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19 Oct 2005 | Darren D. Heusel

The Family Support Center at Tinker Air Force Base is doing its part to help in the wake of Hurricane Katrina by providing temporary housing and support for displaced families from Mississippi.


As of Sept. 7, the center helped three families settle into the community by providing medical services, food, clothing and other needed items.


According to Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Howell, Family Readiness noncommissioned officer, the FSC provided support for U.S. Navy wife Joanne Coffey of Gulfport, whose husband is deployed to Okinawa, Japan; Rhonda Hobbs, an Air Force wife from Ocean Springs; and the family of Airman 1st Class Benjamin Murphy, who was attending technical school at Keesler and was due to make a permanent change of station to Tinker last week to become a member of the 31st Combat Communications Squadron.


"When Ms. Coffey heard Katrina was going to be a Category 3, she moved here to be with her family in Pauls Valley," Sergeant Howell said. "She called us on Friday and we got her and her two children assistance with food and clothing."


Sergeant Howell said the same was true for Ms. Hobbs and her three children, who evacuated to Oklahoma and came to the center Sept. 1 seeking assistance.


She said Airman Murphy's family relocated from Biloxi Sept. 3 when the initial evacuation order came down. Airman Murphy, however, had to wait a little longer.


"He was already due to graduate but his tech school class was ordered to a shelter," Sergeant Howell said. "He ended up taking his final exam at the shelter and passed. Once they both arrived, we got them some commissary vouchers and some clothes."


Sergeant Howell said she is also helping Airman Murphy file legal claims for his family's personal effects that might have been damaged in the disaster.


"Airman Murphy was scheduled to come here originally, so they were kind of in a PCS mode already," she said. "Then he went into a shelter mode...his stuff was already packed before the hurricane hit, but they aren't very optimistic their stuff survived."


Sergeant Howell said the billeting office on base took in another 20 adults and eight children over the weekend and that the FSC is working to provide those families with whatever assistance they need.


"They're in limbo right now, but at least they have a nice, comfortable bed to sleep in," she said. "Right now, we're in the process of getting their information so we can support them as well."


Sergeant Howell said most people want to help the victims of Katrina, but don't know how. She said the center is always seeking donations of food, clothing, diapers and baby formula. Cash donations are also welcome, she said.

Marine Corps Base Quantico