What You Need To Know:
The commander of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, Col. Adam Bingham, has issued a mandatory evacuation order for families and non-essential staff due to Tropical Storm Idalia’s projected landfall.
The evacuation is expected to be completed by Tuesday morning.
The Details:
The National Hurricane Center forecasts that Idalia will become a hurricane and turn into a “dangerous major hurricane” in the Gulf of Mexico by early Wednesday.
Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed the base’s preparedness for such situations and emphasized their readiness to ensure operational continuity.
Both military personnel and civilian employees at the base need approval from their chain of command to evacuate. A Limited Evacuation Order, intended to cover travel expenses during evacuations, will be released soon.
MacDill houses U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, and other military units, including the 6th Air Refueling Wing.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida National Guard is mobilizing 1,100 personnel, along with aircraft and high-wheel vehicles, to support anticipated impact areas.