Base agencies helping after Michael

The Airman and Family Readiness Center here continues to provide services to Tyndall AFB personnel, nine months after Hurricane Michael destroyed the base.

The displaced Tyndall people still face many challenges, including housing relocation, job searches and finding child care.

“Child care is still a big issue,” said Master Sgt. Julie Lince, A&FRC readiness NCO in charge.  “Tyndall no longer has child care services available.  Many personnel now living in this area after Michael commute to Tyndall for work and need child care.”

Military members are impacted with administrative issues like deployments, separations, retirements and local life in the Tyndall area after military service.

Janice Barnes, A&FRC flight chief, said Tyndall families’ work/life relationships are still impacted by the loss of homes, lifestyles, friends and by forced relocation.

Spouses lost jobs due to damaged on-base buildings and area businesses.  Children are adjusting to new schools and new surroundings, Barnes said.

“One of the hardest things about surviving a disaster like Michael is how things move forward in the long term,” she said.  “It can be difficult for families to deal with those circumstances.”

One Airman the A&FRC helped was Airman 1st Class Dymond Holloman, 21.  She was at Tyndall just over a year when the catastrophe occurred.

“We never imagined it would do so much damage we would never return to the base again,”  Holloman recalled.

After the storm, Holloman evacuated to her hometown of Detroit in late October for a month.

Holloman’s unit, the 43rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and its aircraft were transferred here in late November to continue the F-22 mission. 

“It was a very stressful time, jumping from hotel to hotel and not knowing where I was going to end up,” she said of the transition and lodging availability here. 

Now with permanent change of station orders, Holloman said her back pay and entitlements still had not caught up with her since leaving Tyndall.  Many personnel and their families are waiting for their Air Force pay and entitlements to catch up with them after they were displaced, Barnes said.

Short on cash and with bills, she turned to the A&FRC for financial assistance.

The A&FRC helped get her a Falcon loan through the AFAS.  A Falcon loan is a no-interest loan that provides Airmen expedited financial assistance.  To take care of immediate needs, many families used the AFAS and Army Emergency Relief to handle new, added or unforeseen expenses.  

“I covered my bills and other expenses until my back pay catches up,” she said.  “I’m grateful to the A&FRC and I would recommend them to anyone in my position.”

Barnes encouraged the base community to be prepared this hurricane season.

“The Eglin A&FRC is committed to providing assistance to hurricane-impacted families, and find their new ‘normal’ with new living arrangements and life circumstances,” Barnes said.