Interview with Tsgt. Hoover Hodge
Military Weather Specialist
by Jennifer

I spoke with Tsgt. Hoover Hodge, a Weather Specialist at Eglin A.F.B. Florida.

Jennifer: What does a weather specialist do?

Tsgt. Hodge: Observes and forecasts weather conditions. The weather begins at the ocean and ends at space. Weather forecasters forecast weather both on earth and in space.

Jennifer: What do you and your group have to do in detecting hurricanes?

Tsgt. Hodge: The most useful tool that weather forecasters use is weather satellites to detect and track hurricanes,

Jennifer: Do planes from our area go into the center of the storm? If so, what do they find out?

Tsgt. Hodge: Yes, they are called Hurricane Hunters and they fly into places they think a hurricane is about to happen or is happening. As the Hurricane Hunters fly into a hurricane, the weather specialist drops special sensors called dropsondes that send information about the hurricane. That information is sent to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida.

Jennifer: How do the Air Force Base people prepare for hurricanes?

Tsgt. Hodge: The military people have hurricane conditions called HURCONS. The air force base is like a city. Each area has a special job they do to keep the city running before and after a hurricane. For example the Security Police keep traffic moving, the Construction people protect and rebuild buildings, and the Food services specialists stock food in case a hurricane does happen.

Jennifer: My topic is on " Effects of Hurricanes on the Environment". What can you tell me about that?

Tsgt. Hodge: A hurricane is the most powerful force on Earth. Some examples of effects are erosion, flooding, loss of power, destruction, and its damage to the water and bayous.

Jennifer: Why are hurricanes so destructive to our area?

Tsgt. Hodge: The number one reason is because we live on a very warm body of water, which is an ideal place for hurricanes.

Jennifer: How do hurricanes create pollution?

Tsgt. Hodge: Hurricanes themselves don't create pollution. Man creates pollution. An example would be a car that is blown into fresh water and it's gas and oil leaks out and pollute the water. Or a sewer company flooding and over flowing into the bayous and other waterways, thus throwing off the balance of the ecosystem.

Wow, wasn't that neat?  Now you probably know so much about hurricanes you don't need to read more!  But, I know that you will want to because there's some really cool stuff about hurricanes in store for you!