NORFOLK, Va. — The Navy is preparing its sailors for what they should do in the event of a hurricane.
It's an annual two-week hurricane preparedness, disaster response, and recovery effort sponsored by U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, Navy Installations Command called "Hurricane Exercise/Citadel Gale 2024."
The idea is to prepare for weather threats to U.S. coastal regions and to maintain the ability to deploy forces under adverse weather conditions.
Fleet Weather Center Norfolk serves as the exercise hub. The center's 280 meteorologists and aerographer mates go through the exact same steps they would if this were the real thing.
"The big takeaway is practice makes better," said Lieutenant Jesse Suggs, Fleet Weather Center Norfolk Tropical Operations Officer.
Personnel work around the clock, in shifts, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Among their critical responsibilities: protecting the ships already at sea and advising the U.S. Fleet Forces admiral if the conditions warrant a sortie of the 68 ships based in Hampton Roads.
It's all about being ready, just in case.
"A lot of the anxieties can be alleviated knowing that you do have a plan," said Suggs.
The first week of the drill simulates a storm system developing along U.S. Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico and to work with fleet and shore commands on heavy weather response procedures and the inevitability of the storm's impact.
The second week shifts focus to recovery from a severe weather event.
It could be a busy hurricane season for the Navy team.
Colorado State University's tropical meteorology project team is forecasting 23 named storms, 11 of which will become hurricanes. They predict five of them will reach Category 3 status or stronger.