Roanoke airport accepting donations for TSA as partial shutdown continues
ROANOKE - As spring break travel gets underway and employees of the Transportation Security Administration go without a paycheck, Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport has largely avoided issues plaguing airports across the country.
Although the situation is fluid and could change, the airport has not seen long lines or wait times as a result of the partial government shutdown, Alexa Briehl, public relations manager for the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission, said Wednesday.
The airport has also not heard anything about having to close, after acting TSA Deputy Administrator Adam Strahl told Fox News on Tuesday that smaller airports may have to shut down if the partial government shutdown continues and TSA call-out rates increase.
"We have not gotten any word about that, so it's business as usual," Briehl said. "And it's just amazing how dedicated these agents are that we haven't had impacts."
Travelers roll their suitcases outside Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport in December.
The shutdown, which affects funding for the Department of Homeland Security, has lasted more than four weeks. Unlike the 43-day government shutdown last fall, this partial shutdown does not affect the Federal Aviation Administration or its air traffic controllers.
But it does impact TSA employees. They went without their first full paycheck on Friday, March 13, after some received partial paychecks during the previous pay period.
In late February, the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission reopened its Care Cupboard, which provides non-perishable food, toiletries and household items to the airport's TSA employees.
Donations to the cupboard can be made by appointment or at the cupboard itself, across from the airport's Door 4. The commission would appreciate donations of any applicable items, Briehl said, though children's products, like wipes and shower products, have been highly requested. Gift cards, especially for grocery stores like Kroger, she added, are also useful because they can be used to pay for fuel.
"After all, these folks have to pay to come work here," Briehl said. "So cards are great, and we can make sure they get in the right hands or use them to stock up the Care Cupboard."
Although the partial shutdown hasn't affected the airport's wait times so far, Briehl still suggested passengers arrive early throughout the spring break travel period, from March through to around Easter. Arriving at the airport two hours in advance is best practice, she said.
"I recommend, if you're flying out on one of those first flights, anywhere from 5 to 7 a.m., give yourself about two hours if you're checking a bag," Briehl said. "If you're not, you can cut that down a bit."
The airport also has its eye on a Global Entry enrollment event planned for March 26 to 28. The event, which would allow conditionally-approved Global Entry applicants to complete their in-person interview requirement at the airport, has been booked out since early-February.
Homeland Security temporarily suspended the program in late February but reinstated it March 11.
"We're waiting to hear if that will still happen," Briehl said. "We're hopeful that it will."
Alexia Partouche (540) 981-3116 alexia.partouche@roanoke.com
