Exchange Truckers Facing Florence’s Wrath, While Stores Staying Connected with Communities
A map from Friday morning shows how close Exchange drivers are to the storm. The trucks with circles aren’t driving. Trucks circled by red have the drivers with them; the ones circled by blue don’t have the drivers.
As Hurricane Florence barrels down the East Coast, the Exchange’s Logistics Directorate is staying connected via modern technology to its truckers who are weathering the storm’s conditions, while Eastern Region Exchanges are reaching their military communities with real-time updates via social media.
Exchange truckers are ensuring that stores are fully stocked with water, generators, batteries and other emergency supplies. Clean-up supplies are being hauled as well to assist Soldiers, Airmen, families and first responders for relief efforts after the storm.
‘Devoted drivers’
Drivers from other Exchange terminals have volunteered to help with hurricane relief efforts and pull together to assist their counterparts at the Dan Daniel Distribution Center in Newport News, Va.
“The truck drivers stay in tactical mode at all times, ready to respond whenever a natural disaster like a hurricane hits,” said Billy Shirley, fleet safety manager. “We have staged and positioned our drivers to provide support before, during and after Florence.”
“Moments like this amplify the importance of our drivers and what they have to go through to keep that supply chain moving.”
-Billy Shirley, fleet safety manager
Shirley noted that the efforts of the drivers come during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.
“Their efforts this week underscore how much they mean to the Exchange,” he said. “We couldn’t fulfill our mission without our devoted drivers who get the merchandise and relief supplies to the right locations at the right times, regardless of whether there is a hurricane staring them in their faces.”
Hurricane Florence made landfall late Thursday night.
“Some of our drivers were directly in the path and doing their best to either stay ahead of the storm or drive around it,” Shirley said.
Reaching customers through social media
Meanwhile, Exchanges in the affected areas, via their social media, are keeping customers informed on product availability and operating hours.
Exchanges at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Fort Bragg, Joint Base Charleston, Shaw Air Force Base, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Fort Jackson have kept customers informed on changes in hours, store closures and availability of emergency supplies.
“A special thanks to AAFES … for their tremendous effort to support our Soldiers, Airmen and families and keep us safe. It’s times like this that affirm our strength as a community.”
-633d Air Base Wing Commander Col Sean Tyler, Joint Base Langley-Eustis
Military communities are appreciating the real-time communication.
“I want to thank all the outstanding mission partners on Langley and Fort Eustis for your stellar teamwork,” 633d Air Base Wing Commander Col Sean Tyler posted on the JB Langley-Eustis installation’s Facebook page. “A special thanks to AAFES … for their tremendous effort to support our Soldiers, Airmen and families and keep us safe. It’s times like this that affirm our strength as a community.”
Read more:
Exchange ‘Leaning Forward’ as Hurricane Florence Approaches East Coast
