Operation Airdrop Ferries Supplies to Hurricane-Ravaged Florida Island

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Naples Airport has become a base for disaster relief efforts

Wednesday, October 05, 2022 at 03:49 PM ET

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Naples Airport became a base for Pine Island, Florida, hurricane relief operations after a bridge connecting the island to Fort Myers was heavily damaged in Hurricane Ian. [Courtesy: Naples Airport]

Key Takeaways:

Naples Municipal Airport (KAPF), despite being flooded by Hurricane Ian, quickly reopened to become a critical staging area for disaster relief efforts.
The airport facilitated "Operation Airdrop," collecting vital supplies for the storm-isolated Pine Island, which had its connecting bridge damaged.
Overwhelming community generosity resulted in over 15 pallets of donations, leading to the decision to transport supplies to Pine Island by boat (Cajun Navy) rather than by aircraft.

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A week ago, Naples Municipal Airport (KAPF) in Naples, Florida, was under water because of Hurricane Ian. Today, the airport is being used as a base for Operation Airdrop, bringing much-needed supplies to Pine Island, a community decimated by the storm.

The bridge that connects Pine Island to Fort Myers was heavily damaged by the storm, making the island only accessible by boat or aircraft. The island is southwest Florida’s largest island measuring 17 miles long and 2 miles wide.