Hurlburt Field evacuates aircraft as precaution, personnel remain as Hurricane Ian threatens

Devon Ravine, Northwest Florida Daily News
·1 min read

Hurlburt Field-based aircraft have evacuated the area to protect the military's assets from any potential impacts of Hurricane Ian, according to a statement released Tuesday by Hurlburt Field's public affairs office.

This evacuation allows the men and women of the 1st Special Operations Wing to support any crisis or contingency unimpeded by weather.

Nearby residents may see an uptick in flights exiting Hurlburt Field as the aircraft are flown to military installations outside of the potential storm track.

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Hurlburt Field remains in Hurricane Condition 5 as Hurricane Ian has shifted toward central Florida. Based on the current forecast, leadership has determined a personnel evacuation is not yet warranted. If conditions are analyzed to threaten the safety of personnel and warrant a personnel evacuation or mission-essential reporting, those instructions will be provided through all available communication sources.

All military and Department of Defense civilian members assigned to Hurlburt Field are advised to stay in contact with their command teams and monitor official websites as well as local radio and television weather reports. Normal duty hours are currently still in effect.

Hurlburt Field is home to a number of military units, including the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command and the 1st Special Operations Wing, whose aircraft include a variety of Lockheed C-130 models, the tilt-rotor CV-22 Osprey, the single engine U28-A Draco.

Hurricanes have caused extensive damage at Florida military bases in the past. In October 2018, Hurricane Michael inflicted about $4.7 billion in damage to Tyndall Air Force Base, laying waste 484 buildings and forcing the relocation of 11,000 personnel and 46 aircraft.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Hurricane Ian: Hurlburt Field evacuates aircraft, personnel stay