some dinner. I am in the mood for some BBQ. I think I am going to get a smoker for my husband. I love pulled pork. Would love to find a good recipe for it. I am off! See everyone tonight.

Chris