Why weren’t NOAA satellites used to assist battle the Eaton hearth?

To the editor: One key discovering within the McChrystal Group report is, because of the truth that the Eaton hearth was fought fully at night time with winds that compelled all plane to be grounded, the primary responders had been left with out a hen’s-eye view of the hearth and couldn’t observe its total motion (“‘Good storm’ triggered botched evacuations throughout lethal Eaton hearth, investigation finds,” Sept. 25). This lack of aerial view appears absurd at the present time. The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Company has satellites that particularly monitor wildfires and assist in monitoring their motion.

In accordance with its web site, NOAA satellites “excel in hearth detection, mapping, environmental affect evaluation and help for firefighting efforts. … Actual-time information aids firefighting businesses in making knowledgeable selections.” The Hazard Mapping System gives a complete view of present hearth circumstances and is publicly accessible to supply day by day updates on hearth places and standing.

NOAA collaborates with NASA and the U.S. Forest Service to share important info. So then, why aren’t cities and counties collaborating extra and getting info from NOAA in emergencies just like the Eaton hearth?

Wendy Prober, Tarzana