NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. – NAS Jacksonville will recall some essential personnel at noon Thursday to begin to reopen base facilities.
The airfield is also expected to reopen at that time.
Limited services will be open aboard the station at noon Thursday, including Morale, Welfare and Recreation food and beverage locations and the gym.
The Child Development Center and Youth Activities Center will remain closed until Friday.
The Commissary and Navy Exchange will reopen at 2 p.m. Thursday.
All normal operations at NAS Jacksonville will resume by noon Friday.
As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Naval Base Mayport was still doing preliminary inspections, looking for possible damage and working to restore normal operations.
For updates on base conditions, continue to monitor local media affiliates or go to https://www.facebook.com/nasjacksonville, Twitter at https://twitter.com/nasjax_?lang=en, and Instagram at www.instagram.com/nasjacksonville.
NAS Jax closed
Because of deteriorating weather forecast relating to Hurricane Dorian, the Naval Air Station Jacksonville Commanding Officer ordered the closure of NAS Jacksonville to non-essential personnel beginning at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2.
Several facilities remained open until Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 2 p.m. for hurricane relief items. These include:
- Navy Exchange Gas Station
- Navy Exchange Main Store and Home Store (Generators are available on first-come, first-serve basis)
- NAS Jax Commissary (Water is available)
- Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (Providing $600 interest-free loans to military members and their families – just show your ID card)
All NAS Jax gates and the Visitor Control Center (Pass and ID office) remained open until 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3. At that time, only the Yorktown (Main) Gate will remain open. All deliveries determined essential to the station must be met by sponsors at the gate.
Only mission essential personnel will have access to the base on Tuesday, Sept. 3 after 2 p.m. and on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Tuesday and Wednesday will be considered days of administrative leave for all civilian personnel assigned to the station.
Commander, Navy Region Southeast has issued authorization for all non-essential civilian employees and family members of active-duty military and civilian employees living in the counties/zones where city officials have issued an evacuation order (mandatory or voluntary). The safe haven designation is within 150 miles of Tallahassee. Evacuees can be reimbursed for lodging/per diem expenses within the 150-mile radius.
All military members, their families and civilians are required to check into the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) (www.navyfamily.navy.mil, phone app or call 1-877-414-5358) for accountability after the storm.
All Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities, including the Child Development Center and Youth Activities Center will be closed on Tuesday, Sept. 3 until the base is reopened.
Naval Hospital Jacksonville will be open for emergencies only. The Branch Medical/Dental Clinic and Satellite Pharmacy will be closed until the base reopens. Routine appointments and scheduled surgical procedures will be re-scheduled. As always in emergencies, personnel are asked to call 911 or go to the closest emergency room.
The base galley will maintain normal working hours and serve all military and civilians personnel who remain on station for storm support based on weather conditions.
Only mission essential Fleet Readiness Center Southeast personnel should report to work on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 3-4 based on supervisor instructions.
Once the CO has determined that the installation is safe to the extent that basic services can be provided, and the City of Jacksonville Emergency Management has cleared the major roadways for re-entry, the installation will be opened to non-essential personnel.
For updates on base conditions, continue to monitor local media affiliates or go to https://www.facebook.com/nasjacksonville, Twitter at https://twitter.com/nasjax_?lang=en, and Instagram at www.instagram.com/nasjacksonville.
Aircraft evacuated
In preparation for Hurricane Dorian, aircraft at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport have been ordered to evacuate.
As the monster hurricane threatens Florida's coast, a total of seven squadrons assigned to commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic left NAS Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport for higher and safer ground.
Capt. Teague Laguens is the commanding officer of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 40 Airwolves at Mayport.
"We are doing this as a precaution for Hurricane Dorian. We are taking this storm seriously and we want everybody (to) listen. We are going to watch the storm track and our assets will be prepped and ready to go," Laguens said.
In an effort to protect these helicopters, 60 of them are being evacuated to other bases across the country. Each helicopter costs $43 million.
While most of the 60 helicopters are going to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, 10 additional aircraft are going to Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia. Squadrons will move aircraft unable to evacuate inside hangars for the duration of Hurricane Dorian.
"I am sure there is some emotion associated with. We have maintainers, pilots and aircrew leaving their families behind with a storm bearing down on the area. In total, we have 250 folks going -- 150 aircrew and 100 maintainers," Laguens said.
