Tornado rips through Monroe County Airport property; council approves $35,000 for repairs and vehicle reclassification
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Summary
An EF-2 tornado moved across airport property on Feb. 19, damaging hangars, fencing and support infrastructure. The County Council approved transfers and a $35,000 appropriation for emergency repairs and vehicle reclassification while airport staff coordinates insurance claims and cleanup.
An EF-2 tornado struck airport property just after 7 p.m. earlier in the week, scattering debris, destroying hangars and pole barns and compromising perimeter fencing, Monroe County's aviation official told the county council on Feb. 24.
"It came right over from Cave Creek Road... it went right over the runway," the director said, describing damage that included 8,000 feet of specialized wildlife fence destroyed, two pole barns obliterated with contents lost, and extensive damage to one large commercial hangar where a panel struck a transient aircraft. Engineers warned the council that one large hangar is unsafe for use until emergency repairs are made and a structural engineer assesses the facility.
The aviation department asked the council to (a) transfer $5,000 to a newly created capital account to cover a vehicle purchase reclassification and (b) appropriate $35,000 from the airport construction fund for repairs to the specialized aircraft-rescue firefighting truck and snow-removal equipment. The aviation director said the fire truck repairs alone are already about $25,000; the council approved both items (voice and roll call) without opposition.
Staff reported an insurance claim filed immediately; the director estimated potential wind-damage exposure at roughly $150,000 and said adjusters were scheduled to visit the site. Cleanup of debris across roughly 1,300 acres is expected to take months; the department expressed concern about safety hazards in accepting volunteer help because of sharp metal and fiberglass on the ground.
Councilors asked about operational continuity and revenue implications for airport operations and farm leases near damaged fields. The aviation director said airport runways and airfield surfaces remained operational and that the department is discussing insurance and potential budget impacts with commissioners.
Quote: "When this thing goes down, if Carter's cannot operate out of Bloomington. So, it is a must have," said the director, describing the critical role of the specialized rescue vehicle.
What happens next: Insurance adjusters will inventory damage and the airport will request additional appropriations if the insurance settlement does not cover repairs and cleanup. Council staff noted the airport is part of the county insurance pool and will coordinate any broader requests with the commissioners and the council.
