Leaving an area before a mandatory evacuation order is not recommended and may violate regulations. While the Marine Corps doesn't explicitly prohibit pre-evacuation travel, it's generally advised to wait for an official order and follow any instructions provided.
The military will not pay for any expenses unless the evacuation is ordered by the appropriate military authorities. If personnel choose to leave without an evacuation order, they will not be reimbursed for any expenses incurred until such an order is given.
Safe Haven
A safe haven is a temporary location to which individuals are sent. If the conditions causing an evacuation are expected to improve and it is anticipated that the individuals will be able to return to the PDS, then the dependent is evacuated to a safe haven. The safe haven and the evacuated area may be in the same city or country or may be in different cities or countries. This may be a specific location or a designated radius.
Only one safe haven location is authorized. If traveler(s) relocate to another location after arrival at the safe haven location, reimbursement is limited to the safe haven locality rate.
Transportation to Safe Haven
Travel to/from the PDS to a safe haven is authorized via Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) at $0.70 cents per mile for the operator only. POV reimbursement is generally limited to two POVs. License plate numbers may be required on claims. If travelers choose to travel outside the evacuation radius, they will be limited to the authorized radius for reimbursement.
Local Travel Allowance
Military Dependents: A local travel allowance of $25 per day for each family, regardless of the number of dependents, is authorized when the dependent has not taken delivery of a POV transported to a designated place or did not drive a POV to the safe haven. No receipt is required for a local travel allowance (JTR, par. 060205). The allowance must be claimed on the evacuee’s travel claim. The allowance is intended to partially offset expenses incurred for required local travel at the safe haven or designated place.
Civilian Employee Dependents: There is no authority to pay a local travel allowance for dependents of civilian employees.
RENTAL CARS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED
Meals and Incidentals
Reimbursement for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) will be based on the safe haven locality rate or standard CONUS rate (if location is not listed) and calculated based on number of authorized travelers (see entitlement calculation section). Receipts are NOT required.
- 12 Years or older: the same per diem as a Service member on a TDY.
- Under 12 Years: an amount limited to one half of what a Service member traveling on a TDY receives.
Lodging
The amount reimbursed for lodging is the actual lodging cost incurred by the dependent family, up to the maximum available to each dependent at that safe haven. Individual amounts are based on the lodging portion of the locality per diem rate.
- - Lodging reimbursement is not authorized for evacuees staying with friends or family.
- - Hotel pet fees are considered a personal expense and cannot be claimed for reimbursement.
Retain Receipts.
Evacuees are advised to retain ALL receipts for tax, reimbursement or other purposes. DoD Financial Management Regulation, Vol. 9, “Travel Policy,” requires an itemized receipt for each lodging expense, regardless of the amount, and any individual expenditure of $75 or more.
Note: Only itemized charges are considered for reimbursement. Online booking receipts often break out the cost of the room but combine taxes and fees. In such cases, only the room cost is reimbursed because the receipt does not itemize taxes and fees.
Government Travel Charge Card
The Department of Defense (DoD) policy is that the Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) will be used by all DoD personnel (military or civilian) to pay for all costs related to official government travel. The purpose of the GTCC is to serve as the primary payment method for official travel expenses incurred by DoD personnel. Use of the card for expenses not authorized by the JTR is prohibited. Authorized GTCC expenses include lodging, meals, gas, and cash withdrawals during an authorized/ordered evacuation. Split disbursement is mandatory when settlement voucher(s) are filed, and the cardholder is required to make full payment.
Post Evacuation
Once the evacuation has been terminated, travelers are required to immediately return to their permanent duty station. Per Diem will stop on the effective date of the termination message/order. A final voucher is required to claim reimbursement. Coordinate with your command leadership to determine when mass travel/evacuation claim schedules will be established.
Other Resources
Joint Travel Regulations
The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) implements policy and law to establish travel and transportation allowances for Uniformed Service members (i.e., Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and Public Health Service Commissioned Corps), Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees, and others traveling at the DoD’s expense. Chapter 6 of the JTR outlines Evacuation Travel. Click link to view JTR https://media.defense.gov/2022/Jan/04/2002917147/-1/-1/0/JTR.PDF
Navy & Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
Active-Duty Members may be eligible for Financial Assistance or a Quick Assist Loan (QAL) in situations of financial emergency. Please call (800)-654-8364 or visit https://www.nmcrs.org/ for additional information. The NMCRS does not provide loans to civilian employees. It is best practice to have a few days’ worth of living expenses available in case of an evacuation.