Quote History The people at the expo center are not being detained. They can leave and go wherever they want.
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That's what we were told about Ft Pickett as well.
I'm not on the ground there anymore due to a deployment, but the first refugees were arriving right when I left a few days ago. Hardstand barracks, bus transport, mess and linen contractors, etc were all in place- as were many hundred of active Army troops from the 101st for "security". But those security forces were apparently for traffic control and denial of access by outsiders vs keeping anyone inside in. There were also initial steps for what appears to be a tent city expansion as well up near RTI, where the FEMA trailers used to be, in terms of gensets arriving, some heavy equipment being staged, etc.
I had more than one individual also comment about the presence of Afghan beggars in Blackstone already, with signs and their kids sitting with them on Main St. I understand not wanting to keep them detained on post (where everything is provided for them free of charge), but beggars and such will certainly sour the relationship with the small town neighbors if it grows unchecked.