2nd Fleet sets Sortie Condition Alpha for ships/aircraft; Installations Continue Preparations for Hurricane Dorian
04 September 2019
NORFOLK, Va. -- Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet set Sortie Condition Alpha late today. It is anticipated that Hampton Roads-based ships and aircraft will begin to get underway tomorrow as Hurricane Dorian is forecasted to bring high winds and heavy rain to the Mid-Atlantic coast.
“Based on the current track of the storm, we made the decision to begin to sortie our Hampton Roads-based ships and aircraft tomorrow,” said Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis, Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. “This allows time for our assets to transit safely out of the path of the storm.”
Ships will sortie from Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek. The ships will remain at sea until the threat from the storm subsides. Aircraft will be secured in hangars that are rated to withstand wind greater than anticipated onboard Naval Station Norfolk’s Chambers Field and Naval Air Station Oceana, while others will be flown to alternate airfields to avoid the effects of the storm.
Ships unable to get underway will take extra precautions to avoid potential damage. Commanding officers have a number of options when staying in port, depending on the severity of the weather. Some of these options include adding additional mooring and storm lines, dropping the anchor and disconnecting shore power cables.
Rear Adm. Charles W. Rock, commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA) ordered Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness (TCCOR) Three (III) for Hampton Roads and Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness (TCCOR) Two (II) for naval units/activities in the state of North Carolina at or east of the Raleigh-Durham metro area earlier today.
“Beginning in April, Navy personnel began training and preparing for scenarios associated with potential hurricanes,” said Rock. “Our Mid-Atlantic team has been working diligently to provide support to both our military and civilian personnel, as well as their families, to ensure their safety during this very stressful time. It is equally important that we are able to recover as quickly as possible after the storm passes to support the fleet when they return.”
Preparations include sandbagging, removing hazards and debris from drainage areas, removing large items from waterfront areas, ensuring emergency generators and vehicles are topped off with fuel, and filling and preparing potable water supplies.
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.
“It is important that our Navy families are informed of all resources available to them and have a plan in the event Hurricane Dorian affects our Region,” said Rock. “Personnel should also discuss evacuation plans and reporting requirements with their chain of command.”
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.
CNRMA will continue to provide hurricane updates on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CNRMA.PAO) and Twitter (@CNRMA) as information is available. The NFAAS website is available at https://navyfamily.navy.mil.
Note to media:
Media interested in covering the ship’s sortie from Naval Station Norfolk, should contact U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs at (757) 836-6540 or email mary.c.walsh1@navy.mil.
Media interested in covering the aircraft sortie from Naval Station Norfolk, should contact Naval Air Forces Atlantic Public Affairs at (757) 836-4375 or email jennifer.cragg@navy.mil.
Media interested in covering shore preparations, should contact Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs at (757) 322-2853 or email elizabeth.m.baker1@navy.mil.
Media should meet at the Naval Station Norfolk Tour and Information Office (9079 Hampton Blvd.) tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
Sortie Conditions are as follows:
Sortie Condition Charlie: Ships must be prepared to get underway within 48 hours.
Sortie Condition Bravo: Ships must be prepared to get underway within 24 hours.
Sortie Condition Alpha: Indicates the execution of the sortie.
Tropical Cyclone Conditions are as follows:
Condition IV: Trend indicates possible destructive winds within 72 hours.
Condition III: Destructive winds are possible within 48 hours.
Condition II: Destructive winds are possible within 24 hours.
Condition I: Destructive winds are possible within 12 hours.