NAS Meridian to participate in hurricane preparation exercise

Published 2:45 pm Monday, April 23, 2018

NORFOLK, Va. – Naval Air Station Meridian is among Navy installations scheduled participate April 24-May 11 in a natural disaster preparedness exercise.

U.S. Fleet Forces Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, and Commander, Navy Installations Command based in Washington, D.C., are conducting the  exercise, Hurricane Exercise/Citadel Gale 2018 (HURREX/CG 18).

NAS Meridian personnel will also work with outside agencies such as Lauderdale Emergency Managment Agency, American Red Cross and other bases such as Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport, according to a news release.

“Training conducted during the exercise allows NAS Meridian and its tenants commands to be confident we are prepared to address the ramifications that come with severe weather conditions,” NAS Commanding Officer Capt. Brian Horstman said in a statement. “NAS Meridian personnel will use this training event to maintain our prescribed level of readiness and determine if there are any departments or procedures needing improvement should we have to respond to a natural disaster.”

Base personnel and visitors should expect increased preparedness measures and longer wait time at station entries.

HURREX/CG 18 will involve a simulated storm system developing and intensifying to hurricane strength, threatening the East Coast regions.