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Eglin town hall meeting details help available to evacuees

  • Published
  • By Tammie Erazo
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFMCNS) --  More than 200 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina received information and reassurance during a town hall meeting at the base theater Friday. The meeting covered topics ranging from how to get children enrolled in local schools to temporary lodging, entitlements, legal services and even a safety briefing.

"All you need to do is identify yourself as a hurricane evacuee and your child will be enrolled immediately," said Don Gaetz, superintendent of Okaloosa County Schools. "You do so much for us, now it's our turn to do something for you."

So went the general tone of the meeting, which included a question and answer session with Col. Edmond B. Keith, 96th Air Base Wing commander.

"We are doing all we can to make sure you have what you need," Colonel Keith said. "The military is a family and we take care of our own."

Several evacuees had questions regarding what facilities are available for temporary lodging. They were informed that the base has opened up a dorm for evacuees and that the federal prison on base is also an option. Maj. Gen. Robert Chedister, Weapons Program executive officer and Air Armament Center commander, was quick to point out that the federal prison facilities are quite comfortable.

Representatives from the Red Cross were available to answer questions, as were representatives from legal services and the 96th Services Squadron.

"We have information about everything we offer, such as arts and crafts and the youth center, as well as information on the local community," said Isabelle Sabato, 96th Services Squadron commercial sponsorship director.

Ms. Sabato said her cousin drove 12 hours from New Orleans under miserable conditions to escape the storm.

"I went through this when I lived in Guam," she said. "We were without power for three months following a hurricane; I can relate to what these people are going through. At a time like this, any little thing is really appreciated."

Members of the Eglin Officers' Spouses Club handed out bags of cookies and bottled water and provided a shoulder to cry on for several stressed-out evacuees.

"We've had to evacuate with our kids - sometimes without our husbands - and we know how it feels," said Mindy Knowles, Eglin Officers' Spouses Club president. "We are opening our hearts to other military spouses and retirees and trying to do what we can, no matter how small, to offer support and comfort."

Those efforts did not go unappreciated. Natasha Pierre, an Army Reservist from New Orleans, and her husband, Alvin, attended the town hall meeting and said they were grateful for the kindness shown by Floridians.