To the families and friends of recruits at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and the Eastern Recruiting Region, as well as our permanent personnel:

You may have heard various pieces of information regarding Hurricane Florence and the potential impact to MCRD Parris Island and the surrounding area. Rest assured, the leadership of MCRD Parris Island has been engaged early and often to ensure that everyone in our charge is safe. We are preparing in the event that we need to evacuate, but that determination has not been made at this time. We are working very closely with State and County officials to make the best decision possible and we appreciate your patience. If the decision is made to evacuate, we will be ready.

Here are some of the actions we've taken to date and additional information of interest: We launched the quartering party (a team designed to prepare for a larger group) of Task Force Albany at approximately 2:00 p.m. today to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, GA. Task Force Albany will move out to MCLB Albany tomorrow morning. Personnel stationed at MCLB Albany are already preparing living spaces for our arrival in the event a decision to evacuate is made, and their efforts coupled with the work of the quartering party will make sure that our recruits and their assigned staff will have a safe, prepared area to live and train during Hurricane Florence and as long as necessary afterward for follow-on actions when the storm has passed if that is required. Again, there has been no decision to evacuate at this time - we will keep you informed.

Our next meeting is mid-morning tomorrow. Your recruits are in good hands, and we will keep them safe. To MRCD PI and ERR personnel not involved in recruit training - use this time to continue conducting appropriate preparations should we need to evacuate. Make your plan, know your evacuation routes and get the supplies you may need. Please continue to check this page for further updates and remain calm.

Semper Fidelis,

MCRD Parris Island