Hurricane season remains in full swing, and evacuations are still possible at any time. Being prepared and informed is paramount to staying safe.
When an evacuation is ordered by the wing commander, all military members are required to evacuate passed the minimum mileage ordered. Financing for lodging, travel and meals are reimbursable up to a certain amount.
“Travel reimbursement is for personal vehicles only, up to the mileage approved on evacuation order,” said Airman 1st Class Joseph Ingold, 325th Comptroller Squadron financial services technician. “Lodging is also reimbursable, not to exceed the max lodging rate at the approved evacuation location. You can check https for the max lodging rates.”
Reimbursement is only available if the evacuation is declared by the wing commander. Service members must use their government travel cards during the evacuation.
“Per diem will be paid based on the evacuation location,” Ingold said. “Use of the GTC is mandatory for reimbursable expenses. In order to get reimbursed, you also need to evacuate beyond the minimum distance annotated on the evacuation order.
“Those families who have a member with a GTC should use it for everything so nothing should have to come out of pocket,” he continued. “For members without GTC’s or dependents whose member is deployed or TDY, we can give them a travel advance.”
After an evacuation order is given, finance will offer a travel advance payment of $1,000 for those who need it. To receive this advance, stop by the finance office as soon as possible after the evacuation notice.
Requests may be submitted directly to DFAS by fax or email. For more information on this, visit https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/travelpay/evacuationorders.html.
While members are evacuated to a safe location, they are required to keep all receipts and financial documents to be used for the reimbursement process.
To file their evacuation vouchers, they will need their evacuation order, ID card, bank account information, travel receipts and lodging receipts of $75 or more.