RIDGECREST, CA. (THECOUNT) — The series of powerful earthquakes that hit Southern California have rendered the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake “not mission-capable,” according to base officials.
In a post to the base’s Facebook page, Rear Admiral Bette Bolivar said non-essential active duty, drilling reservists, civilian employees and dependents are authorized to evacuate to a radius of 100 miles from Naval Base Ventura County.
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China Lake remains accessible for mission-essential personnel only, and officials told non-mission-essential personnel not to attempt to access the installation, reports ABC7.
Though the base is not mission-capable, security protocols remain in effect. Those with questions can call the base’s family information hotline at 1-844-523-2025.
Friday’s 7.1-magnitude quake struck at 8:19 p.m. Friday and was centered 11 miles from Ridgecrest, the same area of the Mojave Desert where a 6.4-magnitude temblor hit just a day earlier.
The installation “provides and maintains land, facilities and other assets that support the Navy’s research, development, acquisition, testing and evaluation (RDAT&E) of cutting-edge weapons systems for the warfighter,” according to the Navy. Covering more than 1.1 million acres, it is the Navy’s largest single landholding.
Facebook statement:
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is responding to a 5.0 magnitude earthquake at 8:16 p.m., and a 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 8:19 p.m pacific time and multiple, consistent aftershocks on July 5 following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake and numerous aftershocks on July 4.
NAWS China Lake is not mission capable until further notice; however, security protocols remain in effect.
Safety of personnel is currently the highest priority.
NON ESSENTIAL active duty, drilling reservists, civilian employees, and dependents are authorized to evacuate to a radius of 100 miles from safe haven Naval Base Ventura County (NVBC).
NVBC and its surrounding area is the preferred location for authorized evacuation on the basis of Installation Support Services.
RDML Bette Bolivar, Commander Navy Region Southwest, has issued this evacuation order.
A Family Information Call Center number has been established for questions regarding how to obtain support. The Information Hotline number is 1-844-523-2025.
NAWS China Lake access remains Mission Essential Personnel only. Do NOT attempt to access the Installation unless you are Mission Essential Personnel.
Further information will be distributed as it develops.
DEVELOPING::
Geo quick facts: Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County, California, United States, along U.S. Route 395 in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. It was incorporated as a city in 1963. The population was 27,616 at the 2010 census, up from 24,927 at the 2000 census – Wikipedia.