Public invited to tour Hurricane Hunter aircraft on April 30

The public will have an opportunity to tour a Hurricane Hunter aircraft during a visit to Sarasota by NOAA hurricane experts from 3-4:30 p.m., Friday, April 30 at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. The plane will be at Dolphin Aviation on the west side of the airport at 8191 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

The hurricane team is coming to Sarasota as part of a Gulf Coast Hurricane Awareness Tour about storm threats and the importance of having a personal preparedness hurricane plan. The group will include Bill Read, director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center, hurricane specialists Dan Brown and John Cagialosi, and storm surge specialist Jamie Rhome.

The hurricane season begins June 1. Ed McCrane, Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief, reminds residents to be prepared by knowing their evacuation zone, having a plan and deciding now whether to stay or go when a hurricane approaches.