MacDill Air Force Base is evacuating aircraft and some personnel as another storm approaches the base, which is situated in the most vulnerable Zone A evacuation zone. Like the recent Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Milton is expected to reach Category 4 status.

MacDill AFB orders Storm Milton evacuation

As first reported by Task & Purpose, MacDill AFB will move aircraft and non-essential service members out of the base as Tropical Storm Milton fast approaches. The storm is projected to make landfall on Wednesday – as such, the evacuation order will begin at 12:30 ET today and will be completed by 16:00 on Tuesday.

As occurred with Hurricane Helene a fortnight ago, Tropical Storm Milton is expected to gather significant force as it approaches the US and will likely evolve into a Category 4 hurricane by the time it reaches Florida. MacDill has only just recovered from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene, suffering from power outages, flooding and significant debris. The lowest-lying areas of the base were completely underwater, although it managed to drain away much of the stormwater relatively quickly.

kc-135 stratotanker

Photo: Joseph M. Arseneau | Shutterstock

The base won’t be completely evacuated, as personnel deemed as mission essential will remain on site until further notice. It has also advised those remaining to stock up on essential supplies and expedite the clearance of debris from Hurricane Helene. Aircraft stationed at MacDill include the KC-135 Stratotranker refueler and the C-37, a modified executive variant of the Gulfstream V.

Second evacuation in two weeks

MacDill AFB ordered a similar evacuation two weeks ago as Hurricane Helene approached, repositioning its Stratotankers to alternative bases. On that occasion, it also conducted a limited personnel evacuation, with essential service members remaining at the base.

macdill afb

Photo: Aqeela_Image | Shutterstock

Nearby Tyndall AFB was also forced to evacuate its F-35A fighter jets, while Eglin AFB moved its based aircraft – which includes the F-15, F-16 and C-130 – into hangars to protect them. Thousands of US Army and National Guard service members and over a dozen helicopters have been deployed to provide emergency assistance to the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Helene had a major impact on commercial aviation too, leading to thousands of flight cancelations. If Storm Milton causes a similar degree of devastation, we can expect more travel chaos in the coming days.

About MacDill AFB

Multiple armed forces branches maintain a presence at MacDill AFB, which acts as the headquarters for US Central Command (CENTCOM) and US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). The base is situated on the southern end of the Interbay Peninsula in Tampa, Florida, and was established back in 1939 as a bomber training base.

Unauthorized access: Read about a recent incident at MacDill involving an alligator and a KC-135 Stratotanker!

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