Naval Base San Diego ordered everyone on the “wet side” of the installation to shelter in place this morning after officials warned of a “hazardous situation” on base, telling sailors, civilian staff, and contractors to get inside, stay put, and activate their shelter-in-place plans while commanders figured out what was going on.
‘This Is Not a Drill’ on the Piers
At about 10:05 a.m., the base’s official Facebook account warned that the affected area was “WETSIDE Zone A from Gate 2-7, and Piers 1-5,” and told personnel to stay indoors until further notice. The post did not mince words: “This is not a drill,” according to KGTV/ABC 10News.
How Shelter-In-Place Works on Base
Shelter-in-place and lockdown procedures are standard force-protection measures intended to keep people away from a potential threat. Naval Base San Diego’s emergency guidance instructs occupants to silence phones, lock doors, and stay away from windows until an all-clear is given. The base’s official site notes that a lockdown is similar to a shelter-in-place but can also involve barring people from entering or leaving buildings, depending on the situation. Naval Base San Diego explains that these measures can last anywhere from minutes to hours.
Why Commanders Move Fast on Waterfront Hazards
Commanders tend to pull the trigger on precautions like this even when they are still sorting out details, in part because past waterfront emergencies have turned ugly in a hurry and raised serious safety concerns. In 2020, a fire aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard sent thick smoke rolling across the waterfront and led to local air-quality advisories, a reminder of how quickly conditions can deteriorate. The Los Angeles Times reported on the blaze and its impacts.
What We Know So Far
Base officials did not immediately release more information about the nature of the hazard, KGTV reported. We will continue to track official updates and revise this story as the Navy releases new details.
.jpg){kind=link}