Ships and aircraft assigned to Florida Navy installations in the path of Tropical Storm Idalia will start sortieing today in preparation for the storm’s landfall.
Idalia is heading north from the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to turn east and cross over Florida and Georgia in the vicinity of Naval Station Mayport, Fla., and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., on Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service.
“Currently the forecast for Tropical Storm Idalia remains uncertain, however personnel from Pensacola to Jacksonville to Kings Bay, Ga. are preparing for its arrival and will work to keep our personnel, assets and installations informed and safe,” U.S. 4th Fleet commander Rear Adm. Jim Aiken said in a statement.
The tropical storm, as of Monday afternoon, was about 50 miles off the west coast of Cuba. The storm is expected to grow to a category 3 hurricane ahead of landfall in northern Florida.
In anticipation of the high winds, ships and aircraft will depart or hunker down. Littoral Combat Ship USS Cooperstown (LCS-23) will be the first ship from Naval Station Mayport, Fla., according to a release from U.S. 4th Fleet.
“Ships will begin departures from Naval Air Station Mayport today and tomorrow or complete heavy weather mooring if required to stay in port. Aircraft will initiate evacuations from area airfields or be secured in hangars rated to withstand hurricane force winds,” reads the statement.
“Rear Adm. Jim Aiken set the ships’ sortie condition as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of significant damage to ships, aircraft and piers during potential high winds and/or seas.”
Florida bases are open with non-essential services expected to close by Tuesday afternoon, according to the statement.
Ships and aircraft from the region sortied in late September ahead of landfall of Hurricane Ian.
The following is the complete statement from U.S. 4th Fleet.
Florida U.S. Navy bases prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storm Idalia
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Navy has ordered all ships and aircraft to make preparations for the arrival of Tropical Storm Idalia.
Ships will begin departures from Naval Air Station Mayport today and tomorrow or complete heavy weather mooring if required to stay in port. Aircraft will initiate evacuations from area airfields or be secured in hangars rated to withstand hurricane force winds.
Rear Adm. Jim Aiken set the ships’ sortie condition as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of significant damage to ships, aircraft and piers during potential high winds and/or seas.
“Hurricanes and tropical storms are inevitable in Northeast Florida,” said Aiken. “We’ve planned, practiced, and reviewed prior years’ storm responses and time and time again early preparation has led to safe execution.”
The littoral combat ship, USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) was be the first ship to depart from Naval Station Mayport. The remaining ships will depart throughout today and tomorrow.
Early this morning, Captain Ian Johnson, Navy Region Southeast instructed all Navy installations in the Jacksonville area to set Hurricane Condition of Readiness Three in preparation for the storm. All bases are currently open, but are expected to close non-essential operations by Tuesday afternoon. Hurricane Condition of Readiness Three signifies that damaging winds are expected to affect the local area within 48 hours.
“Personnel safety is my top priority,” said Johnson. “Currently the forecast for Tropical Storm IDALIA remains uncertain, however personnel from Pensacola to Jacksonville to Kings Bay, Ga. are preparing for its arrival and will work to keep our personnel, assets and installations informed and safe.”
Currently Tropical Storm IDALIA is expected to strengthen to Hurricane strength within the next 24 hours.
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.
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.
