Army Emergency Relief | Jan. 14, 2024
Army Emergency Relief is providing financial assistance to active-duty and retired Soldiers, their Families and National Guard and Reserve Soldiers impacted by the by California wildfires in Hurst, Kenneth, Palisades, Eaton and surrounding areas.
Since the wildfires broke out Jan. 7, an estimated 12,000 structures are damaged or destroyed, according to Reuters, and about 88,000 people remain under evacuation orders with another 84,000 under evacuation warning.
AER financial assistance is intended to help relieve distress and assist with evacuation expenses associated with basic essential needs to sustain oneself during and after the disaster. The following are eligible:
- Soldiers on active duty and their eligible Family members
- Soldiers retired from active duty because of longevity and their eligible Family members
- Retired Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers receiving retired pay and their Family members.
- Medically retired Soldiers and their dependents, including those placed on the Permanent Disability Retired List or Temporary Disability Retirement List
- Surviving spouses and children of Soldiers who died while on active duty (including those on Title 10 Orders) or in an eligible retired status
- Members of the Reserve Component of the Army (National Guard and Army Reserve under Title 10 U.S.C) on continuous active duty for more than 30 consecutive days and their eligible Family members.
Additionally, retroactively from Jan. 8-31, those below are extended disaster assistance eligibility for the California wildfires. These individuals are typically not eligible for AER assistance.
- “Grey Area” retired Soldiers of the Reserve Components (Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve)
- Title 10, Title 32, and TPU Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers not mobilized
- Title 10, Title 32, and TPU Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers mobilized for less than 30 consecutive days
- Title 10, Title 32, and TPU Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers activated in support of California wildfire relief efforts
For more information, check out AER assistance bulletin 01-2025.
How to get help:
- Those applying for assistance who reside within a 50-mile commuting radius of an Army installation should find their nearest AER office for disaster assistance.
- Those outside a 50-mile radius of an Army installation should contact the American Red Cross at 1-877-272-7337. AER distributes emergency financial assistance through the Red Cross where or when an AER office is not available.
Related:
- Red Cross: How to evacuate safely from a wildfire
- 2025 Los Angeles Fires: Resources for Californians Impacted by Los Angeles Fires
- California Army National Guard Military Police provide traffic check point support near Eaton Fire area
- U.S. military stands ready to respond to Los Angeles fires, FEMA’s Criswell says