Many Navy personnel and civilian employees, and their families, have evacuated to safe havens in advance of Hurricane Florence. Some may be asking, "Now that I am safe, what is the next step?"

Military personnel and civilian employees should contact their supervisors upon safe arrival at their respective safe haven location and stay in touch on a regular basis. Letting your command know that you have arrived safely takes just minutes and it’s a big part of the overall command plan during an emergency. Additionally, keep your chain of command informed about your whereabouts during a storm or evacuation.

Establish a daily reporting routine. Some commands may require something as quick as a text message to your immediate supervisor at a pre-designated time each morning to report on your status, while others may have an assigned central phone line to contact the command. Take the time to understand what your specific command’s reporting requirements are before you evacuate.

All members of a family should have an emergency point of contact in case they cannot reach each other. A trusted relative living outside of the affected area is an excellent choice. A local point of contact should also be established. These names and phone numbers should be programmed into all family member cell phones, and written copies should be with each family member as well.

Additionally, all evacuated personnel and family members should log into the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) website upon arriving at their safe haven location to update their status. A NFAAS app is available through your mobile app store for download at no cost to all active duty personnel, family members, and DoD and NAF civilians. You can also muster at the NFAAS website at https://navyfamily.navy.mil or call (877) 414-5358.

NFAAS is used to manage and monitor your well-being during the recovery process. Sailors and families should only enter a needs assessment in NFAAS if there is an actual pressing need. The system allows families to assess their needs in 19 categories including: medical, missing family locator, transportation, housing and personal property, financial, employment, child care, education, legal services, and counseling.

Continue to monitor your command’s Facebook page for updated news. When you receive the "all clear" and are able to return back to work, contact your chain of command for reporting procedures.