Emergency Assistance

The Grand Forks Air Force Base Military & Family Readiness Center is ready to assist service members and their families with all phases of the military life cycle. A variety of resource and referral information for base agencies and community service organizations is located within the facility. Contact the M&FRC Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 701-747-3241.

Please utilize the Grand Forks Air Force Base Command Post after-hours in case of emergency at 701-747-6771.

Victims of Sexual Assault

For immediate assistance, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program can be reached 24/7 at 701-747-7272. The SAPR office is located on 558 Eielson Ave., Bldg. 440.

Security Forces Assistance

The Grand Forks Air Force Base Security Forces Law Enforcement Desk is located at 463 Steen Blvd., Bldg. 339 and is available 24/7 by calling 701-747-5351.

The Air & Space Forces Aid Society is a non-profit, charitable organization and is the official charity of the United States Air Force. The organization is headquartered in Arlington, VA. One service provided is emergency assistance to airmen and Air Force families when unexpected financial emergencies arise. They provide interest-free loans and grants to assist in meeting immediate needs and making positive steps toward lasting financial health.

AFAS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for emergencies to get airmen home due to a serious illness or a death in the family. Through the collaboration between AFAS and the American Red Cross, all emergency travel applications for eligible Airmen, Guardians, and their dependent family members will be processed through ARC. To apply for assistance, please call the ARC at 877-272-7337. Be prepared to provide all required documentation requested by ARC to include itinerary to show cost of airfare, AF Form 988, Leave Authorization or AF Form 972, and Request and Authorization for Emergency Leave Travel.

The process of applying for an interest-free loan for immediate emergency needs has changed. Go to the AFAS portal to fill out an application for all AFAS requests. Please visit https://afas.org and click “Request Assistance”. We are here to help you meet your needs and provide you with the best possible assistance.

The Air & Space Forces Aid Society provides interest-free loans and grants based on the individual situation for needs such as:

• Basic living expenses (including rent or utility bills)
• Emergency travel
• Medical or dental care
• Vehicle expenses
• Funeral expenses
• Medical, mental health, or dental expenses
• Immigration expenses
• Pet PCS transportation (to/from OCONUS)
• Pet emergency surgery
• Domestic violence support
• Home repairs
• Childcare or respite care
• Moving expenses
• EFMP-related costs
• Overseas car rentals
• Furniture costs
• Car seats and booster seats
• Adoption expenses
• Miscellaneous expenses

AFAS Financial Assistance is available to:

• Active-duty Air and Space Force members and eligible family members (Spouses will need Power of Attorney and be enrolled in Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System with a valid military dependent ID card)
• Guard and Reserve Air Force and Space Force members (regardless of duty status) and their eligible family members.
• Retired (including medically retired) Air Force and Space Force members receiving retirement pay and their eligible family members (limited assist)
• Dependent-aged children of deceased Air Force and Space Force personnel (who died on active duty or in retired status).
• Widow/Widower
• Air Force Academy Cadets & Preparatory School Students (limited to emergency travel situations when serious illness or death of an immediate family member).
• Basic Military Training School (Basic Military Training School students are only eligible for emergency travel assistance when there is serious illness or death of immediate family member. Commander must confirm the student will return to complete BMTS).

If your family needs American Red Cross emergency assistance, call toll-free at 877-272-7337. The American Red Cross is available for emergency aid and can assist with financial crises. Rapid communication between service members and family about emergencies is available 24 hours a day. These communications include verification of death or serious illness of immediate family, birth announcements to parents deployed overseas as well as health and welfare reports resulting from a lack of communication over a long period of time. Active-duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members may call the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Service Center toll-free for help seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 877-272-7337.

ARC support is available to dependent children of active duty, Title 10 Reservists on extended active duty, Title 32 Guard performing full-time active duty, retired, retired Reserve and deceased Air Force and Space Force members, as well as spouses of active duty and Title 10 Reservists, and widows/widowers. Air National Guard personnel on Title 32 USC 502(f) Full-Time Active Guard Reserve “Initial” or “Continuation” Tour.

Information to Have Ready

When calling the Red Cross, please provide as much of the following information about the service member as is known:

• Full legal name
• Rank/rating
• Branch of service (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard)
• Social security number
• Date of birth
• Military unit address
• Information about the deployed unit and home base unit (for deployed service members only).

You may learn more about the Red Cross on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The Grand Forks Salvation Army has been serving North Dakota and Minnesota for over 125 years by providing critical services with much needed support. The Grand Forks Salvation Army provides assistance for basic needs of daily life for those without the resources to do so themselves. This program provides food, shelter, clothing, financial assistance to pay utilities and other necessities based on the customer's need. The Service Center is located at 1600 University Ave. in Grand Forks and can be contacted via phone at 701-775-2597. The facility is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Other programs and services provided are:

• Grocery baskets and food assistance (picture ID and proof of current address required)
• Pathway of Hope
• Rent eviction and deposit assistance
• Emergency medical and dental assistance
• Utility disconnection assistance
• Gas assistance
• Back-to-school supplies
• Emergency disaster relief services
• Community Care ministry
• Winter coat assistance for children and adults
• Seasonal assistance
• Men's and women’s ministries
• Youth ministry

These service are open to Grand Forks and East Grand Forks residents.

Medical Emergency

If you need emergency care to safeguard life, limb or eyesight, go immediately to the nearest hospital or call 911. You or a responsible family member must notify your primary care clinic of this emergency care within 24 hours. If you need health care advice while traveling, contact the Nurse Advice Line for care advice 24/7. They can assist you in finding local care services as necessary at 800-874-2273.

Once you have a home address in the Grand Forks area, please contact TriWest Healthcare Alliance to enroll at Grand Forks Air Force Base. You may also contact them with benefit questions and for West Region medical claim information:

• TRICARE West Region
• TriWest Healthcare Alliance
• 888-874-9378

Medical Emergency En Route

While traveling to your gaining base, it is imperative that you always carry the 24-hour contact number for your primary care manager from your losing base.

Grand Forks Air Force Base is located in the TRICARE West Region. While you are en route during your permanent change of station or anytime you are away from home, it's important to know what to do in the event that you or your dependents need medical care. For active-duty service members who are enrolled in TRICARE Prime, if you need non-emergency care away from home, your care will only be covered if you obtain approval from your PCM. When PCSing, your PCM from your previous duty station retains responsibility for your medical care until the day you enroll with a new PCM at your new duty station. When receiving care en route, it's important that you give the civilian medical provider your home address from your previous assignment. This will help to ensure that any bills are sent to the appropriate claims processor. Your military identification card will identify you as having military health benefits.

Important Documents to Hand Carry

The following items should be hand carried and not packed in your household goods shipment or luggage:

• Driver's licenses
• Orders
• Passports
• Identification cards
• Credit cards
• Checkbooks (blank, canceled and current statements)
• Divorce papers (discharge papers; death certificates and annulments as applied to divorce situations)
• Birth certificates (original or certified copies) for all family members

Should you encounter an emergency en route to Grand Forks Air Force Base, have the emergency contact phone numbers of your gaining commander’s support staff, Grand Forks Air Force Base Command Post, your sponsor and relatives readily available.

Organizations to Contact in an Emergency

Locate and contact the closest Department of War military installation. Any Military and Family Readiness Center, Army Community Services or Navy Family Support Center can provide you invaluable assistance if needed. The American Red Cross also provides services to all branches of the military as well as veterans and DOW employees. One of the services provided is 24/7/365 emergency communication messages. They can be reached by calling 877-272-7337 for Armed Forces emergency assistance.