Polk Times

Congressman Scott Franklin and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz have initiated a bipartisan appeal to Congress for the modernization of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) hurricane hunter aircraft fleet. They were joined by 11 other Florida representatives in urging that funds be allocated for this purpose in any forthcoming emergency disaster relief supplemental package.

"NOAA’s hurricane hunter fleet is critical to delivering real-time data to improve the accuracy of forecasts and inform emergency management efforts," stated Congressman Franklin. He recounted his experience aboard NOAA 42 during Hurricane Milton, emphasizing the importance of modernizing these planes to safeguard communities.

Wasserman Schultz added, "With increasingly severe hurricane seasons, communities across the nation are relying more than ever on NOAA’s life-saving storm tracking and forecasting capabilities." She highlighted that investing in new aircraft would ensure NOAA continues to protect lives and property from extreme weather threats.

The proposed funding aims to allow NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) to finish building two new hurricane hunter planes already underway and purchase a third. This effort is crucial for maintaining effective hurricane forecasting capabilities.

Currently, NOAA's WP-3D Orion planes are scheduled for retirement in 2030 after decades of service. Without replacements, there is concern over NOAA's capacity to gather real-time data necessary for accurate extreme weather forecasts.

The legislators stressed that modernization is vital not only for preparing for hurricanes but also for enhancing water resource planning and improving predictions related to fire weather and droughts. Recent hurricanes like Helene and Milton highlight the need to strengthen NOAA’s ability to handle increasing weather challenges.