Exchange associates in Nebraska are waiting to see what damage historic flooding has caused at our store at Camp Ashland, an Army National Guard installation on the banks of the raging Platte River.
Although Offutt AFB 40 miles away is surrounded by the Platte and Missouri rivers, it is on slightly higher ground. As a result, flooding will probably not yet affect Exchange operations at Offutt. Command has limited access to the base to mission-essential people, General Manager Jerry Shugart said Monday.
“The situation at Camp Ashland is really bad,” he said. “I’m optimistic that we’ll be OK at Offutt, but I’m no longer optimistic about Ashland.”
The one-person store at Camp Ashland is typically only open from 5-8 p.m. when Guard members and Reservists are done training. Camp Ashland closed about 3 p.m. March 13 and has not reopened.
Once Shugart heard about the rising river March 13, he and Offutt Shift Manager Danny Jo Garrido drove 40 miles to Camp Ashland with extra shelving to move merchandise 3 feet higher to avoid damage.
“Now, I’m not so sure that 36 inches is enough,” Shugart said. “The Platte River is supposed to crest on Tuesday, and there may be 3 more feet of water. We do not have access to the installation, so we really cannot tell.”
By Sunday morning, one-third of Camp Ashland was underwater, and some buildings were flooded with up to 8 feet of water, Spc. Lisa Crawford, a Nebraska National Guard spokeswoman, told the Omaha World-Herald.
At Offutt, the flooding didn’t affect associates or family members, Shugart said.
Check back for any updates.
Leave a Reply