DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. & KEY WEST, Fla. — Due to the overwhelming volume of donated relief supplies exceeding flight capacities, Project DYNAMO has updated Operation Cool Runnings logistics to include multiple aircraft and was forced to change departure locations.
The rescue team and aircraft fleet will now stage through Daytona Beach International Airport and Key West International Airport before establishing sustained air-bridge operations between Key West and Jamaica.
A portion of the Project DYNAMO rescue team will meet the aircraft and pilots at Daytona Beach with initial supplies for loading. Additional team members are simultaneously transporting more than 3,000 lbs of critical aid (MREs, water purification systems, medical kits, and hygiene items) via ground convoy to Key West, where the balance will be loaded across multiple aircraft flights.
Operations will be based out of Jamaica and Key West, conducting repeated shuttle missions: delivering supplies from Key West into Jamaica and evacuating stranded Americans out to Key West for onward travel home.
MEDIA AVAILABILITIES: Oct. 30, 2025
9 a.m. Daytona Beach International Airport
WHO: Project DYNAMO rescue team members, pilots and crew
WHAT: Arrival of team and initial supplies; multiple aircraft loading; interviews with team members
WHEN: 9:00 a.m. ET, Thursday
WHERE: Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) – General Aviation ramp (media staging area TBD)
WHY: Visualize first wave of personnel and relief goods staging for Jamaica deployment
1 p.m. Key West International Airport
WHO: Full Project DYNAMO aircrew, ground convoy arriving with 3,000+ lbs of additional supplies, rescue team leaders
WHAT: Final loading of multiple aircraft across multiple flights; pre-departure brief and interviews; visual of sustained air-bridge launch
WHEN: 1:00 p.m. ET, Thursday
WHERE: Key West International Airport (EYW) – General Aviation area (media staging area TBD)
WHY: Showcase scale of donor support and multi-aircraft logistics required to move aid into Jamaica
NOTE: The original departure from Zephyrhills Municipal Airport has been relocated to accommodate the volume of supplies and optimize flight routing. Deployment utilizes multiple aircraft to accelerate relief delivery and evacuations.
Those in need of rescue or with loved ones stranded in Jamaica: projectdynamo.net/global-evacuation-request
Donations: projectdynamo.net
Volunteer (veterans/first responders): projectdynamo.net/volunteer
Bulk supply donations: info@projectdynamo.net
Project DYNAMO is a veteran-led, donor-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to rescuing Americans and allies in conflict zones and disaster areas worldwide.
For more information, visit projectdynamo.net.
Also of note, the U.S. Department of State has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team in the region and activated the Los Angeles and Fairfax Urban Search and Rescue teams with 60-70 personnel. U.S. citizens in need of emergency consular assistance abroad due to Hurricane Melissa should call the U.S. State Department at 1-888-407-4747 or from overseas +1 202-501-4444.
Founded during the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan in 2021, Project DYNAMO is an international search, rescue, aid and assistance 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Florida with worldwide operations. The primary objective of Project DYNAMO is to provide assistance to those impacted in disaster areas and conflict zones throughout the world. Notably, Project DYNAMO conducted the first air-rescue missions from Afghanistan after the Taliban took control, and has negotiated the release and exfiltrated numerous Americans from captivity and false imprisonment.
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