Hurricane Dennis Passes U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay

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Hurricane Dennis Passes U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay

Navy News Service
July 08, 2005

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - Hurricane Dennis passed by U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay July 7, causing minimal damage.

There were no injuries to any personnel.

"U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay has an excellent destructive weather plan," said Capt. Les McCoy, base commanding officer. "We take precautions as the storms approach, and all actions are predicated on ensuring the safety of all personnel. We had no damage from Hurricane Dennis other than a few broken tree limbs and debris washed up along the shoreline."

At the height of the storm as it passed the station, between 1 and 2 p.m., sustained winds were recorded at 35 knots, gusting to 47. At that point, the eye of the storm was 87 nautical miles southwest of the station. Seas at the mouth of the bay were cresting at 10 feet, and were 12-14 feet offshore. Inside the bay, seas were cresting at six feet. Maximum rainfall recorded was just more than one inch.

Due to the high winds and seas, ferry service from the windward to the leeward side of the base was suspended late Wednesday as the storm approached, until seas return to normal. Ferry service is expected to resume later today. Utility boat service was suspended briefly at the height of the storm.

All base services remained open throughout the storm, and normal business was conducted throughout the day.