Hurricane Michael may make landfall Wednesday afternoon as the strongest storm ever to strike Florida's panhandle, bringing winds of more than 100 miles per hour along with a storm surge that could reach 14 feet in the hardest-hit areas. Here's an update on what servicemembers and veterans in the area can expect, what regional installations have done and are doing to prepare for the storm, and what resources are available in the storm's aftermath.
Reserve ready. As of Wednesday morning, 3,500 members of the Florida National Guard had been activated to deal with the storm's effects, Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced. Another 1,500 Georgia National Guard troops are on standby, as are 150 members of the North Carolina National Guard.
On the move. Aircraft were evacuated from Tyndall AFB, Fla., on Monday in preparation for the storm, with some heading to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and others to Fort Worth Alliance Airport in Texas. Tyndall AFB has been updating its Facebook page frequently with the latest on the storm.
Shutting down. Hulburt Field, Fla., closed Tuesday evening and remained closed Wednesday as the storm approached. The installation's Facebook page remains up and running, with regular updates.
Landfall of #HurricaneMichael is imminent. THIS IS A WORST CASE SCENARIO for the Florida Panhandle!! Listen to your local emergency officials. Stay Inside & Survive!" --NWS Director Dr. Louis Uccellini @NWSDirectorpic.twitter.com/EMSZbMaHwW
- NWS (@NWS) October 10, 2018
Coast Guard watch. On Tuesday, the Coast Guard established a Hurricane Michael Incident Command in St. Petersburg, Fla. The service has tracked its preparations in the region, and also posts regular tips for those in the storm's path, on its Facebook page.
Health care updates. The VA maintains a website listing contact numbers, closures, and links to medical facilities that may be closed as a result of the storm. Veterans can get help via VA's disaster hotline (800-507-4571). TRICARE users can head here to see whether their state or county has set up emergency prescription refills; all of Alabama and many counties in Florida had done so as of Wednesday morning.
Getting help. Along with resources available to all of those affected by the storm, servicemembers and veterans can go to branch-specific relief agencies for assistance in the aftermath. Find out more here in a MOAA roundup produced in the wake of Hurricane Florence.
Stay informed. Get the latest on the storm from the National Hurricane Center. Florida residents can stay informed via the state's division of emergency management. Regular updates on the storm's progress are available through multiple National Weather Service (NWS) social media accounts, including NWS Tallahassee and NWS Mobile/Pensacola.