All Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield personnel—Soldiers, Army Civilians, and families—who mandatorily evacuated due to Hurricane Dorian are directed to return home.
As of 10 a.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 5, installation senior commander Maj. Gen. Antonio A. Aguto Jr. has terminated the mandatory evacuation order for Hunter Army Airfield. The order is in conjunction with state officials as they terminate the mandatory evacuations for areas east of I-95 in the coastal counties.
Evacuees who are located at a safe haven 400 miles or less away from Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield must return by the end of Friday. Evacuees who are located 401 miles or more away must return by the end of Saturday.
“Evacuees should proceed by the safest route possible,” Aguto said. “Due to the local and regional impact of Hurricane Dorian, if road or weather conditions pose an unreasonable safety risk for return within the allotted time, individual evacuees may seek approval from their chain of command for a 24 hour travel extension.”
Evacuees are advised to use caution when returning due to increased military and civilian traffic on the roads as the evacuees from the surrounding communities also return. Evacuees should not take any unnecessary risks and should contact chains of command or supervisors immediately if problems are encountered.
Hurricane Dorian hit our area with Tropical Storm winds and storm surge conditions. Power outages occurred, and crews are clearing debris on roads. At this time, all homes and buildings on Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart have power. The Hunter Commissary will reopen at noon Friday, Sept. 6, and the Post Exchange will reopen at 9 a.m. Friday. Montgomery Gate is currently operating 24 hours a day, Rio Gate will open Friday at 6 a.m., Wilson Gate will open Saturday at 6 a.m., and all gates will resume normal operating hours on Saturday.
Services are limited in the area, and evacuees should stock up on fuel, groceries, and other necessities before they return to the area.
Upon your return, mandatory evacuees will work with their chain of command or supervisor to begin the process of filing travel vouchers for reimbursement of evacuation expenses.
More information on the process will be provided. Army Community Service is also offering financial assistance for evacuees in the form of Army Emergency Relief loans. Priority will be for evacuees from mandatory evacuation areas.
Anyone who elected to evacuate from a voluntary evacuation area is not eligible for evacuation travel reimbursement. Financial assistance from ACS in the form of AER loans is available, but priority will be given evacuees from mandatory evacuation areas.
When you return to on-post housing inspect your home and call in maintenance requests to the Hunter Balfour Beatty work order hotline, 912-459-2147. Please be safe returning home and contact your chain of command or supervisor with any questions.
The Fort Stewart Emergency Operations Center remains activated as emergency response and recovery operations continue.