Naval District Washington is participating in the U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, Navy Installation Command annual hurricane preparedness exercise, HURREX/Citadel Gale 2016, which will run May 9-20.

HURREX-CG is conducted annually to provide afloat and shore-based commands the opportunity to exercise hurricane preparedness and installation restoration plans prior to the hurricane season.

"Emergency response is a skill, and like all skills, needs to be practiced," said NDW Operations Planner Thomas Davy. "While we are preparing for a potential hurricane (hurricane season is from 1 June to 30 Nov.), every emergency drill/exercise improves our ability to prepare, respond and recover from any future disaster. Under the 'All Hazards Approach,' there is significant overlap in emergency response actions for many events. The ability to shelter-in-place or evacuate will give most people sufficient skills to safeguard their families and themselves in most emergencies."

This year's exercise will put the emergency management assets to test with two tropical cyclones developing and intensifying to hurricane strength, threatening the U.S. east coast and Gulf of Mexico coastal regions.

"The NDW crisis management organization is led by the commandant, who is supported by about 120 professionals in the many areas including emergency management, IT and communications, safety, law enforcement, logistics, engineering, counseling, and training," said Davy. "Most of us only work together during exercises and events, so we will spend as much time becoming shipmates as practicing. While there, we don't have any 'problem' areas. We are always looking for ways to improve our processes."

For exercise preparation, regional commanders, senior officers present afloat, and SOPA administrators will review disaster preparedness plans and conduct individual and team training. Regional commanders will also conduct pre-exercise and pre-tropical cyclone season discussions with disaster preparedness officers of subordinate commands to address exercise scenarios, emergency plans and recovery efforts.

This year's exercise will put the emergency management assets to test with two tropical cyclones developing and intensifying to hurricane strength threatening the U.S. east coast and Gulf of Mexico coastal regions.

Davy added that at the regional level, the most important skill sets are command, control, and communications and supporting the installations and their commanding officers.

With the hurricane season starting June 1, NDW emergency managers recommend registering with the Wide Area Alert Network. The WAAN is one of the principal tools the region commander and installation commanding officers utilize to alert the workforce to destructive weather hazards, emergencies, severe traffic conditions, force protection condition changes, etc., both during and after working hours.

"The WAAN may be used to inform you of emergencies and how to respond to them (e.g. the Navy Yard shooter or in this case a hurricane), office closure due to weather or facility's issues, or other significant events happening or predicted within NDW," said Davy. "WAAN messages, especially after hours, are used to keep you apprised of significant events affecting your work life and safety. Disclosure of personal POCs is required for military and key civilians, and voluntary for non-key civilians."

Davy also explained that everyone should be able to shelter-in-place at home with at least three days of food, water, medical needs, and additional resources for your children and pets.

"Additionally, everyone should have a 'go bag' to grab in a hasty evacuation, e.g. fire. Details are available at http://www.ready.navy.mil/," said Davy.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.
For more news from Naval District Washington, visit http://www.navy.mil/.

For more news from Naval District Washington, visit http://www.navy.mil/.