The Air Force is moving aircraft and non-essential personnel out of MacDill Air Force Base once again, this time as the base braces for the approaching Tropical Storm Milton.
“At this time I am ordering a limited evacuation of Zone A for MacDill Air Force Base and Zones A and B and the mobile homes for the following counties: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee, Sarasota and Citrus,” Col. Edward Szczepanik, commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing said on a video posted to Facebook on Sunday, Oct. 6.
The evacuation order comes a day after Szczepanik announced that the wing will be relocating its aircraft starting on Oct. 6. The planes “will return when flying conditions are favorable.”
The evacuation order goes into effect at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, Oct. 7, according to the 6th Air Refueling Wing. It must be completed no later than 4 p.m. on Oct. 8. There is an exception, Szczepanik said; all personnel designated as mission essential must stay in place until they are released.
It’s the second time in less than a month that the base has moved its aircraft. When Hurricane Helene, which later weakened to a tropical storm, approached the southeast, commanders at MacDill Air Force Base moved its planes out of state, and also initiated a partial evacuation for personnel. Other aircraft were put in hangers to avoid damage. The base was hit hard, with flooding and loss and power. After the storm passed, it was still working to clear debris and reopen parts of the installation.
Milton is on a path to hit Florida with a broadside. The storm has been building in intensity over the weekend. It’s expected to grow into a Category 4 hurricane by the time it finishes passing through the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is tracking the storm. Milton is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, Oct. 9. MacDill is located inside Tampa Bay, on the western coast of Florida on the Gulf of Mexico.
The base, technically an Air Force base, is home to service members of multiple branches in its role as headquarters for U.S. Special Operations Command.
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Aircraft moved out of state ahead of Helene returned to the base this past week.
Currently troops with the Florida National Guard have been deployed to the Tampa area, in preparation for Milton. They are also working to address the damage left by Helene. Prior to the limited evacuation announcement, leadership at MacDill Air Force Base encouraged personnel to make sure they have what they need, including supplies of food, water and medication. It also urged people to clear any debris still around from the previous storm, which could be kicked up by strong winds from Milton and cause further damage.
Update: 10/6/2024: This story has been updated with the new limited evacuation order, as well as the current intensity of Milton.
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