Team Tyndall,

I am authorizing a minimum evacuation distance of 20 miles from Tyndall AFB. As the base moves out of recovery, we look to facilitate a transition to normalcy for some families through enabling you to return to your homes if habitable, a closer commute to facilitate repairs on homes, dependents to return to employment, and children to return to their Bay County schools.

For Active Duty Military and Dependents:

- If working and residing at Tyndall AFB, you are in TDY status and will receive the incidental rate of $5/day. All meals are available and directed at the DFAC. If you have dependents residing OUTSIDE of the established 20 mile radius they will continue to receive evacuee entitlements.

- If working at Tyndall AFB, but residing at your residence either within or outside the 20 mile radius, you will not be in TDY status and you will not receive any entitlements. If you have dependents residing OUTSIDE of the established 20 mile radius they will continue to receive evacuee entitlements.

- In both of the above scenarios, if you have dependents residing INSIDE of the established 20 mile radius they will not continue to receive evacuee entitlements.

For Civilian Employees and Dependents:

- If working at Tyndall AFB, and residing at a safe haven location OUTSIDE of the established 20 mile radius, you will continue to receive evacuee entitlements and in/around mileage related to performing duties. If you have dependents residing OUTSIDE of the established 20 mile radius they will continue to receive evacuee entitlements.

- If working at Tyndall AFB, but residing at your residence, you will not be in evacuation status and you will not receive any entitlements. If you have dependents residing OUTSIDE of the established 20 mile radius they will continue to receive evacuee entitlements.

- In both of the above scenarios, if you have dependents residing INSIDE of the established 20 mile radius they will not continue to receive evacuee entitlements.

The 325th Comptroller will publish further guidance on when/how to submit a travel voucher if you have ended your evacuation by living at your residence.

325th Fighter Wing Commander

325 CPTS HURVAC Travel Order

If you've completed your Hurricane Michael evacuation requirements, guidance below and in the PDF section is provided to file your reimbursement voucher.

We understand there will be a lot of questions but please read through the procedures based on your status. The guidance applies to all personnel assigned to CONR-AFNORTH (Title 32 AGR, Title 10 Stat Tour, and Title 5 Civilians).

All vouchers will be filed in the Defense Travel System and processed through 125 CPTF in Jacksonville. Please note if you remain in evacuation status, do not file a voucher at this time. Also, if you do not have access to DTS, alternate means are being worked. Your GTC will remain at an elevated credit limit and your monthly GTC bill will be deferred. Please keep in mind this a very unique situation and each voucher will be worked thoroughly.

If you have any questions or need additional information, POC's are:

1. MSgt Daniel Morgan, Comm: (904) 741-7361 / Email: daniel.morgan.26@us.af.mil

2. Mr. George Enslow, Comm: (850) 741-7362 / Email: george.enslow@us.af.mil

3. Mr. David Clemmens, Comm: (850) 596-0496 / Email: david.clemmens.2@us.af.mil

4. Mr. David Kostic, Comm (850) 625-1160 / Email: david.kostic@us.af.mil

Documents:

Dependent DTS Authorization Guide

Evac Info Verification Sheet

Member DTS Authorization Guide

1172 Example

1351-2 Example

We are excited to announce that our Tyndall Reception Center (TRC) is up and running at Eglin AFB, located at Luke's Place in the 96 LRS compound close to the Eglin East Gate. This family friendly location has experts and resources staged to assist you with answering your questions.

Open Hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (after hours appointments available as requested – please contact TRC during business hours to set up appointment). Some agencies will be on reduced manning Saturdays, please call ahead to ensure availability.

If you can't make it to Eglin AFB in person - we also have direct lines to the experts you may want to talk to here:

Airman & Family Readiness Center: 850-885-9918

AF Aid Society: 850-885-9918

AF Employee Assistance Program (AFP/NAF Employees) : 800-222-0364

AFPC: 850-885-9930

Comptroller/Financial Entitlements: 850-885-9906

EFMP: 850-885-9926 or 210-723-4379

JA/Legal Claims: 850-885-9914

JPPSO/TMO: 850-885-9912 or 850-885-9902

Military & Family Life Consultant: 850-885-9918

School Liaison Officer: 210-514-0644

USAA reception desk at the Eglin TRC: (800-531-8722)

If you're not sure who exactly to call: 850-885-9930"

Members may apply for a temporary BAH increase per the “Temporary Increase in Basic Allowance for Housing Rates in Florida due to Hurricane Michael” memo dated Oct. 18, 2018. The temporary increase will expire on Dec. 31, 2018. On Jan. 1, 2019, newly calculated BAH rates will take effect.

The certification request must be in a form acceptable to the approval authority and submitted through MyPers. The service member’s certification must document rent, or mortgage expense in the case of a homeowner, and utility expenses. The MyPers website is: https://mypers.af.mil/app/answers/detail/a_id/35397/kw/housing%20waiver.

If the total housing expense from the service member’s certification is higher than the BAH rate during that time, then the service member is authorized the increased rate effective the approval date of the Oct. 18 memo or the date the service member started incurring the increased expenses, whichever is later.

Example 1: Military member and dependents previously resided on Tyndall AFB and their home is now inhabitable. Member signs lease for an apartment that is above the local authorized BAH rate. Member may submit a temporary BAH increase for provided lease and utility expenses backdated to the start of their lease thru Dec. 31, 2018.

The dates for on base housing residents to access their homes has changed. There is no longer an end date of November 2nd; base access for residents is open until further notice. Please review the pinned and updated October 23rd Release for details

As many of you know, Vice President Pence and the Secretary of the Air Force visited the base this week to see where we are in the recovery process. During this visit, they announced that we will rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base.

The process will take time and it may mean changes for some families. We don’t have all the answers, but know that we are all working tirelessly to make sure we keep you informed. What we do know is that assignments have started to drop for some Airmen and their families, and your unit leadership will communicate with those Airmen on how that process will work.

During the Vice President’s visit, I was able to share with his team some of the great work our Airmen have accomplished in the last two weeks. This week, the number of Airmen at Tyndall working to recover our base passed 1,000. Our fellow Airmen have come from all over the country to partner with some of our own who remained behind. I couldn’t’ be more proud of how much this team has accomplished in such a short time.

This past week, we opened our gates again for residents to access their personal property in housing and storage. While not mandatory, this is an opportunity for people to bring insurance adjusters for claims on base and to remove their personal property if they wish to do so. With this, there are many questions. Here are a few answers.

•This is voluntary. Rest assured items left in housing will not be removed unless coordinated with the landlord.

•Balfour Beatty recently announced that they will not charge rent for on base homes in November.

•The government will reimburse members on active duty orders and civilian employees (APF) to do a personally procured move (PPM) with storage.

•For more details on the TMO/PPM process, please review our website: https://www.tyndall.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1672013/important-ppm-tmo-information/

Our engineering team also accomplished a lot in the past week. They assessed close to 80% of the buildings on base for damage, brought back power to some areas of base, removed street debris from over 90% of housing, partnered with the county to bring the wastewater treatment online, and much more.

We will continue researching answers to your questions. They are great questions; keep them coming. We are looking to our future as a base and as a community. I am excited to see where we will be in the coming weeks and months.

As always, each of you and your families are my priority, and you are always my first thought throughout each step of this recovery process. I am thankful for our Air Force family. We’re a resilient clan, and we’ve got this.

We are better than we were yesterday, and tomorrow we will be better than today.

v/r
Col Brian S. Laidlaw
325th Fighter Wing Commander

Tyndall AFB mail is currently located at the Panama City General Mail Facility and the base is working with the station manager in Panama City to have the mail released. Because of the damage to Tyndall's main mail facility, the base will be setting up a temporary mail facility for official and dormitory resident mail soon.

Official mail will be handled a little differently than in the past. Before the hurricane, mail was picked up and delivered at individual units throughout the base. Because many of the units are moving into different facilities, units will pick up from one central location in Bldg. 662 at 445 Suwannee Street, Tyndall AFB, FL 32403.

Once on-base mail delivery resumes, dorm residents can also get their mail at Bldg. 662 and will need to present their military ID card. Unfortunately, there is no interim ability for dorm residents to pick-up their mail until on-base delivery resumes.

For base housing residents who received mail via the U.S. Postal Service, the USPS is working on a plan to deliver their mail. In the interim, residents can collect their mail at the post office at 1336 Sherman Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401.

Dorm residents who received support from the Postal Service Center and will be reassigned due to Hurricane Michael will need to out-process the PSC. This will ensure their personal mail is forwarded to their next duty station.

Non-dormitory residents who received USPS mail delivery and will be reassigned due to Hurricane Michael will need to initiate a change of address request with the USPS, which can be accomplished online at https://moversguide.usps.com/mgo/disclaimer?referral=MG82 or in person at post office.

Tyndall personnel who live off base should contact their post office for procedures in place to pick up personal mail if that facility has not yet reestablished mail delivery.

There are many resources available for you, to include: information at www.move.mil, your local base TMO and the Eglin Family Support Center staffed with more TMO help. You can also visit the Tyndall AFB website here for related links, numbers and other information.

It is highly recommended that after you retrieve your property you clean and dry all items prior to storage in order to combat and prevent the spread of mold.

While there are many options for you, one that you may be of help is Operation Blue Roof by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Operation Blue Roof 1-888-ROOF-BLU (7663-258) is a priority mission managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The purpose of Operation Blue Roof is to provide homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until arrangements can be made for permanent repairs.

There are multiple locations established, open 0800-1800 CDT, seven days a week. You can find these locations and other details at: http://www.sad.usace.army.mil/Missions/Readiness-and-Contingency-Operations/Storms/Hurricane-Michael/ 

• Find a reputable roofing contractor. One way to ensure a company is reputable is to see if they are registered with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org. 
• Operation Blue Roof is a program ran by FEMA to aid in the tarping of houses. To see if this option is appropriate for you please see FEMA’s frequently asked questions about Operation Blue Roof. https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2017/09/17/4337/frequently-asked-questions-about-operation-blue-roof  

FSH/Dual BAH is authorized for military members who are separated from their dependents and have two households they are maintaining. A designated location for the dependents must be established and reported to the A1 section immediately.

IAW SAF/MRM memorandum dated 20 November 2018, “Tyndall AFB evacuees whose military sponsor will remain assigned at Tyndall for the 20 weeks or more, beginning November 13, 2018, to choose, and move to, a CONUS (48 contiguous states and District of Columbia) designated place no later than February 28, 2019. On March 1, 2019, if the dependent has not selected and moved to the designated place, the safe haven converts to the designated place.”

The member will receive with dependent BAH for the designated location of the dependents. If the member incurs an additional expense for lodging for themselves at Tyndall, they can apply for FSH to receive the Single rate BAH with valid proof for lodging.  The evacuation entitlements will stop for the dependents if receiving FSH.

There are many foundations providing financial support those recovering from Hurricane Michael. One resource for you is CharityNavigator that will help identify and help you navigate multiple charity organizations and support opportunities.

IAW the DoDFMR Volume 9 Travel Policies 070205 and 070301, one voucher can be completed for all family members (filed under the military sponsors social security number) if traveled CONCURRENTLY. If dependents ONLY traveled then a separate voucher will be filed for the dependents, the dependents EFT information is required for reimbursement. Items required to file a travel voucher (DD Form 1351-2) are:

- Evacuation order;

- ID Card (DD Form 1173, United States Uniformed Services ID and Privilege Cards; DD Form 2750, Senior Executive Service ID Card; DD Form 2765, ID and Privilege Card; DD Form 2764, Civilian Geneva Convention Card; passports; or other forms of picture ID are sufficient identification to pay evacuees);

- Receipts (lodging receipts and receipts for expenses over $75.00).

If the leave did not terminate prior to the order to return, the member remains in a leave status and per diem would not be payable. If leave terminates while the evacuation order is in effect; then the member is placed in a TDY status at the leave point if the commander determines that the member should not return. There is no authorization for transportation allowances.

Anyone who needs help for themselves or their families have a wide variety of options available to ensure they are staying strong mentally. You are a critical part of our team and maintaining good mental health is vitally important to the success of our mission.

The following list is not all encompassing and if you do not find your needed resource, call, email or message the 1AF Recovery Center for help and they will help get you what you need. In addition, military bases have chaplain and counseling services available and can be reached by visiting or calling the base near you.

- Military One Source - 1-800-342-9647

- SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline - 1-800-985-5990 (Call or Text)

- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

- U.S. Dept of Veteran Affairs - 1-800-273-8255 opt 1

- CDC.gov

According to Tricare East, the following are approved retail pharmacies:

Walmart, Sam's, Walgreens, Kroger, Rite Aid

If you have questions or need help with your pharmacy needs, contact Tricare East at 1-877-363-1303.

Our unique situation has been acknowledged; military members at Tyndall will receive TDY travel allowances.  Meals are available at the DFAC and required; members that use the DFAC will receive $5/day.  If members are unable to use the DFAC due to duty requirements; members will receive up to $66/day ($43/day if member eats one meal/day at the DFAC).  This only applies to military members; guidance for civilian employees is still being worked.

Details:

Military members must meet All of the following conditions IAW JTR, par. 020602 subparagraph A-2 to continue receiving TDY travel allowances
1) During emergencies that threaten injury to human life of damage to Federal Government property. Met (Hurricane Michael)
2) At a location within the PDS limits. Met (Recalled back to Tyndall)
3) At other than the Service member's residence or normal duty location. Met (Staying in tent city)
4) At overnight accommodations used for duty. Met (Staying in tent city)

If a member meets all of these conditions, they will continue to receive TDY travel allowance, based on the Tyndall rates. Please note any meals provided must be declared on their travel voucher. Once member's depart Tyndall on TDY status to a follow on TDY location, their travel allowances will be based on the new location's allowance rate.

Once a member's normal duty location (their office prior to the evacuation) has been restored to a working status and the member is able to conduct their primary duties in that location, the member will no longer be eligible for TDY travel allowances within the PDS limits.

Once the President declares that this area is no longer a disaster area, TDY allowances end. 

Many of the questions fielded by our 1AF Recovery Center concern “safe haven” locations, the associated entitlements and changes that have occurred since the storm.   

The original evacuation order established a safe haven distance of 100 to 500 miles from Tyndall. On 12 Oct, that order was amended to include the entire Continental United States beyond 50 miles from Tyndall.    

Members and families who initially sought safe haven more than 100 miles from Tyndall then moved closer continue to receive evacuation entitlements (as long as they remained outside the 50-mile radius). Military members are considered TDY even if they’ve changed locations since the storm (again, as long as they’ve remained outside the 50-mile radius).

On 17 Oct, the Secretary of the Air Force issued a memo confirming all of the above. That memo is posted to to www.facebook.com/1AFRecoveryCenter and www.1af.acc.af.mil/hurricanesupport. A more detailed press release can be found at www.tyndall.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1667665/press-release-on-conus-evacuation-order-eo-for-all-individuals-assigned-to-tynd/.

If you are a military member or DoD civilian employee, your chain of command will contact you when it is time to return home and get back to work. Taking care of your family and property is priority. The command has sent out a request for status updates of all of our members and will notify members when to be back at work. Keep in touch with your supervisor during the evacuation to make sure you receive the most current information.