Thanks to your support, multiple clubs have been able to reopen for flying after facing devastating hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. Your donations to the Programs Fund have helped ensure that recovery efforts have been swift and effective, and the Disaster Relief Grant will help many clubs in the future.
Sediment covers the field of the Chula Vista Model & RC Club in San Diego CA. Hurricane Hilary caused flooding at the field, and heavy equipment was rented to remove the mud and debris.
Included in this post are photos from some of the clubs that have been helped by the grant this year. It is currently early September 2023, and the hurricane season is just beginning.
The Flying Knights Model Aircraft Club of Selkirk NY was hit by a severe thunderstorm on July 9, 2023. In addition to destroying this canopy, trees were blown down and the road washed out because of heavy rain.
The Cape Coral R/Sea Hawks club was damaged by Hurricane Ian in September 2022. Although the Florida club is not located next to the ocean, the strong wing strung debris across the flying site and destroyed a shelter. The club's field was able to reopen within a few days of the hurricane. It plans to replace the shelter that protects pilots from the sun in October 2023.
The aftermath of Hurricane Ian at the Cape Coral R/Sea Hawks flying site in Cape Coral FL.
If your club or another club nearby is damaged by a natural disaster, please consider applying for a Disaster Relief Grant. Please also consider donating to the Programs Fund, which supports this and other worthwhile grants.
Flooding also affected the Ona RC Club in Ona WV this year. The club used its Disaster Relief Grant to replace and repair of 6 airplane starting benches, 4 sitting benches, 1 table, 1 electric blower, and the access ramp to the lawn mower storage container. The runway also needed sod replacement and some minor excavation/level rolling.
