Mount Pleasant Regional Airport a hub for hurricane relief

Retired Air Force Col. Julie Grundahl is spearheading the relief effort along with local volunteer pilots and community help. She is also a flight instructor for Mount Pleasant Flight Training.

“We will fly a couple of times a day to small general aviation airports as long as there is a need,” Grundahl said.

In addition, general aviation pilots from Florida will stop at LRO to refuel and pick up relief supplies for transport.

Operation Airdrop is a Texas nonprofit formed after 2017’s Hurricane Harvey. The organization coordinates volunteer aircraft owners and pilots to deliver essential supplies to disaster areas quickly. Grundahl called in help from people she knows. Mount Pleasant town councilman and local pilot Joe Bustos, who owns Mount Pleasant Flight Training, and pilots Sebastian Castro and Mike Zimmer are helping.

Mount Pleasant Regional Airport will serve as a drop off location for items the pilots will deliver. The airport is open for donations from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Hangar space has been donated to store relief supplies.

The relief effort will accept the following items: baby items like diapers, clean and useable clothing, batteries, toiletries, dry food goods, non-perishable food and bleach. Due to its weight, the pilots, who are flying small general aviation planes, cannot transport bottled water. Donations are tax deductible.

Mount Pleasant Regional Airport is owned and operated by the Charleston County Aviation Authority, which also owns and operates Charleston International Airport.