Sept. 18, 2018
South Carolina’s Mount Pleasant Regional Airport (LRO) is serving as central command for a local Operation Airdrop effort to bring relief to victims of Hurricane Florence.
Retired Air Force Col. Julie Grundahl is spearheading the relief effort along with local volunteer pilots and community help. She is also a flight instructor for Mount Pleasant Flight Training.
“We will fly a couple of times a day to small general aviation airports as long as there is a need,” Grundahl said.
In addition, general aviation pilots from Florida will stop at LRO to refuel and pick up relief supplies for transport.
Operation Airdrop is a Texas nonprofit formed after 2017’s Hurricane Harvey. The organization coordinates volunteer aircraft owners and pilots to deliver essential supplies to disaster areas.
Mount Pleasant Regional Airport, which is owned and operated by the Charleston County Aviation Authority, will serve as a drop off location for items the pilots will deliver. The airport is open for donations from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Hangar space has been donated to store relief supplies.
“It is with great pride that LRO join in the effort to help fellow South Carolinians as well as our neighbors in North Carolina,” said Paul G. Campbell Jr., executive director and CEO of the Aviation Authority.