In the event of an emergency in transit, please contact the
nearest American Red Cross office OR call the American Red Cross After Hours #
1-888-272-7337. The American Red Cross can assist with your emergency.
American Red Cross communication services keep military personnel in
touch with their families following the death or serious illness of a family
member or other important events, such as the birth of a child. The Red Cross
quickly sends these communications on behalf of the family to members of the
U.S. Armed Forces serving anywhere in the world, including ships at sea,
embassies and isolated military units. The information or verification in a
message assists the service member's commanding officer with making a decision
regarding emergency leave.
How to Contact the Red Cross to Send an
Emergency Message:
Active duty service members stationed in the United
States and their immediate family members may call the Red Cross Armed Forces
Emergency Service Centers for help 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year. The toll-free telephone number is available through base or installation
operators and from local on-base Red Cross offices.
Other family members who
do not reside in the service members' household, members of the National Guard
and Reserves, retirees and civilians may access Red Cross services through their
local Red Cross chapter, which is listed in local telephone
books.
Overseas personnel stationed on military installations should call
base or installation operators or the on-base Red Cross offices. At overseas
deployment sites, contact the American Red Cross deployed staff.
When
calling the Red Cross to send an emergency message to a family member, it is
helpful to have the following information:
Service member's:
Full Name
Rank/Rating
Branch of Service
Social Security
Number
Military Address
Information about the deployed unit and the home
base unit (for deployed service members only)
The Red Cross works with
the military aid societies (Army Emergency Relief, Navy Marine Corps Relief
Society, Air Force Aid Society and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance). This
partnership helps to provide financial assistance for emergency travel that
requires the presence of the service member or his or her family, burial of a
loved one, or with assistance that cannot wait until the next business day
(food, temporary lodging, urgent medical needs, or the minimum amount required
to avoid eviction, utility shut off, etc.).
In 2003, the American Red
Cross, in partnership with the military aid societies, provided $5,387,846 in
emergency financial aid to 6,457 service members, their families, retired
military personnel and widows of retired military personnel.
How to
access Red Cross services:
Active duty service members stationed in the
United States and family members residing in the service member's household
(example: service member's spouse) should contact Armed Forces Emergency Service
Centers for information and assistance 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year. The toll-free telephone number may be obtained from military installation
operators, from local on-base Red Cross offices and from the local Red Cross
chapter.
All family members who do not reside in the service member's
household, regardless of where the service member is assigned ? at a local
military installation or another geographical location ? should contact their
local American Red Cross chapter for assistance. Chapters are listed in local
telephone directories.
Members of the National Guard and Reserves and
their families should contact their local Red Cross chapter, listed in local
telephone directories.
Active duty service members on overseas military
installations may access Red Cross reporting and communication assistance by
contacting base/installation operators for the listing of the on-base Red Cross
office or information on how to access Red Cross assistance if there is not a
representative on the local installation.
Families living overseas may
access assistance through the local on-base Red Cross office or through the
base/installation operator for information if there is not a Red Cross
representative on the local installation.
In overseas deployment areas,
service members should contact the American Red Cross office responsible for
their jurisdiction/installation.
Note, when applying for financial
assistance the same procedures are followed; however, applications are reviewed
by the respective military aid societies and are approved by the respective aid
society.
You can also contact the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society
Headquarters for financial assistance at (703) 696-4904 or visit their
website.
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society can provide interest-free
loans or grants to help with emergency needs such as:
Emergency
Transportation
Funeral Expenses
Medical/dental Bills (patient's share)
Food, Rent, and Utilities
Disaster Relief Assistance
Child Care
Expenses
Essential Vehicle Repairs
Unforeseen Family Emergencies
How to apply:
Servicemember or eligible family members who have
an emergency need should contact the nearest NMCRS location and make an
appointment to be seen by an NMCRS caseworker. Bring your ID card and latest
LES, if available, with you. If that office is closed and the emergency is of
such a nature that it cannot wait until the next business day (e.g. death in the
immediate family), the answering machine will provide instructions for obtaining
"after hours" assistance.
When there is no NMCRS office in the area, an
available Army Emergency Relief, Air Force Aid Society, or American Red Cross
Chapter Office can process your request on behalf of the Navy-Marine Corps
Relief Society.