Hey there, Houston, we have a podcast fans. We'll be doing another anniversary episode this July to celebrate eight years, and we want your questions.

We're going to bring on some NASA astronauts to answer questions from listeners like you.

So if there's something you want to know about human spaceflight, send us an email at NASA-Huston podcast at mail.n.

And it could be answered by a real NASA astronaut.

Okay, now back to the podcast. Houston, we have a podcast. Welcome to the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center, Episode 384, Natural Disaster Response. I'm Dane Turner, and I'll be your host today.

On this podcast, we bring in the experts,

scientists, engineers, and astronauts, all to let you know what's going on in the world of

human spaceflight and more. The view from low Earth orbit can be an advantageous one. For the

International Space Station, orbiting 250 miles above the surface of the Earth, it means they can

serve as our eye in the sky,

observing our planet below. Equipped with cameras and sensors, it regularly collects imagery and data

on geology, temperature, weather, and other natural factors. Here on the planet, we've recently

been faced with some major weather events. Last fall, Hurricanes Helene and Milton

packed a one-two punch on the Gulf Coast of Florida, with Helene continuing all the way into

North Carolina. And early this year, the west coast of the U.S. has been dealing with a series

of devastating wildfires. The International Space Station's trajectory passes above approximately 90% of Earth's

populated area and is able to observe many of these phenomena. With access to so much aerial data,

how is NASA able to help in the face of these kinds of events? To tell us about how NASA responds

to natural disasters, we have senior Earth system scientist Will Stefanov, who is one of the

Center Response Coordinators for the NASA Disasters Program Disaster Response Coordination System, or

DRCS. Let's get started. We have we Will, thank you so much for coming on Houston we have a podcast today.

It's my pleasure. It's my pleasure. Glad to be here.

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