Exchange Helps Military Families Weather the Storm This Hurricane Season
Hurricane season is underway, and the Exchange is keeping military communities prepared.
At headquarters, merchandising teams strengthened the inventory position of high-demand supplies, such as water, flashlights, batteries, generators and extension cords, at distribution centers so products quickly deploy to PXs and BXs if needed. Additionally, the HQ fuel team coordinates inventory availability with suppliers and carriers to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply to affected Express locations.
The Exchange’s Disaster Support Group (DSG), a team of worldwide Exchange leaders, monitors weather to keep every level of the organization prepared for storms. The team is agile, meeting quickly to coordinate a response when severe weather strikes.
“The DSG stands up as required,” said Contingency Program Manager Colice Powell, whose team helps coordinate the group. “Initially, it’s used as an information chain, sending updates via email. Then, if warranted, we meet as a group on Teams to inform, coordinate and plan as needed.”
Members of the DSG stay up to date with weather developments through reports from the field and by watching forecasts, Powell said.
“When we think there might be an impact, we send out an email to the DSG with the name of the storm, maybe a picture and a summary of what’s predicted in terms of intensity and where it might make landfall,” he said. “If there’s something happening, we inform the organization through the DSG. We might meet to coordinate what’s needed at the affected locations, and whether associates from other stores might need to come down to help provide support for the area.”
Meanwhile, at installations prone to severe weather, managers monitor weather forecasts and coordinate with command groups to ensure PXs and BXs are ready to both support the mission and take care of associates during major storms. Stores have also prepared lists of items they can have shipped to their stores to have adequate quantities before or after severe weather.
Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Regardless of date, the Exchange has long supported military communities affected by severe weather. When Typhoon Mawar, a Category 4 storm, hit Guam in May, the Andersen Air Force Base Exchange was open the next day to serve the community, offering essential goods and fuel.
Besides shipping supplies to stores, the Exchange’s Waco Distribution Center houses mobile field Exchanges—stores on wheels stocked with snacks, beverages and hygiene products—that can be deployed to communities after severe storms to support the military upon command request.
