Tech Researchers Assessing Sandy
By: Michaela MacDonald
Updated: October 30, 2012
While the center of super storm Sandy may have touched down some 2,000 miles away, local researchers played a key role in getting information to emergency management officials in the northeast.
"We know the National Hurricane Center actually mentioned some of our observations in one of their discussions which was really cool for us to know that you know that other people are looking at it and trying to make decisions," said Scott Gunter, PhD student and member of the Texas Tech Hurricane Research team, a team that provided real-time data during Monday night's storm.
Gunter said, "I'm not sure how far up the chain goes as far as who received this information. But that is what its there for, that's why we are doing this. So we can get the information to people who need it and they can make decisions based on that information."
Dr. John Schroeder is the Director of Tech's Wind Science and Engineering Research Center. He says Tech hurricane teams have been collecting data since 1998, but they've only recently been able to release it in real time.
"The last four years or so we have started to transmit the data in real-time so it can help forecasters, emergency managers and those sorts of individuals because there is such a big thirst and a big need for the data during the event to try to understand what is going on," said Dr. Schroeder.
Dr. Schroeder says the learning experience for these students goes beyond science.
"All this calamity that happens at the coast, when you are removed from it you never really take it to heart and understand, but being there first hand really does drive that home," said Dr. Schroeder.
Gunter said, "You also learn on the personal side of things seeing what all of these people will go through. You know we are able to pick up our instruments and come back to Lubbock, but you know these people have to stay here and clean up and it puts a real human element on what we do and it gives you a real appreciation for it."
The local community may be helping out in more ways than just research. The South Plains Red Cross is on standby to send volunteers to the east coast. If you'd like to help the red cross relief efforts, you can text the word "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
"We know the National Hurricane Center actually mentioned some of our observations in one of their discussions which was really cool for us to know that you know that other people are looking at it and trying to make decisions," said Scott Gunter, PhD student and member of the Texas Tech Hurricane Research team, a team that provided real-time data during Monday night's storm.
Gunter said, "I'm not sure how far up the chain goes as far as who received this information. But that is what its there for, that's why we are doing this. So we can get the information to people who need it and they can make decisions based on that information."
Dr. John Schroeder is the Director of Tech's Wind Science and Engineering Research Center. He says Tech hurricane teams have been collecting data since 1998, but they've only recently been able to release it in real time.
"The last four years or so we have started to transmit the data in real-time so it can help forecasters, emergency managers and those sorts of individuals because there is such a big thirst and a big need for the data during the event to try to understand what is going on," said Dr. Schroeder.
Dr. Schroeder says the learning experience for these students goes beyond science.
"All this calamity that happens at the coast, when you are removed from it you never really take it to heart and understand, but being there first hand really does drive that home," said Dr. Schroeder.
Gunter said, "You also learn on the personal side of things seeing what all of these people will go through. You know we are able to pick up our instruments and come back to Lubbock, but you know these people have to stay here and clean up and it puts a real human element on what we do and it gives you a real appreciation for it."
The local community may be helping out in more ways than just research. The South Plains Red Cross is on standby to send volunteers to the east coast. If you'd like to help the red cross relief efforts, you can text the word "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
