Protecting Critical Infrastructure at Tampa International Airport
Customer
Tampa International Airport is a major transportation hub and a critical part of the region’s infrastructure. The airport also functions as an emergency response airport, making operational continuity before and after major storms essential.
“The airport functions as an emergency response airport. We need to make sure that airport operations remain open and operational pre-hurricane as well as post-hurricane.”
Dan Seeley, Construction Director, Tampa International Airport
Challenge
During Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, Tampa International Airport remained operational and never lost power. However, airport staff observed water approaching the west runway at levels higher than they had previously experienced.
The events prompted the airport to take a closer look at the resilience of its critical infrastructure.
“That kind of opened our eyes to say, ‘We need to take a hard look at all of our infrastructure to make sure that we’re ready for the next storm.’”
Dan Seeley, Construction Director, Tampa International Airport
Among the airport’s highest priorities were electrical vaults containing approximately $50 million in equipment. The vaults are susceptible to flooding from a Category 3 hurricane or higher and provide power to critical airport systems.
A flood event affecting the vaults could significantly disrupt daily operations, with replacement of the electrical equipment potentially taking months or years.
Solution
Tampa International Airport invested in a custom-engineered AquaFence system to protect the critical electrical vaults from flooding.
At 9 feet high, the system uses AquaFence’s largest barrier size and was selected with long-term resilience in mind.
“We’re building for the future. We want to make sure that what we put in now for our infrastructure is good for the next five, 10, 15, 20 years.”
Dan Seeley, Construction Director, Tampa International Airport
The deployable system consists of interconnected panels anchored to the ground and supported by wind straps for stability during high winds. The system is stored in crates when not required and deployed when flood conditions threaten the site.
The airport also installed a drainage system around the electrical vaults to manage heavy rainfall within the protected area.
Collaboration
Every AquaFence system is custom-engineered according to the conditions and requirements of the individual site.
For Tampa International Airport, the solution was designed around the electrical vaults and the level of protection required, combining a 9-foot flood barrier with site-specific anchoring and wind protection.
Prior to the installation of AquaFence, the airport relied on sandbags to protect the vaults. The new system provides a purpose-engineered flood protection solution designed specifically for the infrastructure and conditions at the site.
Result
With AquaFence in place, Tampa International Airport has strengthened the flood protection of infrastructure considered critical to maintaining airport operations.
The electrical vaults were the first assets on the airport’s list of critical infrastructure to receive additional protection as part of its broader approach to storm resilience and infrastructure hardening.
The project represents a long-term investment in resilience, helping protect critical infrastructure while supporting the airport’s ability to remain operational and begin recovery following a major flood event.
In the media:
