KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- As the 2025 hurricane season looms, Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron are urging the public to take storm warnings seriously—and they're backing that message with action, flying directly into hurricanes to gather critical weather data that can help save lives.
The 403rd Wing hosted nine civilian media outlets during Media Day at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, May 6, as part of Hurricane Preparedness Week May 4-10.
The event offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at the mission of the 53rd WRS, known as the Hurricane Hunters, and emphasized the importance of education and outreach in keeping the public safe.
“If a hurricane is going to make landfall, we are going to be flying in it,” said Lt. Col. Sean Cross, 403rd Wing Chief of Safety and 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot. “The bottom line is this mission helps save lives.”
Cross and other members of the 53rd WRS led media representatives on a tour of a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft and provided a briefing on the squadron’s operations, the legacy of Hurricane Katrina, and the continued need for public awareness and preparedness.
“This is all about education and outreach,” Cross said. “People need to pay attention and listen to their local emergency management officials. If they are told to evacuate due to being in a low-lying area, they need to listen.”
The 53rd WRS flies into hurricanes to collect atmospheric data—including wind speeds, pressure, temperature and humidity—that feeds directly into models used by the National Hurricane Center. That data improves forecast accuracy and gives communities more time to prepare or evacuate.
“Even though now there are satellites, and there is radar, as it gets closer to land, they cannot replace the direct measurements that we take that then go to the forecasters and into the models to help people on the ground make decisions and evacuate in times,” explained Maj. Amanda Nelson, 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer.
Cross emphasized that ignoring early warnings not only puts individuals at risk but also endangers the lives of first responders. “Airmen of the 53rd are risking their lives to provide data so people can get out of harm’s way. When people don’t listen to evacuation orders, they create dangerous situations for emergency personnel,” he said.
This year’s Media Day also marked the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the catastrophic 2005 storm that devastated the Gulf Coast Aug. 29, 2005, and prompted major changes in national emergency response and preparedness strategies.
By inviting the media to see their work firsthand, the Hurricane Hunters hope to amplify the message to the public that preparation saves lives.
For comprehensive hurricane preparedness information, visit Ready.gov.