MAYPORT, Fla. — With hurricane season almost here, the Navy is in the midst of a two-week training course full of exercises that will protect Mayport.
Mayport has to be prepared for the worst when it comes to severe weather, which means they have to coordinate ways to get their most expensive assets such as ships and helicopters somewhere out of the direct path of a potential storm.
"I guess you can call it scary, it was stressful, because you are kind of vulnerable, and you can't control the weather," said Command Master Chief Ross Cramer.
Tropical Storm Fay in 2008 was the last time the base had to evacuate and put their Hurrex training use. Every year, the Navy trains for two weeks with exercises on what to do if a hurricane strikes.
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"We prepare all the ships to get underway to protect all the base assets how we will get all the helicopters squared away and first and foremost all of our families," said Mayport Emergency Manager Steve Millican.
Usually, those on base have 96 hours to prepare for a storm. They say that getting 20,000 sailors with their family members to a safe area away from the storm is the priority.
Knowing that this two-week training happens every year puts expectant mother Dianca Frazier at ease.
"It makes me feel comfortable and secure that the base has everyone in mind and not just the sailors," Frazier said.
Her husband is an EN1 and currently deployed at sea. Frazier said the idea of evacuating with her two daughters and 11-year-old blind dog is stressful enough.
"Just to make sure that they things that make them comfortable as well with just us ladies being here. They are going to be really scared without their dad," said Frazier.
They will wrap up their Hurrex training on Friday, but a representative for Mayport says the Navy is consistently always training for the possibility of severe weather.
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