You’re Displaced, Now What?

If you have found yourself displaced as a result of a natural disaster, know that you are not alone. During this time of turmoil and confusion, it can be hard to know where to start with the rebuilding process.  To begin with, you will need to know where to get assistance during this period of time.

Housing

Many times securing temporary housing is among the top priority of those who find themselves displaced.  If you’re in the Oklahoma City (OKC) area we can help assist you with finding temporary housing, and if you are not currently local, reach out to us and we can put you into contact with a military housing specialist in your area.

For those in the OKC area, here is a list of currently available homes for rent that will meet the criteria for both enlisted and officers.

Finances

We would highly recommend that you get in contact with the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS), which is available to assist you during an emergency when a financial need arises.  They are able to provide no-interest loans and/or grants to help you meet immediate needs. The AFAS also assists families with access to community programs designed to help you and your family make everyday life a little easier from everything from deployments to PCS orders.

Know that as military personnel you are able to walk into any branch’s aid society and they are able to assist you.  We would encourage you to also contact your local office to see what assistance is available to you.

·         Air Force Aid Society

·         Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

·         Army Emergency Relief

Insurance

Now is the time to get in contact with your insurance company to file a claim on the contents you had inside your rental home.  You can find the toll-free number for your insurance company here.  If you need help finding your insurance carrier call the NFIP Center at 1-800-427-4661.

It is important to note that you must have purchased your own rental insurance to have had your belongings that were inside the rental home covered. The insurance the landlord has on the home will not cover your belongings.

FEMA

It is not uncommon that not only are you displaced, but you are in an area you are not familiar with. The government Disaster Assistance program offers you the ability to search for local resources to help with your immediate needs.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is available to help before, during and after disasters.   File for federal disaster assistance.

Future Readiness

It is not too soon to start planning ahead for the future by being prepared for future natural disasters.  The Air Force Be Ready Program suggested you start by creating a kit with basic supplies needed to sustain your family until the emergency passes, making a plan for staying in touch with family, and being prepared by anticipating how emergencies will affect you and your family.  See details on these tips here so you can start preparing today.

If you are in the Tinker area and need help/resources text MYTINKERPCS to 59559 to receive access to our easy to use site with many useful resources.