News Item

Thursday, June 2, 2011

NOAA Collects Disaster Response Imagery in Tornado-stricken Joplin

NOAA's National Geodetic Survey and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations deployed the week of May 23 to Joplin, Missouri to collect disaster response imagery resulting from the recent catastrophic tornado that struck the area. At the request of the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) Agency, NOAA's King Air aircraft collected imagery to assist FEMA, the National Guard, NOAA's National Weather Service, and other responders. Nearly 1,500 images were collected between May 24 and 26. Processed imagery data was made available to the public and for disaster response efforts immediately following the flights. The imagery data has several applications, including determination of the extent of the damage inflicted by the storms and comparison of this storm's forecast models to actual damage on the ground. This was the Nation's deadliest tornado in more than 60 years. For more information, contact Nicole Cabana.

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