EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Team Eglin remains in HURCON 3.
Mission essential personnel will report for normal duty Tuesday, Oct. 9 to finish base hurricane preparations and provide essential services. Eglin will remain mission essential only Wednesday Oct. 10.
Non-essential civilian personnel will be placed on administrative leave unless directed by management to fulfill safety, national security functions or to conduct orderly shutdown of operations.
Bargaining unit employees who are currently in leave status will be changed to administrative leave status. Non-bargaining unit employees and NAF employees who are currently in leave status will remain in leave status.
Hurricane Michael continues to move north at nine miles per hour as it makes its way into the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 70 knots (80 mph). It is forecast to increase to a major (Category 3) hurricane by early Wednesday morning and will make landfall on Wednesday afternoon near Panama City around 1 p.m. Current forecast winds for Eglin continues to be at a sustained 60 knots (70 mph) with gusts up to 65 knots (75 mph).
Eglin could start seeing tropical storm force winds as early as late Tuesday night, but will most likely start Wednesday morning. As the system nears the Florida Panhandle, impacts to Eglin will be high winds, localized heavy rainfall that can result in flooding, and the potential for isolated tornadoes.
Forecast rainfall for Eglin is two to four inches. Potential storm surge for Santa Rosa Island and Eglin remain at two to four feet.
All personnel should continue to monitor the Eglin website and Team Eglin Facebook page for updates, resumption of base operations, and updates on medical services that may be available during the storm.