The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hurricane Hunters are making Lakeland Linder Regional Airport their new home.

  • Hurricane Hunters leaving MacDill Air Force Base
  • Construction underway on new facilities
  • NOAA expected to occupy new buildings May 1, 2017

The city of Lakeland and NOAA signed the agreement Wednesday, according Airport Director Gene Conrad. Demolition work has already begun.

"Many, many months, many sleepless nights of hard work trying to get here," Conrad said. "We're just fortunate and honored to be the new home for NOAA and their operations center."

NOAA said it chose Lakeland because the city's proposal met its needs at the lowest offered cost.

"I'm beyond thrilled," Lakeland City Manager Tony Delgado said. "I'm ecstatic to be able to welcome our new partners, NOAA, to our community."

The deal means the Hurricane Hunters will stay in the Bay area for at least another decade. The location keeps them close to where the storms they are named after tend to form.

"We're very happy, but the work is only beginning," Capt. Michael Silah said. "We have a very short timeline. Construction is going to be very challenging for our people, as well as the airport."

Lakeland officials have been working to move the Hurricane Hunters to Lakeland since February. That's when they heard the group had to leave MacDill Air Force Base.

According to the lease agreement, NOAA will lease office and hangar space for about $12.7 million over 10 years. That pays for housing nine aircraft — including its planes used to hunt hurricanes.

It also covers office space for 110 staff members. The additional jobs, city officials project, will boost the local economy.

"Hopefully some of those folks will come here and buy homes here and their kids will attend school here," Conrad said. "When they come to work every day, they're going to come to our restaurants and shop in our stores."

It's a rare opportunity that Conrad hopes will entice commercial airliners to move to the Lakeland area next.

NOAA is expected to be moved in and operating at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport by May 1, just in time for the start of next year's hurricane season (the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30).

(Stephanie Claytor, staff)