Thermal Imaging Technology Assists Oklahoma National Guard in Locating Tornado Victims

• By Ginger Hill
• May 21, 2013

Though usually a child’s game, hide-and-go-seek takes on a new meaning in Moore, Oklahoma where it is estimated that at least 51 people are dead due to a tornado that was on the ground yesterday for approximately 40 minutes.

Scouring and digging through the tornado rubble are more than 240 members of the Oklahoma National Guard, along with civilian firefighters and police, all searching for victims and possible survivors as well as providing security in the town of Moore. The 146th Air Support Operations Squadron is utilizing thermal imaging technology, seeking body heat under the rubble, in an effort to locate those buried.

“Hopefully, we’ll find survivors,” stated Air Force 2nd Lt., Gabriel Bird.

The video below from CBS This Morning shows the airman using thermal imaging.

Sources:

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=120092

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50147285n