{"id":1011,"date":"2017-09-25T01:31:16","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T01:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=1011"},"modified":"2018-02-01T16:56:22","modified_gmt":"2018-02-01T16:56:22","slug":"exchange-ready-to-send-support-to-puerto-rico-following-hurricane-maria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2017\/09\/25\/exchange-ready-to-send-support-to-puerto-rico-following-hurricane-maria\/","title":{"rendered":"Exchange Ready to Send Support to Puerto Rico Following Hurricane Maria"},"content":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>At a time of uncertainty for those in the path of Hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service\u2019s unique capabilities were on full display, from its distribution centers to its stores, in support of service members, their families and first responders. While other retailers closed up shop, the Exchange sent support\u00a0by air, land and sea to those who needed it most.<\/p>\n

\"\"Even before Hurricane Maria made landfall, the Exchange team began funneling emergency shipments of supplies, such as generators, batteries and water, to areas in the storm\u2019s path.<\/a> Just ahead of Maria\u2019s arrival, the Fort Buchanan main store opened 30 minutes early and sold six pallets of water in 45 minutes. As Maria\u2019s intensity grew, an emergency list of health and personal care products, as well as pallets of bottled water, were staged throughout the Southeast for immediate shipment, with a focus on the fastest methods of transportation once the storm had passed.<\/p>\n

Just two days after the storm hit, while 90 percent of the island was still struggling with power issues, thirty associates reported to the Fort Buchanan Exchange to begin cleaning the facility to expedite opening. They were also scheduling local contractors to perform a safety inspection on the fuel pumps, which were damaged in the storm<\/a>, in order to get them back up and running as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

Battle-tested by Irma and Harvey in recent weeks, the Exchange\u2019s logistics and merchandising teams are up to the challenge Maria presents. As Irma threatened the southeast coast earlier this month, the Exchange Logistics team sent truckloads of bottled water to Florida and Georgia. They also ensured there was sufficient emergency items in stock for support, such as generators, batteries, flashlights, tarps, gas cans and first-aid kits.<\/p>\n

Col. Kevin Williams, 45th<\/sup> Mission Support Group commander at Patrick Air Force Base, appreciated the Exchange\u2019s support during the crisis.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Exchange team was very flexible in terms of their services and trying to keep things open to the last minute and bringing things back up online very quickly,\u201d Williams said. \u201cThank you very much for all of the support. We really appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exchange Director\/CEO Tom Shull spent last week in Florida, visiting SOUTHCOM, Homestead ARB as well as Patrick and MacDill AFBs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I traveled throughout Florida, I marveled each day at the Exchange\u2019s steadfast focus on recovery from Hurricane Irma while simultaneously responding to the new challenges they were facing in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Concern for the safety and well-being of our customers and fellow associates was paramount to all other considerations.\u201d<\/p>\n

The day after Hurricane Irma skirted Puerto Rico, customers at Fort Buchanan were happily surprised to find Starbucks open and ready to serve them a comforting cup of coffee or snack.<\/p>\n

After Hurricane Harvey, the Texas State Guard formally requested the Exchange bring support to the Texas Gulf Coast. The next day, an Exchange store on wheels, dubbed a Mobile Field Exchange<\/a>, opened its doors in Bastrop, Texas where National Guard members stocked up on water, batteries, beef jerky, shampoo, sports drinks and more. A second MFE opened days later in Corpus Christi, Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo have you guys here with some of the comforts of home, it\u2019s so welcomed,\u201d said Texas State Guard Captain Army Chaplain David Fish. \u201cThese guys go out on their missions and don\u2019t know what to expect but knowing that you\u2019re here is a true blessing.\u201d<\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service goes where Soldiers, Airmen and their families go to improve the quality of their lives through goods and services provided. Exchange earnings provide dividends to support military morale, welfare and recreation programs. The Exchange is part of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors, responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force through the Chiefs of Staff. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http:\/\/www.aafes.com\/about-exchange\/public-affairs\/press-releases.htm<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 At a time of uncertainty for those in the path of Hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service\u2019s unique capabilities were on full display, from its distribution centers to its stores, in support of service members, their families and first responders. While other retailers closed up shop, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-press_releases"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2017\/09\/25\/exchange-ready-to-send-support-to-puerto-rico-following-hurricane-maria\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Exchange Ready to Send Support to Puerto Rico Following Hurricane Maria","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2017\/09\/25\/exchange-ready-to-send-support-to-puerto-rico-following-hurricane-maria\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2017\/09\/25\/exchange-ready-to-send-support-to-puerto-rico-following-hurricane-maria\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":""},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Marisa Conner"}],"creator":["Marisa Conner"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2017-09-25T01:31:16Z","datePublished":"2017-09-25T01:31:16Z","dateModified":"2018-02-01T16:56:22Z"},"rendered":"