 As California endures impacts from Tropical Storm Hillary, this WC-130J Hurricane Hunter is flying through the storm. This plane is outfitted with specialized equipment designed to get a detailed look at the weather brewing in the Pacific. Drop sawns are fed through a tube in the plane and dropped into the storm. These unique devices collect important weather data, including temperature, wind speed and pressure levels. Data is then sent directly from the plane, allowing weather prediction systems to pull information and create more accurate forecasts. Yeah, we're just one piece of the puzzle, we don't even know where to launch these, because like I said, we're eyes on sea, we're connected to the world, the world they need for the Hurricane Center. Again, they're taking all the information and trying to give that to the public as quickly and as accurately as possible. Advances in technology allow these specialized crews to gather data in real time, providing personnel and first responders on the ground with vital information that helps keep Californians safe. You may not hear about Tropical Storms often in California, but for these pilots they're all too familiar. It's one of the reasons I joined, because I'm from Louisiana, and of course we've been devastated by hurricanes over the years, so it's a way that I feel that I'm giving back. To see more from us, visit our website, news.caloes.ca.gov, and follow us on all our social media platforms.