By Army.mil     October 2026

Hurricane season in the U.S. typically runs from early summer, starting in mid-May and running through the end of November for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, and for the Eastern Pacific. As we’re currently in the most active months, Army Emergency Relief (AER) officials are urging Soldiers to stay prepared —not only to protect their families, but also to ensure they remain ready to answer the nation's call when disaster strikes.

AER, a nonprofit organization, provides emergency financial assistance to eligible active-duty Soldiers, Retired Soldiers and qualified surviving family members facing unexpected financial hardships. During disasters, the organization may provide grants, interest-free loans or a combination of both to help families recover from immediate financial challenges.

Disaster assistance provides help to cover immediate necessities, including food, fuel, water, temporary lodging, minor home repairs and other essential living expenses.

One way to prepare before disaster strikes is to establish an Army Emergency Relief online account before a storm ever appears in the forecast. By uploading identification documents, banking information and other required paperwork in advance, Soldiers can submit applications remotely if installation offices temporarily close because of severe weather.

Applications containing all required documentation can often be processed with minimal delay.

The Army developed the AER online application portal as a direct lesson learned from Hurricane Maria, when widespread power outages, damaged infrastructure and limited access to government services made it difficult for many Soldiers and families to access emergency financial assistance. The system was further enhanced following Hurricane Fiona, allowing Soldiers to establish accounts, upload documents and submit applications remotely, even when installation operations are disrupted.

Since 1942, Army Emergency Relief has stood beside Soldiers and Army Families during some of life's most difficult moments, providing emergency financial assistance, educational scholarships and enduring support that strengthens both families and Army readiness.

Preparing today can make all the difference tomorrow.