Tyndall AFB Access Update Oct. 23

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- I would like to pass on my sincerest appreciation for your patience during this trying time. We are pushing to move as fast as possible while ensuring we maintain a safe and secure environment for you and your families. Some of you did not have a chance to gather your household goods or have your private insurance adjusters or Air Force Claims Service Center representative accompany you during your initial base housing assessment. I want each of you to have increased opportunities to move forward and have more time to develop a plan for your property. Therefore, our team will open up portions of the base beginning Wednesday, Oct. 24 to Friday, Nov. 2.

Area Access:

AREA NAME	DATE	TIME	GATE ACCESS
Bay View	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	N/A
Beacon Beach Cove	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Cleveland / Commercial
Felix Lake	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Cleveland / Commercial
Island View	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Cleveland / Commercial
Red Fish Point	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Cleveland / Commercial
Saber Palms	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Cleveland / Commercial
Shoal Point	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	N/A
Dormitories	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Louisiana South
Marina Storage	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Cleveland / Commercial
Mississippi Storage	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Louisiana South
Prime Beef Storage	Oct. 24 – Nov. 2	7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Cleveland / Commercial

The housing areas will be open for residents and non-DoD Common Access Card holders in the same vehicle as DoD CAC holders. Non-DoD CAC holders that are not in the same vehicle as DoD CAC holders must undergo a background check (please see details below regarding background check). The housing area will be open to collect household goods from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Standard Time daily. The base will be open to DoD Common Access Card holders and their private insurance adjusters beginning Wednesday, Oct. 24 to Friday, Nov. 2 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Central Standard Time. I ask that you adhere to the guidelines established in each section below. Access will be limited to travelling directly to your personal property (i.e. vehicle, dry storage facilities, or residence) only. Access to any other base building or facility is off limits due to continued safety concerns.

Dorm residents will go straight to their rooms to collect their personal items. Plan on clearing out your entire room and letting your supervisor know what your intentions are.

If you have a boat that washed ashore and you request wet wrecker retrieval, please contact the 325th Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron at 850-283-8977 to coordinate. Security Forces will monitor the removal to ensure the safety of the installation. Our security personnel will require identification and boat registration to release the item from our installation.

Household Goods

The following will provide guidelines and recommendations for base entry, care for personal property, storage of goods and additional questions we are in the process of researching.

Base Entry

- Access to Tyndall Air Force Base housing will begin at 7 a.m. and all residents and individuals accompanying base residents will depart base no later than 5:30 p.m. due to no power or lighting in residential areas.

- Residents and individuals accompanying base residents will be required to proceed directly to their residence only. Upon completion of the collection of household goods, personnel must immediately depart the base.

- Residents shall accompany non-DoD CAC holders on the installation at all times.

- Names, social security numbers and date of birth are required for non-DOD CAC holders for a background check to allow base access. This information must be submitted 48 hours prior for any non-DoD CAC holder not in the same vehicle as DoD Common Access Card holders. Contact Security Forces at 850-283-8977.

- We have pre-positioned port-a-potties and bear-proof dumpsters throughout housing for your convenience. However, base housing remains without power and water and still has similar safety concerns from the previous week (i.e. debris in the road, downed trees, debris throughout many houses, etc.). Plan appropriately with plenty of food and water and bring appropriate personal protective equipment (safety glasses, gloves, sturdy shoes/boots etc.)

- I encourage you to refrain from bringing children due to safety concerns.

- Residents can procure moving trucks no larger than 26 feet and position them in residence driveways overnight starting no earlier than October 24.

- No moving companies and/or trucks larger than 26 feet will be allowed on base.

Mold

- We recommend you clean your personal property, either professionally or on your own, to ensure it is free of mold and mildew prior to storage.

- Prior to cleaning your damaged property, please coordinate with your insurance company to ensure they have all the required documentation (to include photographs of your damaged property) to process your claim.

- Items that may be difficult to get mold free include: cloth items such as couches, chairs and items that contain particleboard.
   
Specific recommendations for cleaning your items:

- Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water and dry completely.

- Absorbent or porous materials, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely.

- Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.

- If you are unsure about how to clean an item, or if the item is expensive or of sentimental value, you may wish to consult a specialist. Specialists in furniture repair, restoration, painting, art restoration and conservation, carpet and rug cleaning, water damage, and fire or water restoration are commonly found online. Be sure to ask for and check references. Look for specialists who are affiliated with professional organizations.

- For personal comfort, it is recommend to clean items in a well-ventilated area.

- For more information about cleaning mold, please consult http://www.epa.gov/mold

- You should consult with your insurance provider for reimbursement of professional mold/moisture cleaning services.

- Please do not move trash/destroyed property to the shoulder/side of the road. Keep all items in the house until further notice. For further information regarding housing questions visit: https://m.facebook.com/TyndallHomes/

Reimbursement

- What we know for finance concerns: Moving your household goods will be considered a Personally Procured Move and is reimbursable up to 95% of the cost the government would otherwise pay for movement of your property. However, members will NOT be reimbursed for TDY mileage to and from Tyndall AFB and surrounding areas. Household goods can be moved directly to a storage facility or residence of your choosing between Tyndall AFB and your safe haven. It is important that you access move.mil and create an account to initiate your PPM, using “Tyndall” as your order number in the absence of orders. This site will allow you access to PPM information and start the counseling process. Please ensure you maintain receipts and tickets for the weights of vehicles or trailers used both empty and full, toll tickets, etc. We recommend you visit weigh stations outside the Bay County area. Weigh stations and additional PPM information can be found at https://move.mil. Short-term storage of household goods is authorized at this time; financial management will determine the final payment of vouchers.

- Headquarters Air Force is working diligently to determine long-term plans for Airmen and their families.

- We will have the 325th Fighter Wing Travel Management Office personnel located at the Youth Center (signage will indicate our personnel, also available at 757-849-2356) to answer immediate questions. Tyndall TMO can be reached at 850-885-9912 or 850-885-9902 to answer your questions. In addition, we have coordinated with Eglin AFB TMO, who can provide additional assistance and answer questions. Eglin AFB TMO can be contacted at 850-882-2023.

- We are working closely with Headquarters Air Force and United States Transportation Command to determine the feasibility and a potential timeline for moving companies to accommodate larger shipments.

- Residents wishing to pursue disaster benefits should follow instructions posted on the FEMA website below to set up an account and an appointment with their representative that they will need to escort to their residence for their claims process.

- Air Force Claims Service Center representative can be reached at 877-754-1212 or 937-656-8044.

- FEMA has a site for Hurricane Michael disaster assistance located here: https://www.fema/gov/disaster/4399

Private Insurance Adjuster/Wrecker

To ensure a safe and efficient process for you, your adjuster and wrecker if required, we need you to abide by the following rules:

1. A background check will be required for your adjuster and wrecker driver 48 hours prior to arrival.

2. DoD CAC holders will be allowed to escort adjusters and wrecker drivers directly to vehicles on base (north and south sides) and/or to dry storage areas on the south side of base (Marina storage lot, Mississippi storage lot, Prime Beef storage lot).

3. Contact Security Forces at 850-882-2023 with names, social security numbers and date of birth of adjusters and wrecker drivers.

4. DoD CAC holders are required to proceed directly to the dry storage areas. Upon completion of the private insurance assessment, personnel must immediately depart the base.

5. DoD CAC holders shall accompany non DoD CAC holders on the installation at all times.

Recommendations

DO

- Keep all receipts, whether you think you’ll need them or not

- Document the condition of your property in words and pictures

- Communicate your needs and concerns through your chain of command

- Arrange storage prior to retrieving your property

DO NOT

- Make assumptions about reimbursable expenses

- Enter in any long-term storage agreements

- Pack or store moldy and/or wet property

- Endanger yourself or others by entering unstable premises

Scenarios

Member will pay the upfront costs (keeping all receipts) for renting a moving truck, buying packing materials and securing the storage unit. Adhering to the PPM instructions provided, member will load all salvageable HHG items and transport them to the storage unit. Member will be reimbursed for HHG storage until the evacuation order is no longer in effect, or the member receives PCS orders. Upon receiving PCS orders, member will designate the storage area for HHG pick-up and proceed to the new duty station. If the member does not receive PCS orders and elects to move back to the local area, the member will be reimbursed for another PPM up to the cost the government would have inccurred.

- Scenario 1: The member moves and stores 5,000 pounds HHG within 50 miles of Tyndall AFB; estimated reimbursement for one-way travel and 6 months of storage: $1,000*

- Scenario 2: The member moves and stores 5,000 pounds HHG 1000 miles from Tyndall AFB; estimated reimbursement for one-way movement and 6 months of storage: $1,400*

* - These cost estimates are calculated based upon general assumptions and should not be relied upon as a basis for your personal reimbursement.