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Evacuations - Resources and Tips

During evacuations, the Global Community Liaison Office (GCLO) is the Department of State's main point of contact for evacuees, providing guidance on allowances, regulations, housing, education and employment for family members. GCLO coordinates with post management, regional bureaus and other offices to support the evacuated community. For questions about evacuations contact GCLOCrisisManagement@state.gov  

Contact for Department of State Direct Hire Evacuees: Comptroller Global Finance Services (CGFS) at GFSCSeaPackage@state.gov for clarification, assistance or specific questions related to your SEA application and payments.

Crisis Intake Form: The U.S. government is ready to help Americans leave the Middle East if you choose to take advantage of the options available. Please complete this crisis intake form so the Department of State can better assist you and provide you with timely updates: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake. If you have already completed the crisis intake form, please do not fill it out again. 

General AD/OD information

  • USDH – No safe havens are being approved— you must come back to Washington, DC. This is required by statute.
  • EFMs are approved to safe-haven anywhere in the United States.  If they want to safe-haven overseas, they must request this formally via an Action Memo to M.  It is not automatic and EFMs cannot go to the foreign location before it is approved.

Scroll down the page to see childcare, education, and other evacuation resources.

Please note that this is a compilation from responses shared by our community, not an endorsement by AAFSW.

Are we missing a resource? Please help us keep this list up to date. Contact us and we will add your link. This tool is for the community by the community - we count on you!

Evacuation Payments

Evacuation payments are made when employees/family member(s) are authorized or ordered to evacuate a foreign post. Evacuation payments consist of (1) a subsistence allowance to help cover the costs of lodging and meals; (2) local transportation allowance at the safehaven when a personally owned vehicle is not available; (3) an air freight replacement allowance if air freight is not shipped from post; and (4) a pet shipment and required quarantine allowance to assist with getting the family pet or pets out of and return to the foreign post of assignment. Subsistence amounts are based on the safehaven's per diem rate and the lodging calculation differs if occupying commercial or non-commercial quarters. Evacuation payments terminate no later than 180 days after the evacuation order is issued unless the evacuation order has been extended past the 180 day mark (rare) and an employee's account for 180 days of subsistence has not been reached.

Generally, the United States and non-foreign areas (the 50 United States, the District of Columbia,  territories, possessions, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) are designated as the official U.S.  safehaven.  When necessary, an official foreign safehaven may be designated.  Evacuees are required to go to the official U.S. or official foreign safehaven to receive evacuation benefits/allowances. An employee may request designation of an alternate foreign safehaven for special family needs but approval is not guaranteed. See DSSR sections 600 and 960 (Evacuation Payments Worksheet) and the Evacuation Manual available at each foreign post for more information.  The FAQs associated with the 2020 Global Authorized Departure have been moved to the end of the Evacuation FAQs in case they need to be referenced. 

Subsistence Expense Allowance (SEA) - Evacuation Payments - Central Allotment Accounting - CGFS/GFO/AOD/AA/CAA: Contact CGFS/CAA (Central Allotment Accounting) via email at GFSCSeaPackage@state.gov

Visit the CAA SharePoint page: https://usdos.sharepoint.com/sites/CGFS-GFS/GFO/CAA

Intranet-Only Links

Childcare and Education Resources

Helpful Resources from GCLO

  • School Enrollment Guidance: This will offer some guidance to parents who may need to enroll their child(ren) in DC area schools during AD/OD if virtual schooling is not available.
  • Short Term Housing List: While GCLO cannot recommend any particular housing companies, this list contains some options used by previous evacuees for temporary accommodations while they are safe havening. They also honor per diem rates.

Evacuees in the Washington DC Area

  • Lodging: Based on the official GSA rate - check GSA.gov/travel. One rate per family unit, NOT paid per person, nor a percentage per person. Current rate for the month of March is $276/night. Double check the rate by inputting the zip code for your hotel.
  • M&IE: Based on the official GSA rate - check GSA.gov/travel. Current rate is $92/day for evacuees over the age of 18.  Evacuees under the age of 18 will receive $46 (50%)
  • If staying in a personal residence, with friends or family: Calculated as 10% of Commercial Lodging Rate of your authorized rate Not paid per person, it is paid per family unit. Afforded only for the 1st 30 days of evacuee unit SEA clock.
  • Transportation: Daily $25 allowance

Pets

  • Evacuating with your pet: Reimbursement is up to a total of $4,000 roundtrip, not per pet. Receipts required. Allowable expenses include pet transport costs, pet shipper fees, ground transport to/from airports, hotel pet fees, quarantine fees, boarding/kenneling (no pet sitters), required immunizations, required blood tests, and required certifications (does not include the purchase of pet food, litter, litter boxes, purchasing of shipping crates or grooming). Each member of a tandem is eligible for this allowance, but not for the same pet on the same portion of the roundtrip.
  • Boarding your pet if you cannot evacuate with your pet: Authorized for this evacuation (March 2026), normally not allowed. Reimbursement is up to a total of $4,000, not per pet. Receipts required. Covers fees for commercial boarding at post. No other pet related fees are authorized. Other agency employees should consult their agencies on similar reimbursement authority.
Other Resources

Care In Times of Crisis

Please take care of yourself and your family if you are affected by emerging crises.
  • Information Dissemination: The Global Community Liaison Office (GCLO) is always available to affected families through GCLOCrisisManagement@state.gov. They are coordinating with posts and disseminating all information that they can. They are scheduling calls to the community and are available by email at any time.
  • Personal Care and Support: Reach out to CLO, RMO/P, and other colleagues who are there for you as your first and primary resource. For additional support, Employee Consultation Services (ECS) (email:  medecs@state.gov; phone:  202.235-7475, option 3) has a full range of resources and programs for employees and families needing support.
  • Logistical Support: Your bureau and management team can assist with any needs related to travel logistics, per diem, etc.  If you’re unsure where to go, your CDO can help point you in the right direction!



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