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Frequently Asked Questions

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 Can contractor, civilian and Canadian Forces personnel use the pre-designated out-of-area hurricane evacuation (HUREVAC) shelters?
Yes. It is very important that 254s are completed by ALL so that we know who needs to use those pre-designated out of area shelters.
 Can I evacuate my family from base quarters before evacuation is ordered?
Yes. However, evacuation travel entitlements are determined based on the wing commander's evacuation order. So if you send your family away and no evacuation is ordered, you will not receive any evacuation travel entitlements. The military member must always be in an authorized leave, pass, or TDY status official duty status.
 Can I evacuate my family from my off-base quarters before ordered to evacuate?
Yes and no. If you are a military member or DoD civilian employee and you evacuate before being ordered by military and county authorities to evacuate, you must be in an authorized leave, pass, or TDY status to avoid possible compromise of benefits and potential adverse personnel action. Your family can evacuate early, but your family's evacuation travel entitlements are determined based on the commander's evacuation order.
 Can pets be taken to military/base shelters?
According to 325 CEX, pets are not authorized in base shelters.
 How do I know when to return from an evacuation and when to return to work?
If you are a military member or DoD civilian employee, your Unit Control Center (UCC) representative will contact you when it is time to return home and get back to work. Keep in touch with your UCC representative during the evacuation to make sure you receive the most current information. If you have Internet access, you can also find out when to return and obtain other instructions from the 1 AF/CONR hurricane website.
 How far can I travel if an evacuation order is given? And what are my reimbursement entitlements?
The commander who orders you to evacuate will specify any travel limitations. However, the wing commander controls your entitlement for travel reimbursement. When he issues an evacuation order, the order will specify mileage reimbursement limits. If the commander orders a full evacuation, full TDY per diem rates apply for the member (lodging and meals) and the full meal rate applies to all dependents 12 and older. For members under 12 years old, the entitlement for meals is 50% of the full rate. The lodging and meal rates are solely determined on the location you evacuate to.
 I have been directed to evacuate – what does that mean?
When directed to evacuate you must physically vacate the specific evacuation zone(s) or facility/structure mandated in the evacuation order. In selecting a SAFE HAVEN location, good judgment should be used to ensure you and your dependents relocate to a safe area or structure. There is no minimum distance specified. For example, if directed to vacate a mobile home, your SAFE HAVEN location could be next door unless it is a mandated evacuation zone. To receive full reimbursement for evacuation expenses, personnel must evacuate to a SAFE HAVEN location within a specific mileage range from Tyndall Air Force Base. The 325 FW Commander will determine the evacuation reimbursement mile radius and that information will be sent to all 1 AF personnel and posted on the 1 AF Hurricane web.
 If I am not ordered to leave the Panama City area, where are local shelters?
Community Shelters:

- Primary - Bozeman Learning Center, located on Highway 77 in Southport.

- Secondary (only if required) - Merritt Brown Middle School and Tommy Smith Elementary School, both located on Merritt Brown Way, which is one block east of the        intersection of US 231 and Route 719 (Star Avenue), approximately 5 or 6 miles north of the Panama City Mall.

- Special Needs - Northside Elementary School, located on Northside Drive in Panama City.

Tyndall Base Shelters: NCO Academy and Base Gym.
 If I am the spouse of a military member or DoD civilian employee and my spouse is TDY, when do I evacuate?
If you live on base, you must evacuate when ordered to leave by the wing commander. If you live off base, you must evacuate when ordered to leave by county authorities. You can evacuate before being ordered to leave, but your family's evacuation travel entitlements will be determined based on the commander's evacuation order. So if your family departs and no evacuation is ordered, your spouse will not receive any evacuation travel entitlements.
 If I don’t have my privately owned car (POV) or government-provided transportation, will I be authorized reimbursement for a rental car or other commercial travel?
Yes, transportation entitlements will have to be provided for the member/dependents. If the member is TDY to Tyndall on contingency orders, these orders will need to be amended to include hurricane evacuation. If Tyndall AFB is the member's permanent duty station, the member will be entitled to a transportation allowance.
 Once a hurricane is projected to hit the area, where do I go for the latest 1 AF/CONR evacuation information and commander’s HUREVAC directives?
If you are a military member or DoD civilian employee, your UCC representative is your point of contact for evacuation information and guidance. If you have Internet access, you can also obtain information and instructions from the 1 AF/CONR hurricane website.
 What are my evacuation TDY entitlement rates?
TDY entitlement rates are set according to the DoD Per Diem rates. You can find the specific rate for your evacuation area at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/perdiemrates.html
 What does "authorized personnel status" mean and why is it important?
To be in an authorized personnel status, a military member must be present for duty, on temporary duty assignment, in permissive temporary duty assignment status, on liberty (ordinary pass), or in a leave status. Military members must be in an authorized personnel status at all times to avoid pay and entitlement problems (including disability pay and term of enlistment) and possible disciplinary action.
 What is a line of duty determination and why is it important?
A line of duty (LOD) determination is a decision about whether several substantial benefits will be available if a military member becomes ill or injured. A LOD determination is required whenever a member's illness or injuries cause him or her to be unable to perform military duties for more than 24 hours. The determination involves deciding if 1) the member's injuries occurred while he/she was absent from duty, and 2) the injuries were caused by the member's own misconduct. The benefits that can be affected by a determination that a member's injuries occurred while he/she was absent from duty or were due to his/her own misconduct include disability compensation, normal pay, term of enlistment, veterans' benefits, and survivor benefits.
 When completing the Tyndall AFB Form 254 (Emergency Notification Card), can I list locations other than the pre-designated out-of-area hurricane evacuation (HUREVAC) shelters, i.e., Moody AFB, Maxwell AFB and Robins AFB?
Yes, you can list other locations, e.g., parents home address. The primary purpose of the Form 254 is to provide Tyndall AFB officials the ability to prepare these sites to support those military members who have indicated intentions to utilize these shelters. Secondarily, but equally important, is that the 254 provides your local command/UCC structure with your projected whereabouts during the evacuation period
 When do I evacuate my on-base quarters?
If you are a military member, you must not evacuate until ordered to do so by the base commander. If you leave before ordered to do so, you must be in an authorized personnel status (e.g., TDY, leave, or liberty) or your failure to be available for duty might result in disciplinary action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and have a negative impact on any line of duty determination that is required if you get injured while away. In addition, you might pay for your own evacuation since evacuation travel entitlements are determined based on the wing commander's evacuation order.
 When must I evacuate my off-base quarters?
If you are a military member or DoD civilian employee, you must evacuate when ordered to do so by 1 AF/CC or 1 AF/CV. To avoid confusion, the commander or vice commander will order evacuation consistent with county authorities. That means he will order you to leave if and when county authorities evacuate the zone you live in. If you are not a military member or DoD civilian employee, you must evacuate when ordered to do so by county authorities. If you live in a mobile or manufactured home you may also be directed to evacuate those structures regardless of evacuation zone.
 Who decides when to return from an evacuation?
County authorities will determine when it is safe to return to the Panama City area. The base commander will decide when it is safe to return to Tyndall Air Force Base. When appropriate authorities decide it is safe to return, 1 AF/CC or 1 AF/CV will order military members and DoD civilian employees to return home.
 Who decides when to return to work after an evacuation?
1 AF/CC or 1 AF/CV will order military members and DoD civilian employees to return to work after the base commander decides it is safe for personnel to return to work at Tyndall.
 Whose evacuation order do I follow?
If you are a military member and live on base, you must evacuate when ordered to do so by the base commander. If you are a military member or DoD civilian employee and live off base, you must evacuate when ordered to do so by 1 AF/CC or 1 AF/CV. To avoid confusion, the commander or vice commander will order off-base evacuation consistent with county authorities. That means he will order you to leave if and when county authorities evacuate the zone you live in. If you are not a military member or DoD civilian employee, you must evacuate when ordered to do so by county authorities.