The National Weather Service (NWS) in Jackson is requesting that teachers of grades 4-12 to submit a response by Feb. 15, for an opportunity for their class to experience the 2023 Hurricane Awareness Tour (HAT) scheduled to come to Jackson, Mississippi with a stop at Medgar Evers International Airport on Wednesday, May 3.
Hurricane experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will visit five U.S. Gulf Coast locations including one inland office (NWS Jackson), flying aboard a USAF Reserve WC-130J hurricane hunter aircraft and a NOAA WP-3D Orion aircraft, to raise awareness of the impacts from tropical cyclone threats and the danger of being caught without a personal hurricane plan.
All school districts within the coverage area are invited to experience this wonderful opportunity. However, due to time and space constraints of hosts and guests, there is a limited availability for guided tours of the Hurricane Hunter aircraft. In an effort to provide this opportunity to as many students as possible, teachers from interested area school district are asked to submit a request to participate. Those interested should submit a one to two paragraph response explaining why your class should be selected for this opportunity. Please include any relevant information in the response that may aid in determining how to best offer these limited invitations. Some examples of this additional information could include, how would experiencing the HAT bring value to your class or different activities your class has done related to weather. Please do include any other information that you think may be helpful in this process.
Though multiple classes may submit a response, the NWS Jackson will only be able to select 40 students per school due to practical limitations. Responses will need to be submitted by Feb. 15. Invitations will be timely. By Feb. 28, selected participants will be notified.
Responses should be submitted to the Google Form Link provided. Upon submission, you will receive an email thanking you for your response. If you have any questions, please email Logan Poole logan.poole@noaa.gov and Janae Elkins janae.elkins@noaa.gov.
In the event a group does not receive an invitation to the Hurricane Awareness Tour, the NSW Jackson wants to remind area teachers that an open invitation is extended to you by its local office located on Weather Service Drive in Flowood, Mississippi. Teachers are encouraged to schedule office tours and invite the NSW Jackson to career days, school visits, severe weather preparedness presentations, or just to help enlighten students on the weather patterns of our region and the globe. Please do not hesitate to contact NSW Jackson to arrange a visit.
If interested, please contact Marty Pope at marty.pope@noaa.gov.