When Hurricane Milton threatened several communities in Florida, retired Army Veteran Andy Aponte loaded his family and pets in the RV and drove North to Georgia.  Aponte said his initial plan was to “hunker down and ride out the storm” but his kids kept insisting they leave the area.  “We packed up the RV and headed to Georgia,” he said.  Upon arriving, Aponte said he noticed the devastation Georgia received after Hurricane Helene, so he kept driving.

After calling around to RV parks, there were either full or closed.  In search of a military installation he could seek refuge at until it was safe to return to Wesley Chapel, Florida, he saw a sign for Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany.  “I passed by Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia on my way to Robins Air Force Base and saw a sign about the base here,” he said.  “We drove to Albany and was able to stay here until it was safe to return home,” he added.

Aponte said his RV was giving him problems upon arrival, but everyone from the police officers escorting them to a safe location on the base to the Executive director, were so kind and accommodating.  Aponte said one resident from the RV park saw that he was having trouble with his vehicle and offered to help.  “God was looking out for us because he happened to be a mechanic and fixed the problem. “We appreciate everyone here being so welcoming and supportive.  My neighbor said we only had downed trees and minor flooding,” he said.

Steven Dancer, executive director, MCLB Albany, said the Base has a dedicated staff who always watches storms as they approach in the Gulf and Atlantic.

“We are always willing to provide evacuation support to those authorized personnel who are seeking safe haven in our area,” he said.