FLOWOOD, Miss. (AP) — New technology allowed regional forecasters to quickly confirm the large tornado that tore through Hattiesburg this week and to alert the public, possibly saving lives in the process, officials said in a news conference Friday.

The Dual-polarization Doppler technology allowed forecasters to see the shape and size of debris inside the tornado. In the past, forecasters have generally relied on visual reports of tornadoes, which are difficult to get at night. The new technology allowed them to issue warnings confirming the tornado and to give residents sufficient time to get to safety.