Knowing that you're prepared for a possible emergency during the servicemember's absence will give everyone peace of mind. With your family, discuss and act upon these helpful measures:
** Try to save at least one month's pay in a savings account to use in case of emergency. This can prevent you from having to use high-interest credit cards to handle unforeseen expenditures.
** Make sure your servicemember and an additional family member have the command's complete official mailing address, servicemember's Social Security Number, and any other key telephone numbers.
** If you haven't already done so, find out about the services that are available to your family through support organizations. Also look into the services provided by the American Red Cross in case of an emergency that involves you or a family member.
![Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Boase, dressed as Santa, waves to Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, before being dropped off by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.](http://images03.military.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail_large/public/2024-12/santa.jpg?itok=KFVvxUEU "Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Boase, an intelligence chief, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Rakkasans," 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), waves to Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, before being dropped off by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to deliver Christmas presents, Dec. 25, 2012. (Spc. Brian Smith-Dutton/U.S. Army photo)")
