Partnership and recovery: Sarasota airport opens just six days after Milton flood

Thursday, November 21, 2024

When it was finally safe for Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) TSA Managers Robert Smith and Walter Fedorchenko to venture back into the facility after Hurricane Milton, they found that while the well-executed plans to secure the checkpoint helped save screening equipment, they did little to stop water from wrecking the checkpoint area itself.

As they surveyed the damage, it became clear the checkpoint was unusable. Ceiling tiles had collapsed under the weight of rain after Milton's sustained Category 3 winds peeled away the membrane roof. Carpet tiles were saturated with ceiling debris and standing water, and moisture had wicked up the drywall. Without remediation, the soggy mess could turn musty fast.

Though the airport suffered significant damage, the people who keep it running were accounted for and safe. And incredibly, that very checkpoint would be ready for screening in just six short days thanks to partnership and collaboration.

Ceiling tiles gave way under the weight of the water flowing in from the gaps in the roof. (SRQ photo)

One thing that set this situation apart from others is that SRQ is a Screening Partnership Program (SPP) airport, meaning security operations there are run by a private company under TSA oversight. To get screening back up and running, TSA, the airport authority, and the security company Aviation Security Management (ASM) had to move quickly and collaboratively.

TSA Tampa Federal Security Director (FSD) Kirk Skinner and his staff, including Smith and Fedorchenko, oversee the screening at SRQ. This quick and successful recovery effort was made possible by a trusting partnership built between TPA, SRQ and the airport stakeholders over the years, and the emergency preparedness planning they take very seriously.

"The FSD always maintains authority of operations," explained Sheryl Gatheright, a lead contracting officer representative in TSA's SPP office. "Partnerships really make a huge difference in the SPP, especially in times of adversity."

That was put to the test when two hurricanes - 13 days apart - slammed the Gulf Coast of Florida.

"At the start of hurricane season, Sarasota airport (management) holds stakeholder meetings for hurricane preparedness," said Smith. "It's a refresher for long-term employees and important, new information for those who have not been through a hurricane. We make sure employee contact information is up to date."

While Hurricane Helene's September 26 landfall proved destructive to Florida's Big Bend area and devastated a portion of the country unaccustomed to tropical weather, it proved to be thankfully uneventful for SRQ.

As Helene moved inland and SRQ continued screening passengers, meteorologists warned of another tropical disturbance brewing. Within a week, Hurricane Milton threatened the same Florida real estate Helene had already wrecked.

The heaviest roof damage was directly above the SRQ checkpoint. (SRQ photo)

While hard-hit communities were still assessing Helene's loss of life and material damages, Hurricane Milton's rapid intensification in the Gulf of Mexico triggered SRQ's hurricane plan for a second time in as many weeks.

"There was no ride out team that stayed at the airport because SRQ is not a designated hurricane shelter," said Smith. "Airport management as well as Tampa's management were concerned about the welfare of the officers prior to and after the storm."

When the last passengers cleared the gates on October 8, final preparations were executed before everyone safely left the airport to shelter in place at their own homes.

"Working together prior to the storm, airport operations were able to secure all of the jet bridges and cover all of the ticket counter computers," said Smith. "Airlines were responsible for securing their equipment on the airfield. The airport police performed security sweeps to ensure the airport was evacuated prior to the hurricane. ASM secured the screening equipment and covered the equipment with tarps."

Post storm, all 114 officers were accounted for by 1300 hours on October 10. TPA leadership funneled ready-to-eat meals and bottled water to employees, but the most precious provision rolled in a few days later.

"Four days after the hurricane, a fuel truck was available for the officers to fill their personal vehicles, because most of the gas stations in the area did not have power to pump fuel, or they did not have fuel to pump," said Smith.

Construction work to get SRQ back into commerce began immediately after facility damage was assessed. A temporary airport roof was installed, standing water was removed, carpets were cleaned and dried and equipment was untarped and tested.

"Prior to screening resuming, all of the drywall on the checkpoint had to be removed," explained Smith. "The exposed walls of the checkpoint were covered with plastic to reduce the risk of drywall dust entering the work environment. A security sweep was completed of the concourse area and gates by airport operations, airport police and the ASM security screeners."

Screening began again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 16, with four out of the six lanes operational. Getting back to work was welcomed by airport employees who craved normalcy.

"Being able to reopen the airport as quickly as we did brought relief to Officers who needed a break from dealing with devastation they may have been dealing with at their own homes," said Smith.

Karen Robicheaux, TSA Strategic Communications & Public Affairs