TAMPA, Fla. — Days into hurricane season 2025 and Tampa International Airport officials say the facility is prepared in the event of tropical weather. 

Officials said much of the preparations come from using lessons learned from last year’s double hurricane hits with Helene and Milton.

What You Need To Know

  • Tampa International Airport (TPA) says in the event of tropical weather, it is prepared to secure outdoor jet bridges and equipment to mitigate wind damage

  • TPA has trained to strategically place as many as 600 sandbags as a flood deterrent to re-open the airport more quickly after a storm

  • A skeleton crew will remain at TPA during a storm to assess damage real-time

  • TPA is in Evacuation Zone A, which means when the airport closes, so do its parking garages

Airport officials said coordination with weather forecasters is key this summer with the airport needing 48 to 72 hours lead time to begin their preparations for a storm.

Those preps include chaining down the airports nearly 60 jet bridges, moving airplanes and placing as many as 660 sandbags.

Tampa International Airport is in Evacuation Zone A, so even a Category 1 hurricane would close the airport.

Direction of Operations Sarah Brammell said the airport plans to keep a skeleton crew on property during a storm to assess damage real-time, allowing the airport to reopen as quickly as possible.

“Even though the operation came through and the facility came through unscathed, we still had to think about we staff the operation,” said Brammell.  “So, It took us a little bit longer last year to re-open and re-constitute operations because of the larger community impacts that we had.”

Airport officials said the facility needs to move quickly within two days of a tropical storm or hurricane.  

Tying down jet bridges alone can take 12 hours or more, and coordination with airlines about the stoppage of flights requires days of communication.

“At about 40 miles per hour we start making some big decisions, so getting that forecast 48 to 72 hours in advance helps our decision makers here at the airport determine when we can safely operate and when we need to cease operations,” said Brammell.

The airport advises fliers in the event of tropical weather, they should communicate directly with their airline to determine flight delays and cancellations.

During Helene and Milton, some residents tried parking cars, boats and RVs at airport parking garages to keep them safe.

Airport officials said when the airport closes, the parking garages close as well.