JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. —
The Joint Base Charleston installation commander put the base on Hurricane Condition III alert status at 10 a.m. Sept. 11, 2018, due to weather conditions projected by the approaching hurricane.
Hurricane Condition III is in effect based off of precautions announced by the Governor’s office.
A limited evacuation order (LEO) was given Sept. 10, 2018, at 6 p.m. by Col. Terrence Adams, 628th Air Base Wing and Joint Base Charleston commander. The commander has ordered JB Charleston personnel and families to evacuate beginning 6 p.m., Sept. 10.
“The safety of our service members and their families is our priority,” said Adams. “Due to potential complications associated with high tides, flooding, and tropical storms, the LEO is in effect and JB Charleston members are in the process of evacuating. We want to remind everyone to ensure you are in contact with your chain of command for questions concerning your evacuation plan.”
JB Charleston will continue precautionary preparations to secure property that may be exposed to storm conditions and implement the evacuation of non-essential personnel and their families during HURCON III. The base is evacuating 24 C-17 aircraft to safe haven locations at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, MidAmerica Airport, Illinois and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
All personnel should contact their duty sections for further instructions and information on transportation for individuals who do not have a personal vehicle. Those evacuating should follow their approved hurricane readiness plan. All military personnel and DOD civilians are authorized to evacuate and are not authorized to stay in local shelters during the storm. Stay tuned to local television and radio stations for instructions and hurricane information. Follow local guidelines for routes to leave the area.
The 628th Medical Group and Naval Health Clinic Charleston are closed until further notice.
Starting at the time of the LEO, service members’ use of their Government Travel Card is authorized. The 628th Comptroller Squadron finance office will be open to provide cash advances for any service members without a GTC and dependents whose spouse is deployed or on temporary duty from 4 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11.
Please follow @JBCharlestonFSS on Facebook and www.jbcharleston.com for planned closing and re-opening hours of 628th Force Support Squadron facilities.
Each respective service has a hotline where family members can obtain information on military members who have evacuated affected areas. The number for Air Force personnel is: 1-800-435-9941; Navy personnel 1-800-946-9183; for Army personnel: 1-800-833-6622.
All Air Force personnel are reminded to update their personal information at the Air Force Personnel Accountability and assessment System at https://afpaas.af.mil
Navy personnel should update the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System at https://navyfamily.navy.mil.
All Army personnel are reminded to update their personal information at the Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System at https://adpaas.army.mil
Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel should reach out to their chain of command on accountability reporting instructions.
For up to date hurricane condition information, service members and base residents can go to https://www.facebook.com/TeamCharleston/ or http://www.jbcharleston.jb.mil/.
Members of JB Charleston can access the official LEO at http://www.jbcharleston.jb.mil/
Useful resources:
2018 South Carolina Hurricane Guide is available for download on SC Emergency Management Division's website at www.scemd.org.
National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Ready.gov: http://www.ready.gov
For more information, please call the Public Affairs office at (843) 963-1759.