Hurricane Idalia is set to hit Florida Wednesday, potentially harder than any storm has ever hit the area. MacDill Air Force Base evacuated its fleet of KC-135 refueling jets and other aircraft, along with most non-essential military and civilian personnel, according to Stars and Stripes. Other installations in Florida and Georgia were also taking precautions based on the storm’s trajectory as of late Tuesday. Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has activated about 5,500 Florida National Guard members to help with preparation and quick response….

Joint Task Force-Red Hill in Hawaii is reaching a new milestone in defueling the storage facility that contaminated the water source there. “We’ve completed all the preparation and coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency and Hawaii Department of Health,” said Vice Adm. John Wade, JTF-RH commander. “We’re ready to put those plans into action and start the repacking process, which is a key event that will ultimately set the conditions for the defueling of Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.”

Air National Guard photo by Sgt. Elizabeth Strople