On March 25, 2021, an EF-3 tornado tore through Bibb County, Alabama, leaving devastation in its wake. Many residents had never seen damage like this in their hometown. The Bibb County Airport took a major hit, with all of the hangars at the general aviation airport being destroyed and a majority of aircraft left unflyable. A small airplane was even left dangling in a nearby tree. The airport seemed like a total loss.
As a main source of revenue for operations, a severely damaged large corporate hangar and a destroyed smaller T-hangar were detrimental to the airport. To maintain eligibility for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program funding, the airport must maintain at least 10 based aircraft in the hangars. It was clear that rebuilding these facilities was an immediate priority. After assessing the damage, airport leaders concluded the larger hangar could be restored but needed a new, stronger door.
As the airport’s consultant of record and trusted partner, airport leadership looked to Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) to help them rebuild.
Luckily, GMC’s disaster recovery team was brought in to assist, having integral knowledge on how to navigate federal and state funding reimbursements. The DR team worked with Bibb County to apply for emergency grant funding through FEMA and AEMA (Alabama Emergency Management Agency) to replace the destroyed hangars with not only new, but more resilient facilities.
A self-supporting hydraulic door was added to the large hangar to protect against future wind damage. The team gained FEMA’s support and secured the funding through its Hazard Grant Mitigation Program (HGMP), which supports communities looking to protect against losses from disasters, and in advance of disasters. A new, eight-bay T-hangar replaced the existing smaller building and was funded by both FEMA programs, reimbursement of in-kind replacement, with an additional 100% of in-kind replacement estimates for hazard mitigation funding.
Working closely with Bibb County, GMC’s disaster recovery team was able to get $4 million reimbursed from FEMA for an estimated 120,000 cubic yards of debris removal.
The airport went from a total loss to the pride of the community. By collaborating with community leaders and utilizing their strengths, GMC’s disaster recovery and aviation teams were able to help not only the airport but also the surrounding community recover after a devastating event.
GMC is one of the most comprehensive multi-disciplined architecture and engineering firms in the Southeast.
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