#FlashbackFriday: Five Years Ago, Hurricane Harvey Struck Texas, and the Exchange Responded
About 10 p.m. on Aug. 25, 2017—five years ago this week—Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a category 4 storm near Port Aransas on the Texas Gulf Coast. The storm slowed to 5 mph as it moved inland, bringing rain bands that created devastating flooding in several Texas counties, including heavily populated Harris County, home to Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States.
Texas Exchanges responded quickly to support National Guard, Texas Air National Guard and Texas State Guard members called on for post-storm relief.
Racquel Hinson, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland food court manager at the time, and her team assisted the Texas Air National Guard by catering Popeyes meals to local shelters, quickly making and packaging 350 meal boxes so people staying in shelters could enjoy hot food. (Hinson is still based at Lackland, where she is the regional food program supervisor.)
The Lackland Exchange food court and theater received Command permission to stay open after the base closed down during the height of the storm, supporting Basic Military Training graduates restricted to the base because of the hurricane.
From 2017: Some of the 2,000 National Guard members deployed to Camp Swift near Houston line up at a mobile field exchange transported to the area to serve troops working on Hurricane Harvey relief.
The Waco Distribution Center, in the heart of Texas, stocked up on water in preparation for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Austin’s Camp Mabry Exchange received delivery of bottled water to support evacuees from Houston. The Exchange adjusted store hours to allow authorized evacuees to shop after arriving at the installation.
On Aug. 30, leaders at the Texas State Guard formally requested mobile field exchange (MFE) support for troops deployed to Camp Swift in Bastrop, about 30 miles east of Austin and nearly 135 miles from Houston. By noon, Aug. 31, the MFE was up and running with a stream of guard members stocking up on beef jerky, shampoo, sports drinks and more.
The Waco Distribution Center prepared pallets of bottled water to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
Troops greatly appreciated Exchange associates’ efforts.
“To have you guys here with some of the comforts of home, it’s so welcomed,” Texas State Guard Captain Army Chaplain David Fish told the Exchange Post. “These guys go out on their missions and don’t know what to expect, but knowing that you’re here is a true blessing.”
Troops line up to visit the Camp Swift MFE.
The Exchange also deployed an MFE to support the Texas Guard in Corpus Christi. It was up and running Sept. 2.
The Lackland food court and theater remained open after the base closed down during the height of Hurricane Harvey, supporting Basic Military Training graduates restricted to the base.
The MFE provided favorite snacks and clean socks for the more than 100 National Guard troops helping with Harvey’s fallout.
Houston’s Ellington Field increased Air Force and Army National Guard troops as recovery efforts expanded. Exchange managers responded by increasing stock and extending store hours.
Because of Houston floods, Ellington Field Branch Manager Silvia Durham and Shift Manager Carmen McWashington were unable to travel to the Exchange to open the doors (McWashington is still with the Exchange). Base Commander Col. Gary Jones requested the pair be picked up by a high-water vehicle from their homes. They were able to open the Exchange on the afternoon of Aug. 29. When they arrived, they found that the freezer had gone down and the frozen food had spoiled. All the associates were safe and accounted for and only one associates’ home suffered significant damages, although McWashington had roof damage that caused some water to enter her home.
Even as it was supporting Harvey relief efforts, Team Exchange was preparing Puerto Rico and Florida locations for Hurricane Irma, which skirted Puerto Rico on Sept. 6. Fort Buchanan associates had gas stations and some food concessions such as Starbucks open and ready to serve customers by mid-morning Sept 7.
The Exchange has supported disaster relief efforts ranging from earthquakes to tornadoes for more than 65 years. From Hurricane Camille in 1969 through the 2005 killer hurricanes Katrina and Rita, associates staffed mobile field exchanges providing basic necessities to National Guard members.
Sources: Exchange Post archives (H/T former Exchange Post editor Lisa Moak, now an Exchange advertising and promotions specialist), National Weather Service (weather.gov/hgx/hurricaneharvey)
