With Hurricane Dorian preparing to make landfall in the Southeast, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is warning the public to prepare for this potentially devastating Category 5 storm. In any given day, over 80,000 flights occur in the United States. If a flight’s route passes through a hurricane, both airlines and passengers must take the appropriate action. As a result, the FAA has published some helpful tips on how to prepare for Hurricane Dorian.
The FAA says it’s currently monitoring Hurricane Dorian, which it says will make landfall over the course of the next 24 to 48 hours. The agency has even prepared teams to visit the Bahamas and asses equipment damage. While the Bahamas isn’t an official U.S. territory, the FAA has air traffic equipment stationed on the archipelago islands. And as a Category 5 storm, there’s a high probability that Hurricane Dorian will damage or destroy some of this vital equipment.
“The agency has a team ready to to go to the Bahamas after the storm passes to assess any damage to FAA communications equipment. We are preparing our facilities and equipment in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina,” wrote the FAA on its official website.
So, what should you do if you’re planning to take a flight to Florida, Georgia or North Carolina? Because these states are directly in Hurricane Dorian’s path, the FAA says passengers should check their flight status before going to the airport. It’s no secret that commercial airlines delay flights for weather-related reasons. If a flight travels through a storm — or if the airport is being hit by a storm — commercial airlines may cancel the flight.
With that said, you might be surprised to learn that airports will also close for weather-related reasons. In the days and hours leading up to a storm, airport officials will decide whether to leave the airport open for business or close it. You can check the status or airports by visiting https://www.fly.faa.gov.
You might be surprised to learn that air traffic control towers are designed to withstand hurricanes. According to the FAA, winds with speeds ranging from 55 to 75 mpg won’t damage control towers. As a result, they are able to collect essential information about hurricanes.
To recap, the FAA recommends all passengers to check the status of their flight, as well as their airport, to prepare for Hurricane Dorian. If there’s a delay, or if the airport is closed, you’ll need to make the necessary plans to adjust your schedule.
