Military taking precautions as Hurricane Dennis approaches

  • Published
  • By Jim Garamone
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Hurricane Dennis is bearing down on the United States, and servicemembers -- like others in the path of this Category 4 storm -- are taking precautions.

The storm, which is moving toward the Florida Keys, has sustained winds of more than 140 miles per hour and could strengthen, said officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

If the storm continues its current track, it would hit somewhere along the Florida-Alabama-Mississippi coast sometime July 10, officials said.

Air Force officials said Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is being evacuated. Also affected are Hurlburt Field, Duke Field and Tyndall AFB in Florida, and Keesler AFB, Miss. Officials have also ordered planes off Naval Air Station New Orleans.

The Navy is evacuating facilities in Pensacola and Key West, Fla. Aircraft from the facilities will evacuate to Millington, Tenn., Randolph AFB, Texas, and Little Rock AFB, Ark.

The Navy will move ships from Pascagoula, Miss., and New Orleans.

National Guard troops in Florida have been alerted to "fight" on two fronts: Key West and Pensacola. Guardsmen in the Miami area have been alerted to go to Key West if needed June 9 as Dennis passes. Others in the state stand ready if Dennis keeps on its current path.

"It's important for the people of Florida to know the citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the Florida National Guard are prepared to respond to Hurricane Dennis as assigned by the Florida Division of Emergency Management," said Maj. Gen. Douglas Burnett, Florida's adjutant general.

Officials said the guardsmen are ready. Four hurricanes hit the state last year, with about 6,000 of the total 8,000 guardsmen responding.

Guardsmen in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia also have been put on alert.

If the storm is too much for one state's assets to handle, troops from other states can help under a process known as Emergency Management Assistance Compacts, officials said.