Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik, the commander at MacDill Air Force Base, has issued a mandatory evacuation order effective Monday, Oct. 7 at 12:30 p.m. EST, in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. The evacuation affects personnel residing in specific zones across multiple counties including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Manatee, Sarasota, and Citrus, as well as those in mobile homes regardless of their location.
Residents in the designated evacuation zones are required to vacate their premises by 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The base has outlined specific protocols for mission-essential personnel. These individuals must secure approval through their chain of command before leaving.
Financial assistance is available for those affected. The base finance office will provide cash advances on Monday from noon to 3 p.m.
Childcare services will remain operational to support mission-essential personnel, but the Tinker K-8 school will be closed from Monday through Wednesday.