As of March 7, 2022, Army Emergency Relief approved assistance for the Soldiers and Families affected by multiple fires in the Florida Panhandle known as the Chipola Complex.

 

How will AER help?

Army Emergency Relief remains steadfast in its long-standing commitment to meet needs of the 21st Century Soldier and Family during a crisis. Wildfires began in the Florida Panhandle last week and have burned more than 29,000 acres and forced hundreds of evacuations.

AER is providing disaster assistance in the form of $600 grants to eligible individuals impacted by the Florida Panhandle wildfires within the surrounding areas of Tyndall Air Force Base and Bay County, Florida, and any adjacent affected counties. Eligible Army personnel may be provided financial assistance to assist with evacuation, stabilization-in-place and recovery (lodging, gas and food) from the devastation of the wildfires.

Assistance will be retroactive to March 5, 2022, and will only be considered for individuals who have been ordered to evacuate via a local municipal evacuation order. Return assistance will only be considered upon confirmation by the local municipality that it is safe to do so.

 

AER Assistance may apply to:

• 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 both 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 S.C) on continuous active duty for more than 30 consecutive days and their eligible Family members;
• Title 10, Title 32, and TPU Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers who are 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 Florida Panhandle wildfire relief

 

How do I apply?

To apply for a grant or to learn more, Soldiers may contact their local AER officer or, in the event a local office is inaccessible or located farther than 50 miles away, please contact AER headquarters at assistance@aerhq.org.

Use our Office Locator tool to find the nearest AER Office.

 

ARE YOU AN AER OFFICER?

Download the Florida Panhandle Wildfires Disaster Assistance bulletin. 

 

UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopter crews from the Florida National Guard support the wildfire suppression efforts in Bay County, Florida, on March 7, 2022. The Florida National Guard is working closely with state and local partners to contain the Chipola Complex fires across multiple counties in the Florida panhandle. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Christopher Milbrodt, Florida National Guard Public Affairs Office)