The Washington Navy Yard will reopen and resume normal operations at 6 a.m. Thursday, commanding officer Capt. Monte Ulmer said Wednesday.
The Sixth Street gate will be closed, but employees should expect to be able to enter through the Ninth Street and O Street gates, Ulmer said. Security forces continue to operate as normal. The Ninth Street gate will be open 24 hours, and O Street will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Riverwalk turnstiles will remain closed, and all other gates are secured for law enforcement activities.
Garage 28 may be partially restricted but all other parking garages and lots will be open
Building 197 remains a crime scene and will be closed. The temporary fitness center in Building 73 will continue to serve as an operations center.
As for services at Navy Yard, all food service, Navy Exchance and Navy Federal Credit Union have authorization to reopen, but employees may want to bring their own meals.
Only mission essential personnel have been required to show up for work at Navy Yard Tuesday and Wednesday following Monday morning’s mass shooting that killed 12 and wounded eight.
Employees were allowed to retrieve their vehicles and belongings left behind.
Contractor Steve Leo told News4 Washington’s Tony Tull he’s concerned about what the future will be like at Navy Yard.
“I just want to see what’s going to be the process in the future to get on base … so that I can get my other guys on base to work, too,” he said.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered two reviews of military security and employee screening programs, the Associated Press reported.
Naval District Washington set up an Emergency Family Assistance Center at Navy Yard to assist families and individuals with disaster relief assistance and support, the latest information from leadership, and contingency services. It’s located at the Navy Installations Command headquarters on the fifth floor of Building 111.
It’s the second EFAC established since Monday’s tragedy. The other is in Building 72 at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.
Navy counselors, federal social workers, Navy chaplains and Navy Medical Special Psychiatric Rapid Intervention Team members can provide short-term mental health and emotional support.
The Navy created a family support center to assist personnel or family members affected by the shootings. Call 1-855-677-1755. Family members also can log into NAVY Accountability and Assessment System to muster and fill out a needs assessment and a fleet and family support center emergency case manager will call and offer assistance.
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