Emergency Assistance

The American Red Cross provides a wide range of services that fall into five main categories:

• Disaster relief
• Blood donation
• Health and Safety training
• Support for military families and veterans
• International aid

As a humanitarian organization, the Red Cross depends on volunteers and public donations to carry out its mission. Contact the Frederick office at 800-448-3543.

Army Emergency Relief can provide financial assistance to eligible soldiers and their family members to meet unforeseen required travel and related expenses such as transportation, lodging or food when applicable due to extraordinary costs involved with a permanent change of station. AER can help with emergency financial needs for food, rent, utilities, emergency transportation, vehicle repair, funeral expenses, medical or dental expenses and basic living expenses when pay is delayed or stolen. Assistance is given in the form of an interest-free loan, grant or part loan and part grant. To receive Army Emergency Relief assistance apply at www.armyemergencyrelief.org or contact AER at 301-619-3455 for an appointment. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1520 Freedman Drive, Room 125A. Additionally, AER provides undergraduate level education scholarships, based primarily on financial need, to spouses and dependent children of active duty, retired or deceased soldiers.

Before you leave, make sure you have all your important papers hand carried with you and not packed with your household goods.

1. Identification for each family member — Bring your Military IDs, driver’s licenses, but also Social Security cards, passports and birth, marriage and naturalization certificates.
2. Vehicle documentation — Take your vehicle title or lease information and proof of vehicle inspection, registration and insurance.
3. Financial information — Bring personal checks, any hard copies of recent bank statements, and all credit and debit cards — even the ones from department stores you never use.
4. Housing information — Carry the household inventory list your moving company provided as well as lease or mortgage paperwork.
5. Legal documents — Bring divorce or annulment paperwork from a previous marriage, wills, custody or adoption paperwork, and any active power of attorney documents.
6. School or employment records — Carry all transcripts, report cards or grade sheets your children may need for school registration. If your child has an individualized education program, it’s important to carry this with you. If you are moving with a child with special needs, please check out Military OneSource.
7. Medical and physician information — Previous medical and dental records and vaccination records will likely be needed for school registration and for some employment.

Make sure you have important numbers such as both gaining and losing unit Duty Officers and your sponsor. Check with the Accounting and Finance Office before you move regarding eligibility for a cash advance or travel pay. Your sponsor can be invaluable in case of an emergency while in transit.