Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field are taking precautionary measures as Hurricane Helene approaches, with both installations moving to mission essential operations.

Eglin Air Force Base announced it will transition to a mission essential posture beginning at 6 a.m. on September 26 until further notice. The decision comes in response to potential weather conditions from Hurricane Helene.

Most operations and services at Eglin will be closed or impacted. The 96th Medical Group’s Emergency Room and inpatient services will remain open, while all other medical facilities will be closed.

Several base amenities, including the Aero Club, Outdoor Recreation, Eglin Golf Course, honor guard, child development centers, and the youth center, will also shut down.

• The base commissary, dining facility, West Gate shoppette, and both shopette gas pumps will close at 3 p.m. on September 26.

Meanwhile, Hurlburt Field’s Installation Commander has ordered the base to operate with mission essential staffing only from 6 a.m. on September 26 until 10 a.m. on September 27, 2024. Unit commanders have been given discretion to determine which functions are mission essential for their respective units.

• At Hurlburt, all civilian employees and military members not designated as mission essential are expected to delay reporting for duty until 10 a.m. on Friday, September 27. Employees are instructed to stay in contact with their chain of command.

Both bases are urging personnel to maintain close contact with their leadership for information about their status and to monitor reliable weather sources for up-to-date information about the storm.