OPA LOCKA, Fla. Hurricane hunters are committed to helping families stay safe even if it requires flying into the storm. “We want everyone to realize that there is a direct connection between the data collected by the brave men and women on these hurricane hunter aircraft’s and your personal safety,” National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Rick Knabb said. The 2017 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Awareness Tour made its final stop at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on Friday. The tour promotes community hurricane awareness and features the Air force’s C-130 and a NOAA P-3 hurricane hunter aircraft. “We take this airplane right into the heart of the storm, right to the center, and we use that to help with the forecast for intensity and track of the storms as they make landfall,” Aircraft commander Nate Kahn said. The P-3 aircraft uses radars that can measure temperature, wind, speed, humidity and air pressure. The C-130 has specific instruments that are dropped into the hurricane in order to get valuable information on the atmosphere inside of the storm. “It’s a beast and it’s our work horse,” Colonel Brian May said.