Exchanges in Southeastern U.S. Brace for Hurricane Helene’s Impact

Exchanges in more than a half-dozen states were preparing Thursday for the effects of Hurricane Helene, which was projected to make landfall as a major hurricane Thursday evening in Florida’s Big Bend region.

The storm is expected to have its biggest effect on Exchanges in Florida and Georgia. Tony Pares, regional vice president for the South Eastern Region, said during a Disaster Support Group (DSG) meeting Thursday that nearly all the Exchanges in the area will be affected by the storm.

Fuel, PAR (Planning, Allocation & Replenishment), transportation and Waco Distribution Center teams have already offered support to Exchanges in the storm’s path, and are ready for any additional assistance.

“We’ve had excellent support, as usual,” Pares said. “We really appreciate it. And as of now, we have 100% accountability for all of our teammates in South East.”

The storm is projected to move north through Georgia, then push northwest through Tennessee and Kentucky. Although Helene’s impact is expected to be smaller in Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina, teams in those states were also preparing for what the storm might bring.

Forecasts say that the storm could bring catastrophic hurricane-force winds when it makes landfall. Life-threatening winds were expected to penetrate into Florida and well into northern Georgia by Thursday night.

Flash and urban flooding is possible throughout the storm’s path, and there is a risk of significant landslides in the southern Appalachians through Friday.

Pares listed installations affected by the storm and how the Exchange is responding (all times Eastern).

Tyndall AFB, in the Florida Panhandle, is the Florida installation closest to the storm’s path. The base was open only to mission-essential personnel on Thursday. The Exchange main store was closed on Thursday, and the Express was open with reduced hours. The Exchange is expected to fully reopen Friday, although it may open later than usual.

Eglin/Hurlburt AFB, also near the storm’s path in the Florida Panhandle, was mission-essential-only on Thursday. The Exchange’s Westgate and Hurlburt Expresses were scheduled to be open until 3 p.m.; all other facilities were closed, and expected to open Friday after a slight delay.

MacDill AFB, near Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast, was scheduled to close all operations at 3 p.m. Thursday and remain closed Friday.

Moody AFB, in southern Georgia, is mission-essential Thursday and Friday. The Express was expected to close about noon Eastern on Thursday. All other operations were closed Thursday and will remain closed through Friday.

Fort Moore, in southwest Georgia near the Alabama state line, was mission essential Thursday and will remain so on Friday. Exchange operations were scheduled to close about 7 p.m. Thursday and reopen about 9 a.m. Friday.

Fort Eisenhower, in eastern Georgia near the South Carolina state line, was scheduled for normal operations Thursday, except for Camp Merril, which was scheduled to close at noon Thursday and remain closed on Friday.

Robins AFB, in south central Georgia, was scheduled for a 5 p.m. closure on Thursday and a possibly delayed opening on Friday.

Dobbins Air Reserve Base, about 15 miles northwest of Atlanta, is scheduled to be closed Friday.

Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, near Savannah not far from Georgia’s Atlantic Coast, is scheduled to have normal operations but is monitoring the storm closely.

Patrick Space Force Base, on Florida’s Atlantic side, was expected to have normal hours on Thursday, although there was a possibility of an early closure due to high winds.

Chris Holifield, vice president for the Central Eastern area, said that stores in North Carolina and South Carolina are operating under normal conditions but monitoring conditions. Shortly after 1 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, Fort Liberty posted a notice on its Facebook page saying that the installation is tracking the weather for potential impacts from Helene and advising the community to pick up loose items in yards and to monitor weather forecasts and social media for updates.

The storm’s path could affect storEs in Central Region as well. Antonio Porter, South Central vice president, said during the DSG meeting that Fort Novosel in Alabama would close at 3 p.m. Central Time on Thursday (Exchange operations were scheduled to close an hour earlier) and reopen at 10 a.m. Friday.

Porter and Vanessa Rowland, North Central vice president, said that other installations and Exchanges in Alabama, as well as in Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky, are operating under normal conditions but monitoring the storm closely.

Steven Davalos, vice president of fuel, said fuel inventories are overall in good condition. Trucks were expected to arrive Thursday at the few locations with low fuel. Although some deliveries were delayed, Davalos expected all installations to have enough fuel.

“In terms of transportation and supply, we are still operating,” Davalos said. “Right now, our supply partners have not made any indication that terminals are going to close.” He said that could change, depending on storm conditions.

The headquarters PAR team and the Waco Distribution Center team have been working together on inventory support. “We’re standing by to deliver anything that’s necessary,” said Waco DC Manager Jeovany Garza.

The DC delivered 24 5-gallon gas cans to the Keesler AFB Exchange on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Thursday morning, and a trailer arrived Thursday morning at Eglin, where the Westgate Express had requested two pallets of 24-pack water.

Dan Daniel Distribution Center has been in touch with East Coast stores to adjust delivery schedules, said Jason Spencer, director of transportation operations. Transportation is standing by to support locations as needed.

Two mobile field Exchanges (MFEs) have been prepared for short-notice deployment for Eastern Region if requested, and an additional MFE has been prepared for Central Region.

The Disaster Support Group is scheduled to meet again Friday morning for updates on the storm and how it affected the Exchange. The DSG, headed by Vice President/Contingency Plans Roger Neumann, is a team of worldwide Exchange leaders that monitors weather and other world events to help keep every level of the organization prepared for storms and responsive to contingency situations.