Navy Moves to Mission Essential Personnel, Evacuates Ahead of Hurricane Ian

US Navy
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Ships began departures from Naval Station Mayport yesterday. Naval Station personnel have completed heavy weather mooring for those required to stay in port. Aircraft completed all evacuations from area airfields and the rest are secured in hangars rated to withstand hurricane force winds.
Hurricane Ian Planning
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (September 28, 2022) - The Navy Region Southeast Crisis Action Team listens to the morning brief about Hurricane Ian Sept. 28. Navy Region Southeast is the largest shore management region within the U.S. Navy, providing shore support for 18 installations across the southeastern United States.(U.S. Navy photo by Jacob Sippel/Released)

Rear Adm. Wes McCall, Navy Region Southeast, instructed all Navy installations in the Jacksonville area to set Hurricane Condition of Readiness Two (COR 2) in preparation for the storm. Naval Air Station Jacksonville, NS Mayport and SB Kings Bay will be closed to non-essential personnel beginning at 4pm today. NAS Key West remains in COR 1 and remains closed to non-essential personnel.

Following the direction of civilian authorities, McCall has authorized the evacuation of non-essential active duty military, civilian employees, drilling reservists, and authorized dependents residing mandatory evacuation zones in the Florida counties of Alachua, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Flagler, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Nassau, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, and St. Johns.

Hurricane Ian Planning
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (September 28, 2022) - Rear Adm. Wes McCall, commander, Navy Region Southeast, listens to the weather brief about Hurricane Ian given by Fleet Weather Center Norfolk, Sept. 28. Navy Region Southeast is the largest shore management region within the U.S. Navy, providing shore support for 18 installations across the southeastern United States.(U.S. Navy photo by Jacob Sippel/Released)

"Do not wait for physical orders to evacuate." said McCall. "If you are covered by my authorization, evacuation orders will be issued by your parent command, and that can be done after you are safe. Evacuees covered by my authorization order are authorized reimbursement for travel, lodging, and per diem at the approved rate at the designated safe haven."

All personnel and their families should review their Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) account (https://navyfamily.navy.mil) and review hurricane checklists in the event an evacuation is deemed necessary.

Hurricane Ian Preparation
KEY WEST, Fla. (Sept. 28, 2022) - Sailors and their families check in at the Naval Air Station Key West "Fly Navy" Gateway Inns and Suites. Forecasted flooding from Hurricane Ian is anticipated later today and the installation has issued a mandatory evacuation for those the Sigsbee Park Annex housing. (US Navy photo by Danette Baso-Silvers)

Navy personnel and their families should visit the Ready Navy website at https://ready.navy.mil and follow Twitter (@ReadyNavy). Ready Navy provides information, tools and resources that empower the Navy family to more aptly prepare for, react and recover when faced with any emergency.

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