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U.S. Navy Safeguards People, Equipment Before Gustav

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080901-07
Release Date: 9/1/2008 5:35:00 PM

From Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs

NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy made preparations in advance of Hurricane Gustav – which made landfall in New Orleans mid-morning Sept. 1 – protecting numerous Sailors, families and civilians and safeguarding critical equipment throughout the Gulf Coast region.

"Our first priority is our people, and our base personnel in the affected region worked very hard in advance of the storm to ensure our personnel got out of harm's way," said Capt. Bryan Cuny, the operations officer and battle watch captain for Commander Navy Region Southeast.

"We have procedures in place when a hurricane approaches, and we conduct exercises prior to hurricane season to make sure we are prepared."

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base and Naval Support Activity New Orleans issued evacuation orders two days before the hurricane hit. Mississippi-based units evacuated one day prior to landfall.

Other Navy installations in the region – including facilities in Florida and Texas – raised their conditions of readiness but did not issue evacuation orders.

Navy personnel and their families who evacuated or may be impacted by Hurricane Gustav can update their contact information at the Navy Family Accountability & Assessment System (NFAAS) website: https://navyfamily.navy.mil/.

"It's important that our personnel, both active duty and civilian, keep their contact information current for both themselves and their dependents," said Commander Navy Region Southeast Executive Director Bruce Cwalina.

"We need to account for all of our personnel and their families and ensure that if they need help they know where to get it."

Equipment from Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi have been relocated, including F/A-18s, E-2Cs, C-130s, which are now in Fort Worth, Texas.

"We will continue to monitor the situation very carefully," Cuny said, "and take necessary steps to ensure the safety of our people, rapidly restore mission capability and assist civil authorities if directed."

For more news from Navy Region Southeast, visit www.navy.mil/local/nrse.