Naval Air Station Kingsville (NAS) Commanding Officer, Capt. Erik Spitzer, ordered the air station closed to all non-essential personnel effective at 8 p.m.

The order will remain in effect until further notice.

The base's main gate is closed and all mission-essential personnel, with the proper credentials, are directed to access the air station through the Caesar Avenue gate.

Spitzer instructed all non-essential personnel to evacuate the air station. Commander Navy Region Southeast Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar established a safe haven for the displaced personnel at the Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth.

"This storm continues to strengthen and I believe it was the prudent decision to move our non-essential personnel and their families to a safer location," Spitzer said after meeting with his executive staff Thursday afternoon.

"I spoke with Kingsville Mayor Sam Fugate and Kleberg County Judge Rudy Madrid earlier today," said Spitzer. "We are all of the same mindset that personal safety is paramount."

Nearly 30 of the T-45 aircraft assigned to Training Air Wing 2 were dispatched to Ft. Worth. The remaining planes will weather the storm in the base's hangars.

NAS Kingsville is one of two naval air stations designated for undergraduate Jet/Strike pilot training. The air station consists of more than 4,000 acres of land, including four 8,000 foot runaways, and encompasses more than 36,000 cubic miles of airspace, including five military operating areas and one warning area.

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