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Navy Preparing To Shelter Military Evacuees

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050909-18
Release Date: 9/9/2005 3:51:00 PM

From Commander, Navy Installations Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy housing offices across the country are preparing to shelter military members and families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

According to Alan Bergo, director of Navy Housing at Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNI) headquarters, Navy installations and regions have identified open bachelor and family housing at bases around the U.S. that could be used to house single military members or families who evacuated because of the hurricane.

In addition to the almost 3,000 Visitors Quarters rooms available for short-term use, nearly 5,000 bachelor housing rooms and approximately 4,400 family housing units have been identified for possible use to house evacuees from Katrina. All Navy housing managers across the nation have identified their capacity to take displaced personnel.

Because a DoD-wide “safe haven” policy has been extended throughout the U.S., military families may have re-located to be near relatives.

The housing is not being restricted only to Sailors and their families. Bergo said that members of the other services, including the U.S. Coast Guard, would be helped. “If they are a [member of a] U.S. uniformed service, we will help,” said Bergo.

According Commander, Navy Installations Command Rear. Adm. Christopher Weaver, several families are already placed in housing units in Pensacola, Fla., which were not affected by Katrina. And many families in Gulfport, Miss., are now able to move back into their homes as well.

"Around 700 or so displaced Sailors and families have gone to Pensacola, and they're being taken care of there in bachelor quarters and housing," said Weaver.

"Interestly, at Gulfport, Miss., providence was smiling on us, because most of the housing at Gulfport was not affeced. So even though electricity is not completely back, many residents have moved back into their homes in Gulfport."

Displaced military members and families who need housing should contact the housing office near where they have re-located, or call 1-877-689-2722.