Military planes, cargo and crews take shelter from Isaac

LOUISVILLE (WATE) – As Tropical Storm Isaac prepares to make landfall, military aircrafts are pulling into McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base.

The planes, people, and millions of dollars in cargo, are taking shelter from any potential damage.

"We've been watching the storm for about a week now, trying to get a sense of where it was going to go to," said Captain Matthew Swee, stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. He was one of about a hundred people who got off planes arriving from Florida Saturday.

While they're here, they plan to continue with missions already scheduled, except staying at local hotels and eating at local restaurants.

"I haven't been here before. I've never been to Knoxville. I'm open to suggestions. I know we're looking forward to getting some good food. I hear the barbeque here is pretty good," said Capt. Swee, talking about what he plans to while they're here.

For those stationed locally, being a good host to the crews coming in means some extra effort.

"A lot of work goes into accommodating these aircrafts and trying to find these people a place to live. We need to have hot meals and an office for them to work out of," said Capt. Joseph Keith from McGhee Tyson.

Depending on what happens with the weather, more planes could touch down in the area, in the days ahead.

"It's a great boost for the local economy. It's a fantastic way to stimulate these businesses," Capt. Keith said.

While our guests are happy to be here, they're also hoping Isaac blows over quick, with little destruction, so their lives can go back to normal.

"Once the station is clear and everything is good to go at MacDill, we'll go back and pick up right where we left off," said Capt. Swee.