NORAD Santa tracker Georgia | 11alive.com [Video]

GEORGIA, USA — The skies over Georgia will sparkle a bit brighter this Christmas Eve as NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, prepares to guide Santa on his global journey. Using radar and satellite technology to safeguard the United States and Canada, the agency transforms its tools into a cherished holiday tradition: tracking Santa Claus.

The tradition began 69 years ago as a fortunate mistake when a misprinted phone number in a Colorado newspaper connected a little girl to a NORAD colonel. Rather than turning her away, the colonel shared Santa’s location, sparking an annual event that now delights millions worldwide.

NORAD’s Santa Tracker has grown into a massive operation, with over 1,000 volunteers answering calls at 877-HI-NORAD to update families on Santa’s whereabouts. Col. Paul C. Burger, NORAD’s director of human capital, calls it a “labor …