For active duty, civilian personnel and families who evacuated to Atlanta and are now moving to the Jacksonville, Florida, area on or about Sept. 18, there are many questions about per diem.

Above all, it's important to keep all receipts, as they assist when liquidating the evacuation orders travel claim.

Per diem is the money authorized by evacuation orders that covers lodging, food and incidentals. The per diem rate applies to active duty on temporary duty assignment orders and for civilian personnel and active duty and civilian personnel families who were authorized by their commands to evacuate.

As of Sept. 18, the designated safe haven will be Jacksonville and the Jacksonville per diem rate will apply, which is $91 per day for lodging, $46 per day for meals and $5 per day for incidentals.

If mission essential active duty personnel or civilian employees are directed to return to the installation, then their families will remain on evacuation orders and receive the Jacksonville per diem rate until it is safe for them to return.

The evacuation order was extended to Sept. 30, to support Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West personnel and families. However, if it looks as if it may take longer to ensure the base is ready to receive evacuated personnel and families, then evacuated civilian and active duty personnel should contact their supervisor and, if directed, report to NAS Jacksonville, Naval Station (NS) Mayport or Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Kings Bay for potential work assignments.

Emergency Family Assistance Centers, also called EFACs, are open at NAS Jacksonville, NS Mayport and NSB Kings Bay and travel claims assistance is available at those EFACs.

Additional updates can be found by visiting Navy Region Southeast's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NavyRegionSE.