Florida Airport Builds Flood Defense With Innovative Barrier System

Naples’ new Tiger Dam setup offers rapid deployment and cost-effective protection against storm surge.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, August 15, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

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Meg Godlewski

U.S. Flood Control director of operations Kyle Roussel (center) explains how to properly fill Tiger Dam flood barriers to Dennis Denault (left) and Trent Marlow (right). The operations team at Naples Airport in Florida will connect and fill a series of industrial-grade tubes that act as a water-tight dam to control flooding during tropical storms and hurricanes. [Courtesy: Naples Airport Authority]

Key Takeaways:

Naples Airport is implementing a "Tiger Dam" flood barrier system, which uses water-filled industrial tubes, to protect its facilities from future flooding.
This proactive measure was prompted by significant storm surge and inundation the airport experienced during Hurricane Ian in 2022.
The Tiger Dam system was chosen for its rapid deployment, cost-effectiveness, and superior protection compared to sandbags, with staff already trained to deploy the 3,000-foot barrier around key airport buildings.

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You have probably heard the expression “fighting fire with fire.” In Naples, Florida, the airport authority has plans to protect the facility from flooding using a Tiger Dam flood barrier system, which consists of industrial-grade tubing filled with water, linked together, and anchored in place. In short, fighting water with water.

Naples Airport (KAPF) is located on the west coast of Florida adjacent to Naples Bay. Built during World War II, it served as a training base for Army fighter pilots and then became a civilian facility in 1947. The airport has a field elevation of 8 feet above sea level.