Hurricane Hunters gather information about tropical storms and hurricanes to help meteorologists more accurately forecast the paths of these dangerous storms. In 2017, the Hurricane Hunters flew more than 800 hours during 90+ missions and are preparing for another busy hurricane season in 2018. These Hurricane Hunter aircrafts were one of the biggest attractions at last week's Hurricane Awareness Tour (HAT) - an annual event targeting hurricane prone coastal and inland cities.

Thousands attended tour stops along the Gulf Coast, including McAllen, TX; Beaumont, TX; Baton Rouge, LA; Montgomery, AL; and Lakeland, FL. Each stop featured National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hurricane experts, scientists and crew members who taught attendees about hurricanes, safety, prep and what it’s like to be a “Hurricane Hunter.”

The HAT offers local citizens and students the opportunity to tour the aircrafts and meet with pilots and NOAA representatives to understand more about how hurricanes form and how they monitor for them. Attendees got to tour the WC-130J - "Hercules" - a high-wing, medium-range aircraft used in weather reconnaissance missions to collect weather data. Hercules is one of ten specially configured aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force Reserve. The NOAA Gulfstream IV-SP (G-IV) aka Gonzo, a high-tech, high-flying, and high-speed plane used for hurricane forecasting and research, was also on hand.

National and local agencies, including FEMA, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, police, fire and safety departments, were on-site to discuss weather safety, preparedness and recovery.

Are you prepared for when hurricane season starts? Check out Cummins’, a sponsor of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) #HurricaneStrong campaign, tips for preparing for severe weather and natural disasters.