Last modified Thu., May 03, 2007 - 10:49 AM
Originally created Thursday, May 3, 2007

HURREX underway at NAS Jacksonville

By MC1(SW/AW) Heather Ewton, Assistant Editor

NAS Jacksonville Operations Officer Cmdr. Ted Carter (front) and NAS Jacksonville Hurricane Evacuation Officer Lt. Cmdr. Bob Strange brief aviation community leaders on procedures for destructive weather and what actions that will be taken to protect aircraft and the airfield. Photo by MC1(SW/AW) Heather Ewton

NAS Jacksonville's leaders and first responders are participating in the Atlantic Fleet Hurricane Tracking and Warning Exercise 07 (HURREX 07) which began April 23 and will continue through tomorrow in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season. The exercise is being conducted by U.S. Fleet Forces Command to provide afloat and shore-based Atlantic Fleet commands and other Department of Defense activities with the opportunity to test their disaster preparedness capabilities. One of the top-line messages of the exercise noted that training conducted during HURREX 07 will ensure that the Navy is prepared to respond to weather threats to U.S. coastal regions and maintain the ability to deploy force readiness and warfighting capabilities even under the most adverse weather conditions.

"NAS Jacksonville's force contributions are mostly air assets. The air community will look to get their aircraft safely relocated by acting on agreements already in place with other military instillations. The aircraft will be resituated and still deployable," remarked NAS Jacksonville Disaster Preparedness Officer DCC(SW/AW) Darryl Melton.

Exercise participants are being tested by three artificially constructed tropical systems that have developed and intensified to hurricane strength during the last two weeks, threatening the Caribbean Islands, U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast regions. One of the simulated storms is threatening Northeast Florida and NAS Jacksonville, prompting the command to stand up its emergency operations center (EOC) and implement its disaster preparedness plan.

Participants included in the exercise are within the Gulf of Mexico, East Coast ashore and afloat units and commands in port and underway. The area covered in the continental United States includes states from Texas, along the Gulf Coast, and up the East Coast all the way to Maine. All Navy commands with personnel in those regions or the Caribbean Islands are also required to participate in the personnel accountability phase of the exercise.

NAS Jacksonville's crisis managers are taking steps to improve their response. "We've looked at the problems we and other bases in the region experienced last year and have made efforts to address the shortfalls," said Hall. "We ask that evacuees utilize the NAS Jacksonville Hurricane Hotline to call to get information and a long-range plan to get essential missions and operational support structures up and running, so we can get people back to work and make sure the base can do its part in our national defense," stated Hall.

Another top priority of the exercise was to encourage Sailors and families to maintain awareness of potential threats specific to their area and encouraging families to develop preparedness plans.

"Many of us are on tight budgets, but you don't have to go out and throw thousands of dollars into a hurricane preparedness kit," noted NAS Jacksonville Fire Chief Randy Hall. "Take your empty milk jugs and fill them up with tap water. If you can get five or six of them filled up, you'll have 72 hours worth of drinking water set aside and it didn't cost you a dime."

There are other ways to stock up a hurricane locker without breaking the bank.

"Something that will sustain you for 72 hours does not have to be elaborate. Vienna sausages, peanut butter and crackers are all items that are non-perishable and they fit into any budget. Hurricane preparedness does not cost a lot of money only foresight. Think ahead and have a plan for your family," said Hall.

For more information on what you can do to prepare yourself for a hurricane, contact the NAS Jax Disaster Preparedness Office at (904) 542-5595. The NAS Jacksonville Hurricane Hotline is 1-800-849-6024.