Two Navy ships staffed with Marines have been placed on standby by the Pentagon to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the Miami Herald has reported.
The designation means that the two Virginia-based ships, the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge and the landing ship Oak Hill, as well as the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, will not be used to support relief operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, as was previously planned.
Since the path of Irma is still uncertain, it is not yet clear where the ships will be deployed or if they will be needed at all, according to USNI News.
In addition, the Pentagon has been preparing for Irma by making a list of "possible installation support bases used for prepositioning equipment and supplies," according to the Herald.
CNN reported that the Navy also has sent mandatory evacuation orders to more than 5,000 active military, civilians, contractors and families based at Naval Air Station Key West.
Officials added that some 50 personnel will remain at the Naval Air Station to man essential functions.