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Resources for Military Families in Hawaii Amid Water Crisis

December 09, 2021

To Our Military Families Stationed in Hawaii:

The Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) truly sympathizes with the current challenges you are facing in Hawaii. Staying true to our mission, we want to ensure that you are connected to the resources and information you depend on to successfully navigate all phases of military life – including the challenging and frustrating phases.

Team MFAN has been following the current situation in Hawaii and has been actively compiling a list of official resources currently available to you. In addition to the current water contamination issue, we recognize that Hawaii recently experienced a Kona Low storm that caused major flooding, power outages, and damages across the islands. Therefore, we highly recommend staying tuned to the official websites and social media channels listed below, as they are continuously updating emergency relief services based on the current conditions.

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH)

JBPHH Emergency Response & Relief Page
JBPHH Facebook Page

These pages include daily updates on the following topics:

  • Family Assistance
  • Temporary Lodging Assistance (TLA) Information
  • Partial TLA (Meals)
  • Medical Care
  • Water Distributions
  • Laundry Services
  • Shower Facilities

The JBPHH Emergency Family Assistance Center (EFAC) is available to assist with a variety of needs. The EFAC’s services include clinical counselors, chaplains, medical screenings, legal services, information and referrals, Red Cross, Navy Marine Corps Relief (including available grants and other financial assistance), Air Force Financial Aid (including available grants and other financial assistance), personal financial management, and housing assistance. The JBPHH EFAC is located at 4827 Bougainville Dr, Honolulu, HI 96818 in the same building as the Personnel Support Detachment (PSD), adjacent to the Ruby Tuesday’s restaurant in the Moanalua Shopping Center. The JBPHH EFAC can be reached by phone at 1-866-525-6676 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (HST) daily.

In addition, JBPHH’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation’s (MWR) Catlin School-Age Care and Makai Recreation Center, 4655 Catlin Dr, Honolulu, HI 96818, will provide free grab-and-go lunches and family activities for active-duty service members and their dependents, DoD civilian employees, and retirees living in military housing impacted by the water issue.

U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii

U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii Emergency Response & Relief Page
U.S. Army Garrison Facebook Page

These pages include daily updates on the following topics:

  • Family Assistance Center
  • Relocation Assistance (Temporary Lodging Assistance / Per Diem) – Aliamanu Military Reservation (AMR) is administered through the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii
  • Clean Water Sources & Shower Locations
  • Free Meals
  • Medical Screening
  • Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
  • School Bus Transportation
  • Family Assistance Center Shuttle Bus Information
  • Laundry Services
  • Veterinarian Care & Pet Boarding Information
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Family Assistance Center is located at AMR Community Center, Bldg. 1788, 182 Kauhini Road and will assist with housing logistics, medical screening services, and other issues and topics as listed above. The 24/7 Emergency Family Assistance Center hotline is available at 1-877-406-2148. Task Force Ohana team members are available to connect you with resources.

U.S. Coast Guard

U.S. Coast Guard Information Page
U.S. Coast Guard Base Honolulu Facebook Page

This page includes frequently updated information on the following topics:

  • Personnel Support Team
  • Temporary Lodging Assistance
  • Grants – Coast Guard Mutual Assistance has approved $600 grants to each Coast Guard family affected by the water contamination in the JBPHH water system. All impacted families on this system, inclusive of Pearl Harbor, Hickam, Red Hill, and AMR housing areas are eligible for this grant. If you are eligible, your Command Senior Enlisted Leader should be reaching out to you and attain the required. If you have any issues, please contact Base Honolulu CMC Phil Kibby at 808-436-4495.

As a reminder, the current guidance for impacted neighborhoods is as follows:

  • Residents of AMR and Red Hill are asked to report any foul odor or substance in their water to the crisis hotline at 808-656-3279.
  • Residents of Onizuka Village, Red Hill, Catlin Park, Halsey Terrace, Radford Terrace, Doris Miller, Hale Na Koa, Earhart Village, Officer Field, or Moanalua Terrace are asked to report any water quality concerns to the JBPHH Emergency Operations Center at any of these numbers: 808-449-1979, 808-448-3262, 808-448-2557, 808-448-2570, 808-448-2583.
  • Only use your home water for flushing toilets if no odor is emanating from the toilet water. Keep toilet lids closed when not in use.
  • Anyone with refrigerator or sink water filter systems should disconnect them until further notice. Do not use items or products that were previously used with the water (toothbrush, oral irrigator (such as a WaterPik), coffee maker, ice maker, etc.).
  • Bottled water or water from the water trailers at the emergency relief centers should be used for cooking, washing dishes and water containers, cleaning surfaces, brushing teeth, hand washing, and personal hygiene.​​​​​​

If you are a military family stationed in Hawaii currently dealing with challenges because of the current water contamination issue, do not hesitate to access any of the resources listed above if you need help. Stay diligent and safe.

About the Author

Shanna Smith, Ph.D.

Associate Director of Research
As an applied qualitative researcher, Dr. Shanna A. Smith, CTE, CTA currently serves as the associate director of research for the Milit…
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