Hurricane Drones Launched Into Gulf of Mexico

All eyes are on Invest 98L and if it will hit SWFL next week, and seven drones were just sent out into the Gulf of Mexico to collect hurricane data.

When meteorologists are collecting data, especially about hurricanes, they use a variety of sources like aerial drones and ships, and last season NOAA hurricane hunters began using ALTIUS, an aircraft drone that is sent out into the most dangerous parts of the storm.

Also, last season, there was another type of drone launched and this time it was on the water and called Saildrone. Researchers sent five of them out into the Atlantic Ocean, with one of them going in and out of Hurricane Sam.  It proved that not only can the Saildrones survive 100 foot waves and winds of 140 mph, but it was able to send back the first-ever live video footage from inside the eye of the hurricane.

https://twitter.com/NOAAResearch/status/1443670149672886283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1443670149672886283%7Ctwgr%5Ea65f8944cddfa6cd89cc3adb4e7804e3b6be3149%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.clickorlando.com%2Fweather%2F2021%2F10%2F06%2Fwatch-this-hurricane-sailing-drone-captures-video-inside-major-hurricane-sam%2F

This year, seven Saildrones will be going out the places where they will have the best chance to be in the path of a hurricane, with five sent to the Atlantic and two in the Gulf of Mexico.  And what's cool is that there's no risk to human life with sending people out into the storms.

Richard Jenkins, the CEO of Saildrone said, “Combining in situ ocean data with a better understanding of the ocean floor, will help us predict both storm intensity and storm surges, keeping our coastal communities safer from these destructive events.”

SOURCE: clickorlando.com

Hurricane Central - Preparedness Guide gives you the updated information you may need in the event of a hurricane. Just because 2021 was a quiet year for storms doesn't mean we can ever let our guard down. This guide is sponsored by local businesses here in SWFL. Gavin's Ace Hardware, Sean King Law, and Powerhouse Home Services.

Lee County:

Emergency Operations Center 239-533-0622

Bonita Springs YMCA – Bonita Springs

Island Coast High School – Cape Coral

Estero Recreation Center – Estero

Germain Arena – Estero

South Fort Myers High School (Pet Friendly) – Fort Myers

E. Lee County High School (Pet Friendly) – Lehigh Acres

Harns Marsh Elementary School – Lehigh Acres

Harns Marsh Middle School – Lehigh Acres

Mirror Lakes Elementary School – Lehigh Acres

Varsity Lakes Middle School – Lehigh Acres

Veterans Park Recreation Center – Lehigh Acres

Collier County

Emergency Operations Center: 239-252-3600

Highlands Elementary School – Immokalee

Immokalee Friendship House – Immokalee

Immokalee High School – Immokalee

Immokalee Middle School – Immokalee

Pinecrest Elementary School – Immokalee

Village Oaks Elementary – Immokalee

Barron Collier High School – Naples

Big Cypress Elementary – Naples

Corkscrew Elem/Middle School – Naples

Cypress Palm Middle School – Naples

Golden Gate Intermediate School – Naples

Golden Gate Middle School – Naples

Golden Gate High School – Naples

Golden Terrace Intermediate School – Naples

Gulf Coast Intermediate School – Naples

Gulf Coast High School – Naples

Laurel Oak Elementary School – Naples

Lely High School – Naples

Mike Davis Elementary School

Naples High School

North collier Regional Park (Pet Friendly) – Pre-registration is required

North Naples Middle School

Oakridge Middle School

Palmetto Ridge High School – Special Needs

Pelican Marsh Elementary

Sable Palm Elementary School

St. Matthews House

Veterans Community Park

Vineyards Elementary School

Charlotte County

Emergency Operations Center: 941-833-4000

*All Charlotte County shelters are now Pet Friendly

Lemon Bay High School – Englewood

Myakka River Elementary School – Englewood

Kingsway Elementary School – Port Charlotte

Liberty Elementary School – Port Charlotte

Meadow Park Elementary School – Port Charlotte

Murdock Middle School – Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte High School – Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte Middle School – Port Charlotte

Sallie Jones Elementary School -Punta Gorda

South County Regional Park -Punta Gorda

L.A. Ainger MIddle School – Rotonda

Vineland Elementary School – Rotonda

Hendry County

Emergency Operations Center: 863-674-5400

Central Elementary School – Clewiston

Clewiston High School – Clewiston

Clewiston Middle School (Primary Shelter) – Clewiston

Eastside Elementary School – Clewiston

Westside Elementary School – Clewiston

Country Oaks Elementary School – LaBelle

LaBelle Elementary School – LaBelle

LaBelle High School – LaBelle

LaBelle Middle School (Primary Shelter) – LaBelle

Glades County

Emergency Operations Center: 863-946-6020

Buckhead Ridge VFW – Buckhead Ridge

Maple Grove Baptist Church – Lakeport

Glades County Health Department (Special Needs) – Moore Haven

Moore Haven High School – Moore Haven

Muse Community Assn. – Muse

West Glades Elementary (Special Needs) – Muse

Desoto County

Emergency Operations Center – 863-993-4831

Desoto Middle School -Arcadia

South Florida State College (Special Needs) -Arcadia

Hurricane watch = conditions possible within the next 48 hrs.

Steps to take:

Hurricane warning = conditions are expected within 36 hrs.

Steps to take:

Follow the hurricane timeline preparedness checklist, depending on when the storm is anticipated to hit and the impact that is projected for your location.

Hurricane Drones Gulf Mexico