Air Force bases along Gulf Coast relocate aircraft ahead of Hurricane Isaias

Ahead of Hurricane Isaias approaching the U.S. Gulf Coast, some Air Force bases are evacuating personnel and aircraft in anticipation of its expected landfall this weekend. Bases in Florida and Mississippi have changed their hurricane condition statuses and sent aircraft to other bases for safekeeping as maintenance teams prepare on base. Florida bases such as Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field and Tyndall Air Force Base, as well as flying units from Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, have recently relocated their aircraft and issued warnings. Hurricane Isaias has strengthened into a Category 3 major hurricane and is expected to hit areas along the Gulf Coast Friday night, with power outages, storm surges and high rainfall anticipated through the weekend. Eglin updated the base’s limited evacuation order on Thursday, ordering service members, Department of Defense employees and their dependents in specific county zones to evacuate. The base closed its Child Development Centers, hospital, pharmacies and commissary, but emergency operations such as labor and delivery and all inpatient services will remain available. Eglin’s aircraft departed the base as officials declared Hurricane Condition 1, meaning there is a possibility of destructive winds of 58 mph or greater within 12 hours. Little Rock Air Force Base , Arkansas, confirmed it received aircraft from Eglin and Hurlburt. A base spokesperson told Military Times that it cannot release aircraft numbers and details due to …