NORFOLK, Virginia (NNS) -- The Navy issued an emergency evacuation order today for all Navy personnel and dependents in five North Carolina counties, in advance of the arrival of high winds and heavy rain expected from Hurricane Dorian.
Active-duty service members and their dependents, reservists on active duty and their dependents, Department of Defense and Department of the Navy employees, and authorized escorts for dependents or civilian employees residing in the following North Carolina counties, where mandatory evacuations have been ordered in conjunction with Hurricane Dorian:
• Hyde County (all residents including the Town of Ocracoke)
• Dare County (all residents)
• Carteret County (residents in the Town of Beaufort only)
• Currituck County (mandatory evacuation of Currituck Outer Banks)
• New Hanover County (mandatory evacuations for residents of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Figure Eight Island)
• Dare County (all residents)
• Carteret County (residents in the Town of Beaufort only)
• Currituck County (mandatory evacuation of Currituck Outer Banks)
• New Hanover County (mandatory evacuations for residents of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Figure Eight Island)
Additionally, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA) ordered all U.S. Navy units/activities in the state of North Carolina at or east of the Raleigh-Durham metro area to prepare for possible sustained destructive winds of greater than 50 knots within the next 12 hours, thereby setting Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness (TCCOR) One (I).
“The safety of our personnel and their families is our top priority,” said Rear Adm. Charles Rock, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. “Our mission is to provide support to the Fleet, Fighter and Family. Keep in mind that roadways, interstates and highways may be congested as residents travel to their respective safe haven. I ask that everyone traveling please keep safety in mind and remember to muster with their chain of command when they reach their safe haven.”
Personnel should contact local county officials to verify specific areas currently under mandatory evacuations to ensure they have the most up-to-date information prior to traveling. Reimbursement is only authorized for specific areas under mandatory evacuation.
Parent commands must determine whether the individual(s) should evacuate and should consider whether the location is covered under a disaster or emergency declaration issued by the federal or state government due to Hurricane Dorian, and whether the location being evacuated is covered under a mandatory or voluntary evacuation order issued by a competent civilian authority.
Active duty service members in Navy units may be issued Temporary Duty (TDY) or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, but are not considered in an evacuation status.
Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) claimancy evacuees are authorized to proceed within 500 miles of the designated remote safe haven area of Asheville, N.C.
Non-CNIC claimancy evacuees covered under this evacuation directive should proceed to the remote safe haven area designated by their parent chain of command.
Individuals evacuating under this authority must be issued individual orders by their parent command. Parent commands must verify that criteria is met in advance of issuing orders. Eligible personnel are reminded that they do not need to wait for individual evacuation orders before evacuating. Individual orders can be issued by the parent command once evacuees reach their respective safe haven.
Reimbursement for lodging and per diem will be at the approved rate for the designated safe haven. Costs incurred by an evacuee for travel conducted without authorization away from the designated safe haven are the sole responsibility of the evacuee. Funding for military and civilian personnel is the responsibility of the parent command. Line of accounting for dependents and any authorized escort will be provided separately. Reimbursement eligible expenses must have occurred within the specified timeframe and may not exceed the authorization provided.
All personnel and their families should review their Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) account (https://navyfamily.navy.mil) information. Personnel unable to contact their parent command may report their status through the NFAAS website or call (877) 414-05358. To assist a family during the storm, a NFAAS needs assessment module must be activated to assist the impacted personnel, document their status, and request assistance, if needed.
Personnel should visit the Ready Navy website at https://ready.navy.mil and maintain situational awareness through regular communication with their parent chain of command.