Military Bases Evacuate and Relocate Assets as Hurricane Milton Threatens Florida

On Tuesday, the United States Air Force moved aircraft, including KC-135 Stratotankers, from MacDill Air Force Base to safer sites, while the United States Navy moved ships to safer areas simultaneously. 

The storm, which reached Category 5 on Monday with gusts exceeding 180 miles per hour, experienced a minor weakening on Tuesday, but it is still anticipated to make landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, which is considered to be a perilous situation.

Forecasters issued a warning that Tuesday was the last day for people of Florida to make preparations and evacuate their homes. Following the hurricane's landfall in the vicinity of Tampa, it is anticipated that it will continue to move eastward, and it is possible that it could maintain its Category 1 strength until it approaches the Jacksonville area by Thursday.

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As a result of the hurricane, all 6,600 military and civilian personnel stationed at MacDill have been requested to evacuate. The commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Colonel Edward Szczepanik, advised the personnel to take the storm seriously and reminded them that the strength of the base lay in its people and its air power. 

Following the passage of the storm, the installation, which is home to both the United States Central Command and the United States Special Operations Command, will resume normal operations.

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The preventative precautions taken by the military demonstrate the organization's dedication to protecting both its soldiers and its assets from the storm's strong force.

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