JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Due to hazardous road conditions from melting snow and ice, Joint Base Charleston will open for limited operations for mission-essential related activities only beginning at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Jan. 5, 2018. Leadership from each respective organization will determine the personnel needed to return to work tomorrow for the purpose of assessing facilities and preparing the base for full operational capability when deemed safe. Personnel should contact their respective chain of command for questions regarding their mission essential status.
All emergency personnel and watch standers should also remain in contact with their chain of command for reporting instructions.
“The safety of our personnel is my priority,” said Col. Jeff Nelson, 628th Air Base Wing commander. “The roads on the installation and in the surrounding area continue to be hazardous because of icy conditions and are expected to worsen tonight and into Friday morning. Only personnel identified by their organizational leadership as mission-essential to those limited operations are to report to duty beginning tomorrow at 10 a.m., however, the safety of each of our team members is much more important than arriving at a specific time, so personnel traveling should take extra caution when driving and inform leadership if they are unable to report due to hazards on the road."
For Civilian Personnel, administrative leave is authorized with the exception of employees with mission-essential duties as identified and directed by their respective Chains of Command. Employees deemed essential are required to report to work as directed. Teleworking employees are expected to follow their approved telework agreement.
The Charleston Club will reopen tomorrow, Jan. 5, 2018 at noon to provide food options for base personnel. Additionally, the Weapons Station Navy Exchange food operations, Autoport and Student Store and the Air Base Express will open Jan. 5, 2018 and offer limited food options to customers. A food truck will also be available beginning tomorrow for students in the barracks on the Weapons Station. Unattended gas pumps will continue to be available on the installation.
The Exchanges and Commissaries will open for customers beginning on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018.
All other primary customer service-based facilities will remain CLOSED on Joint Base Charleston to include the Child Development Center and ID card offices. The Weapons Station Galley will stay open for normal hours with a limited menu.
The runways at Joint Base Charleston have been closed since yesterday when winter storm Grayson dumped up to 6-inches of snow on the airfield.
“The runways and taxiways at Joint Base Charleston remain closed today due to significant snow and ice coverage,” said Col. Jimmy Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander. “It is not possible at this time to predict when the runways will be safe to reopen. Base operations personnel are regularly monitoring runway and taxiway pavement conditions and are committed to resuming flight operations as soon as it is safe to do so.”
The 628th Medical Group will not have medical services on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018. To reschedule appointments, please call 843-963-6880 on Monday, Jan. 8, 2918. For urgent care, please call TRICARE's Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273), Option 1.
The Naval Health Clinic Charleston and Weapons Station Veteran's Affairs clinics will also stay closed through Jan. 5, 2018. Patients with appointments scheduled will be called by NHCC staff to reschedule. We encourage any patients who have not received a call from NHCC staff by Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 to call NHCC's Central Appointments Line at 843-794-6221 to reschedule. For urgent care, please call TRICARE's Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273), Option 1.
A decision on base status for Jan. 6, 2018 will be made the afternoon of Jan. 5, 2018.
For the latest information, please stay tuned to the official Joint Base Charleston Facebook page or check online at http://www.jbcharleston.jb.mil/ for news updates.