West Potomac High School students from Frances Coffey's Advanced Placement Human Geography class were treated to a visit from Cathi Hoefler and Steven Keating from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency recently. Hoefler and Keating discussed the importance of using data to better predict and respond to natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2011 earthquake off the coast of Japan and tsunami.  Students asked questions about how relief efforts are influenced by geography.  The speakers also discussed how understanding cultural values and norms is important in military efforts worldwide.
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