It was supposed to be an airborne operation as critical supplies for residents stranded on Florida’s Pine Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian were to be dropped by volunteer general aviation pilots operating out of Naples Airport (KAPF).
But the overwhelming amount of donations led organizers at the airport to use a different form of transportation: Boats.
“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community, which itself is still recovering from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Ian,” said Naples Airport Authority Executive Director Chris Rozansky “In one day the community came together and collected over 15 pallets of critically needed food, water, cleaning supplies, and more for the people of Pine Island.”
Due to the tremendous response, the decision was made to take the supplies by boat rather than aircraft.