Posted on 09/09/2005 8:26:47 AM PDT by Racehorse
The following release concerns active duty and retired military personnel in the area impacted by Katrina who normally use AAFES facilities at Keesler AFB, Camp Shelby and Jackson Barracks.
DALLAS -Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) officials have confirmed that its main BX at Keesler AFB suffered major damage due to Hurricane Katrina and will be out of service for an indefinite period of time.
AAFES officials believe it will be a few more weeks before there will be proper assessments by engineers on the extent of the damage and a timeline of when the store can reopen.
"The main store, including the food court and concession activities, is off limits due to contamination from the tidal surge that flooded the store," said AAFES Senior Vice President Dale Linebarger. "The building is sealed off until the damaged merchandise and fixtures can be properly disposed of."
AAFES associates from Keesler and surrounding installations reopened the Keesler Mini Mall retail complex on Thursday under generator power. Military family members also helped AAFES associates in stocking and pricing merchandise.
"It was a great team effort," according to AAFES Area Manage Steve Mitchell, who assisted Keesler General Manager Dan Schmidt and Keesler Main BX Manager Joelle Lee in getting the store back open.
As of today, power has been restored to the AAFES Mini Mall and gas station. AAFES expects to operate only these two operations for the foreseeable future. The Mini Mall includes a general retail store, Subway restaurant, and barber shop. AAFES plans to move the Military Clothing Sales Store, a General Nutrition Center (GNC) and beauty shop into this complex within the next 30 days.
Linebarger said a small AAFES-operated store at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans was also destroyed by the hurricane and will remain closed indefinitely. AAFES operations at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, sustained some minor damage but, have reopened to support military assigned to Joint Task Force Katrina.
A tactical field exchange in Gulfport, nearly identical to those used by AAFES in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, was staffed and operational as of Friday, September 2. One additional tactical field exchange is on its way to Louisiana to support troops in the New Orleans area.
In response to requests from Soldiers and Airmen looking to assist displaced military families, AAFES operations at installations receiving military evacuees have established procedures for authorized customers to donate gift cards that can be used at any AAFES facility.
Nearly $45,000 in exchange gift cards have been purchased at Maxwell AFB's BX alone. "There are more than 1,000 active duty and retired personnel from Keesler, Biloxi and Gulfport here," said AAFES' Maxwell General Manager Joe Huwlyer. "Already the local Family Support Center is distributing nearly $5,000 in gift cards and the base chapel just purchased 1,333 $30 cards."
"AAFES is being flexible and adapting to this ever changing situation," said Linebarger. "We are working day and night to properly allocate resources and work with local communities to provide the highest level of support possible."
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