Commander Orders Evacuation Of US Military Base Ahead Of Florida Hurricane

The commander of MacDill Air Force Base in Florida ordered an evacuation of the installation on Monday morning in preparation for the landfall of Hurricane Ian, which is expected to hit the state's Gulf coast in the coming days.

MacDill AFB, located near Tampa, is home to the headquarters of both US Central Command and US Special Operations Command, as well as Air Force elements. The base in the statement also urged service members to monitor local news outlets for updates on the situation.

A "life-threatening storm surge" is possible along much of Florida's west coast, with the highest risk between Fort Myers and Tampa Bay, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Hurricane-force winds could begin Wednesday morning, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Tuesday, NHC said on Monday in an advisory. Residents in the expected path of the hurricane should ensure they have a plan, NHC also said.