Congressmen Sorensen, Flood Lead Bipartisan Letter of Support for U.S. Air Force Reserve’s “Hurricane Hunters”

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (D, IL-17) and Congressman Mike Flood (R, NE-01) announced they led a bipartisan letter of support for the United States Air Force Reserve "Hurricane Hunters" of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. The letter emphasizes the need for the unique data collection capabilities of the Hurricane Hunters, as well as the life-saving nature of their work.

"Hurricane Hunters carry out vital missions flying directly into storms to garner real-time, precise data on wind speeds, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and temperature. This data, which cannot be gathered through other means, improves our ability to keep the homeland safe," wrote the Members in their letter. "Precise forecasts for intensity and zone of landfall allow Emergency Management the time and scope to move people away from danger as well as expedite recovery response, post-landfall. In an active season, our predictive capability saves billions of dollars and countless lives."

Established in 1944, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the "Hurricane Hunters of the Air Force Reserve," is the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes. The unit is comprised of ten WC-130J aircraft and crews are part of the 403rd Wing, based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Joining Congressmen Sorensen and Flood on this letter were Representatives: Ezell (R, MS-04), Gimenez (R, FL-28), Weber (R, TX-29), Salazar (R, FL-27), Edwards (R, NC-11), Houlahan (D, PA-06), Lawler (R, NY-17), Carson (D, IN-07), Case (D, HI-01), Steube (R, FL-17), Wilson (R, SC-02), Moskowitz (D, FL-23), Deluzio (D, PA-17), Frost (D, FL-10), Davis (D, NC-01), Castor (D, FL-14), and Ross (D, NC-02).

Read the full text of the Representatives' letter here.

Congressman Sorensen is the Co-Chair of the Weather Enterprise Caucus and is the only Meteorologist serving in Congress. After over two decades on local TV-communicating life-saving information that impacted Illinoisans' jobs, schools, farms, and safety-Sorensen came to Congress to continue that same work, now from Washington rather than in front of a green screen.

To learn more about Congressman Sorensen's continued advocacy on behalf of your community in Washington, visit his website here.

Congressman Eric Sorensen represents Illinois' 17^th District in the United States House of Representatives. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for more than 20 years. His district includes Illinois' Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.

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