Destructive Weather 

and Snow Condition 

Operational Procedures 

NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY 

JOINT FORCES STAFF COLLEGE 

7800 HAMPTON BOULEVARD • NORFOLK, VIRGINIA 23511-1702 

October 2012

JFSC Policy Directive 23

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COMMANDANT’S LETTER ii 

TABLE OF CONTENTS iii 

DEFINITIONS 1 

CHAPTER 1 – PROGRAM OVERVIEW 3 

 1.1.1 Purpose 3 

 1.1.2 Discussion 3 

 

CHAPTER 2 – PROCEDURES 5 

2.1.1 Action 5 

2.1.2 Faculty/Staff Evacuation 6 

2.1.3 Student Evacuation 6 

CHAPTER 3 – RESPONSIBILITIES 9 

 3.1.1 Chief of Operations (CHOPS) 9 

 3.1.2 All Personnel 9 

October 2012 -- The office responsible for this publication is the Deputy, Chief of Operations 

(DCHOPS). 

 

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DEFINITIONS 

1. Storm

 a. Thunderstorm. Usually small in area and produced by cumulonimbus clouds, it is 

always accompanied by lightning and thunder, sometimes has hailstones, and may be associated 

with a passing front. 

 b. Tornado. A tight rotary windstorm that, although small in scale, is one of the most 

violent storms known. Tornado announcements are of two kinds as follows: 

 1 Tornado Watch. Weather conditions are such that tornadoes may develop. 

 2 Tornado Warning. A tornado has actually been sighted or indicated by weather radar 

in the area. 

c. Severe Windstorm. This may be associated with a passing front with wind speeds 

increasing rapidly. Windstorms usually last longer than thunderstorms or tornadoes. 

 d. Tropical Depression. Weather associated with a tropical cyclonic system with winds of 

up to 33 knots. 

 e. Tropical Storm. Weather associated with a tropical cyclonic system with wind speeds 

between 34 and 63 knots. 

 f. Hurricane. A tropical cyclone with wind speeds of 64 knots or greater. Alert phases are 

as follows: 

1 Hurricane Watch. Hurricane may threaten local area. 

2 Hurricane Warning. Hurricane is expected to pass through the local area. 

3 Category I Hurricane. Hurricane with winds from 64 knots to 82 knots and storm 

surge of 4-5 feet above normal. 

4 Category II Hurricane. Hurricane with winds from 83 knots to 95 knots and storm 

surge of 6-8 feet above normal. 

5 Category III Hurricane. Hurricane with winds from 95 knots to 113 knots and storm 

surge of 9-12 feet above normal. 

6 Category IV Hurricane. Hurricane with winds from 114 knots to 135 knots and storm 

surge of 13-18 feet above normal. 
 7 Category V Hurricane. Hurricane with winds greater than 135 knots and storm surge 

greater than 18 feet above normal. 

 g. Local Area Destructive Wind Warning. Warning of hazardous or destructive weather 

conditions (other than of tropical origin), issued when expected winds are of sufficient force to 

warrant special precautions. Types of warnings are as follows: 

 1 Small Craft Warning. Expected winds of 18-33 knots. 

 2 Gale Warning. Expected winds of 34-47 knots. 

 3 Storm Warning. Expected winds of 48 knots or greater. 

2. Snow/Ice Condition. An expected accumulation of snow, severe winds accompanying 

snow, or ice conditions created by a combination of precipitation and subfreezing temperatures. 

3. Conditions of Readiness

 a. Small Area Storm

 1 Thunderstorm/Tornado Condition II (use applicable term). Destructive winds 

accompanying the storm are reported or expected in the area within six hours. Lightning and 

thunder are also anticipated. Take precautions that will permit achieving an appropriate state of 

readiness on short notice. 

 2 Thunderstorm/Tornado Condition I (use applicable term). Destructive winds 

accompanying the phenomenon are imminent. 

 b. Major Cyclonic Storm

 1 Gale/Storm/Hurricane Condition V (use applicable term). Destructive winds are 

possible within 96 hours. 

 2 Gale/Storm/Hurricane Condition IV (use applicable term). Destructive winds are 

possible within 72 hours. 

 3 Gale/Storm/Hurricane Condition III (use applicable term). Destructive winds are 

possible within 48 hours. 

 4 Gale/Storm/Hurricane Condition II (use applicable term). Destructive winds are 

expected within 24 hours. 

 5 Gale/Storm/Hurricane Condition I (use applicable term). Destructive winds are 

expected within 12 hours or less. Take appropriate action to minimize damage. 

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CHAPTER 1 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

1.1.1 Purpose. The purposes of this Policy Directive are as follows: 

 a. To make JFSC personnel aware of effective preventive measures for the protection of 

personnel, buildings, and equipment. 

 b. To establish and assign duties for preparations to be completed: 

 1 at the beginning of hurricane season, 

 2 upon notification of destructive weather warning, and 

 

 3 post storm cleanup and repair. 

 c. To ensure adequate personnel are available to handle: 

 1 security 

 2 special details for the maintenance of essential service and damage control and 

assessment, and 

 3 material support for storm recovery. 

 d. To ensure that post-storm recovery operations proceed in a safe, orderly manner. 

1.1.2 Discussion

 a. Joint Forces Staff College campus may experience destructive weather or snow and ice 

conditions which could impact on mission and training functions. The severe weather 

phenomena described here can occur during most of the year in the Hampton Roads area. Such 

weather phenomena may endanger life, destroy property, and require expenditure of funds for 

repair. Analysis of meteorological and oceanographic data for this area indicates the most 

serious threat of storm damage comes from storms of tropical origin (hurricanes/tropical storms) 

in which winds of destructive force are sustained for long periods of time. The annual hurricane 

season for the Hampton Roads Area is from 1 June through 30 November. Storms of nontropical 

origin (gales, thunderstorms, and tornadoes), while of shorter duration and generally localized in 

nature, can also disrupt operations and endanger life and property. There is no substitute for 

advance planning and preparation before the onset of destructive weather. This Policy Directive 

outlines planning and preparation for destructive weather, ensuring that all persons know what to 

do when it occurs. 
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CHAPTER 2 

PROCEDURES 

2.1.1 Action

 a. When directed by the Senior Officer Present Ashore (SOPA)/SOPA (ADMIN) 

HAMPTON ROADS (Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, CNRMA), the appropriate 

destructive weather plan will be carried out. SOPA/SOPA (ADMIN) HAMPTON ROADS will 

publish conditions of readiness by message to affected commands and activities located within 

the Norfolk Naval Station area of coordination. Sewells Point Complex Duty Officer will 

execute the notification telephone tree, passing information to the JFSC Quarterdeck. The 

Quarterdeck watch stander will notify the JFSC Chief of Operations (CHOPS), Command Security 

Officer (CSO), and the Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA) when conditions of readiness change. 

b. Snow/Ice Condition is set and canceled in the Sewells Point area by the CNRMA. 

CNRMA will notify the JFSC Quarterdeck by telephone and/or message and arrange for 

announcing Snow/Ice Condition over local radio and television stations. The Chief of 

Operations (CHOPS) will notify the CMDT and Chief of Staff (COS). 

c. To efficiently reduce the number of personnel on campus during destructive weather, 

military and civilian personnel will be assigned to one of two categories, alpha or bravo. 

1 Alpha personnel are essential personnel and Bravo personnel are nonessential 

personnel. 

2 Students are considered Bravo personnel. 

3 JFSC Alpha designated personnel are annotated on the recall roster, which is updated 

on a monthly basis. 

4 Any JFSC personnel living in Sewells Point complex barracks are designated as 

Alpha personnel. 

5 JFSC deans and directors may designate additional Alpha personnel at any time 

circumstances require (i.e. members with a particular technical skill are needed for recovery 

operations). 

6 Pregnant or limited duty personnel members will not be designated as alpha 

personnel. 

7 Alpha personnel will assist all departments, as needed, in order to carry out required 

actions set forth in this instruction. 

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d. A Hurricane Guide is posted on the JFSC Web page to provide information to students, 

staff, and faculty concerning preparation, evacuation routes, and shelter requirements. 

e. During inclement weather, students should listen to or watch the local radio or television 

stations for public announcements concerning reporting instructions. When “BRAVO” 

personnel are directed to report late or not to report for duty, those instructions will guide 

delayed class start times or decisions to suspend classes. JFSC recall procedures may be used 

to notify all students and necessary JFSC personnel of the requirement to report contrary to any 

other published/broadcast reporting instructions, and what specific times personnel are to report. 

f. In case of destructive winds with little or no warning given during nonworking hours, the 

normal watch will be augmented by on-call duty personnel as the CDO considers necessary. 

2.1.2 Faculty/Staff Evacuation

 a. Normandy Hall, building SC-1, is the designated disaster shelter for college Alpha 

personnel. 

 b. Class Bravo military personnel will evacuate to Fort A. P. Hill or to any safe area (shelter 

or high ground residence) outside of Hampton Roads, but within the 300-mile “local area”. If 

outside of the “local area,” military personnel must be in a leave status. Fort A. P. Hill is not an 

option for military personnel evacuating with dependents, the quarters available can only 

accommodate military personnel without dependents. All personnel who evacuate must be 

accounted for through JFSC recall roster procedures. 

 c. Class Bravo DoD civilian personnel will be placed on administrative leave. The 

Commandant will grant administrative leave on a daily basis, so civilians must keep themselves 

informed concerning changes in the college’s status. 

d. Notification of college status and important information will be disseminated through the 

College’s telephone Hot Line (757-443-6166), which will be updated by 0730 daily. 

2.1.3 Student Evacuation

 a. All students will evacuate to Fort A. P. Hill or to any safe area (inland shelter) outside of 

Hampton Roads, but within the 300-mile “local area.” If outside of the “local area,” military 

personnel must be in a leave status. Fort A. P. Hill is not an option for students evacuating with 

dependents, the quarters available can only accommodate students without dependents. 

b. Transportation for all students evacuating to Fort A. P. Hill will be provided by JFSC as 

required. POVs are authorized at Fort A. P. Hill. 

 c. Evacuation procedures for international students are covered under this policy directive 

and are identical to domestic student evacuation procedures. International students who have 

dependents with them WILL NOT be provided transportation or be allowed to evacuate to Fort 

A. P. Hill. International students with dependents are required to provide their own 

transportation to any safe area (inland shelter) outside of Hampton Roads, but within the 300-

mile “local area.” 

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 d. All students, domestic and international, will keep their Seminar Team Leader (STL) 

informed of their whereabouts and provide contact information. International students will also 

be required to inform the International Military Student Officer (IMSO) of their whereabouts and 

provide contact information. 

e. Notification of college status and important information will be disseminated through the 

College’s telephone Hot Line (757-443-6166), which will be updated by 0730 daily. All 

students must check the JFSC Hot Line regularly, but at least once a day. 
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CHAPTER 3 

RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1.1 Chief of Operations (CHOPS). The CHOPS has overall responsibility for the execution 

of this directive. In the execution of this plan CHOPS will do the following: 

 a. quickly and efficiently disseminate storm or hurricane information to military and 

civilian personnel on campus 

 

 b. activate the JFSC Destructive Weather, 

 c. secure government property and protect human lives, 

 d. obtain medical aid in case of injuries, 

 e. control damage, and 

 f. supervise and coordinate the efforts of all JFSC personnel in carrying out the provisions 

of this directive, subject to the order of the Commandant (CMDT). 

3.1.2 All Personnel. During inclement weather, all JFSC personnel are to call the weather 

hotline at 443-6166 for information on delays or closings for JFSC. Additionally, all personnel 

can tune in to Channels 3, 10, or 13 and look for an announcement concerning JFSC 

(announcements are scrolled across the bottom of the screen). Radio station Eagle 97 (97.3 FM) 

will also be broadcasting information pertaining to JFSC. As a general rule, JFSC will follow 

the region’s direction for Naval Station Norfolk and the NSAHR Compound. 

 

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