Aerial Photographs of the Response to Hurricane Ian Staged at the Sebring International Raceway

Entirely by accident I had the opportunity to create aerial photographs of the response to Hurricane Ian Staged at the Sebring International Raceway.

On September 26, 2022 I started training for the multi engine seaplane rating with certified flight instructor Ben Lively of Lockwood Aviation in the Air Cam at the Sebring Regional Airport (KSEF). The Air Cam was originally developed by Phil Lockwood to fly photo missions in the Ndoki Rain Forest in the northern Congo Basin.

The FAA check ride was scheduled for September 29 Jon Brown at the Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base in Winter Haven, Florida. Hurricane Ian was approaching, however, with landfall forecast for on the evening before the check ride. The hurricane, the fifth most powerful to hit the United States, ultimately made landfall south of Sebring, but did damage Sebring. Among the casualties was a Piper Warrior that was tied down at KSEF. A tornado caused by the hurricane pulled the tie downs and aircraft from the tarmac and tossed it on its back.

Once the weather passed, visibility was outstanding. Ben and I began training again on Friday and by Saturday I noticed the massive response by utility services vehicles being staged at the Sebring International Raceway. I began taking aerial photographs of the response to Hurricane Ian staged at the raceway from the Air Cam on the afternoon of September 30.

Equipment being staged from the Raceway included Duke Energy utility trucks to help restore power and equipment provided by the US Army Corp of Engineers.

Jon Brown rescheduled the check ride for Sunday, October 2 despite the fact that it was a weekend and power was still out at Winter Haven. Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base is a world renowned seaplane training base that has certified more than 22,000 seaplane pilots in the 57 years since Jon’s father, Jack founded the base.

Flying the Air Cam back from Winter Haven after the check ride I documented some of the aftermath of the hurricane from the air, including extensive flooding even in Florida’s inland areas.

When I returned to KSEF in the middle of the afternoon on October 2, most of the equipment being staged out of Sebring International Raceway was still in the field. Most of it returned to the Raceway every evening in a massive procession.

Please use these links to view additional related photography:

Aerial Photographs of the Sebring International Raceway

Aerial Photographs of Airports

Aerial Photographs of Florida

Photographs of the Lockwood Air Cam