Coast Guard to evacuate Training Center Cape May

Last Updated on Sunday, October 28, 2012 05:55 pm Written by Staff Reports Sunday, October 28, 2012 03:05 pm

CAPE MAY  – Coast Guard officials are preparing to evacuate its only enlisted basic training center in preparation for Tropical Storm Sandy Sunday. 

Staff at Training Center Cape May will evacuate more than 270 recruits to a designated safe haven at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst where the recruits will continue with their training schedule. Training Center Cape May will also be closed to all non-essential personnel beginning Sunday at 6 p.m.

“Our primary concerns are to ensure the safety of our recruits, Coast Guardsmen and their families and to minimize the impact this storm will have on the training process,” said Capt. Bill Kelly, the commanding officer of Training Center Cape May.

More than 1,000 Coast Guardsmen and their families will also be complying with a county evacuation order in preparation for Sandy. Local Coast Guard leaders met with Coast Guardsmen and their families during a town hall meeting Saturday at 10 a.m.

The 14 tenant commands located aboard Training Center Cape May will also be evacuating. Those operational units like Station Cape May or Aids to Navigation Team Cape May will be prepositioning outside the storm’s path for post-storm rescue and recovery operations.

Officials have postponed the reporting dates for more than 50 applicants scheduled to report for basic training Tuesday evening. Those applicants have been instructed to contact their recruiter for a new reporting date in the coming weeks.

Coast Guardsmen, their families, and friends and families of recruits can find updates and information by clicking here or visiting http://www.uscgnews.com/go/doctype/4007/117335. People can also get up-to-date information about the status of the training center, recruits and evacuation at www.facebook.com/uscoastguardbootcamp. They may also contact Training Center Cape May’s Incident Command Post at 609-898-6500.