Welcome to Northwest Florida | Army

As we welcome you to our beautiful area, we are pleased to offer this Relocation Guide to help you find what you need.

For relocation updates and community news, please be sure to visit our Blog at
www.welcometonorthwestflorida.com/blog.

Airman & Family Readiness Centers
Auto Registration and Driver's License
Childcare/Pre K
Cities and Counties
Dental
Education
Employment
Medical - Community Hospitals and Centers
Medical - Military
Military Installations
Pets - Services
Pets - Veterinarians/Animal Hospitals
Utilities
Weather and Emergency Services

Airman & Family Readiness Centers

Eglin Airman & Family Readiness Center
www.united-publishers.com/EglinGuide/lodging.html
502 West Van Matre Avenue, Suite 1
Eglin AFB, FL 32542-6823
850.882.9060 | DSN 872.9060

Hurlburt Airman & Family Readiness Center
www.hurlburtservicesonline.com/commandoinn
220 Lukasik Avenue
Building 90517
Hurlburt Field, FL 32547
850.884.5441 | Fax 850.884.2600
Monday – Friday (0730-1630)

TLF (temporary housing) or hotel information

Eglin AFB
www.united-publishers.com/EglinGuide/lodging.html

Hurlburt Field
www.hurlburtservicesonline.com/commandoinn

Auto Registration and Driver's License

What to do FIRST

Obtain your Florida driver license.

Then obtain automobile insurance from a company licensed to do business in Florida.

Finally, title and register your vehicle
(obtain license plate).
Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles.

Go To

Florida Drivers License

Automobile Registration/Tag/Title

State Driver's License

A Florida Operator's License is required 30 days after you become a permanent resident. If you have a valid license from another state, you need only take a vision test. An original Social Security card and two ID's with full name and date of birth are required. With tickets or violations, a road signs test and vision test are required. Handbooks are available at the exam stations.

NEW CHANGE: Florida operator's licenses may be renewed or transferred at the Eglin Airman & Family Readiness Center each Friday from 8:30 am to 4 pm and at Hurlburt’s A&FRC on Thursday from 8:30 am till 3:30 pm. Do not go to the Center if you need to take a written test or actual driving exam, as the only test available at the Center is the road signs test.

Driver License Offices
Make Appointment Online-All Services

Crestview
197-A East James Lee Blvd.
Crestview, FL 32536-3551
850.689.7861
Tuesday - Friday 7:30 am - 6 pm

Fort Walton Beach
115-D NW Racetrack Road
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
850.833.9122
Tuesday - Friday 7:30 am - 6 pm
Make Appointment Online-All Services

Niceville
506 Highway 85 North
Niceville, FL 32578
850.651.7300
Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm

Registration, Tag and Title Services

Contact the County Tax Collector for cars, trucks, trailers, vessels & mobile homes Specialty tags and disability parking permits.

Auto Registration, Tag and Title
(County Tax Collector)
www.okaloosatax.com
Tax Collector: The Honorable Chris Hughes
151-C North Eglin Parkway
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
850.651.7300

State Vehicle Registration

For out-of-state service members bringing a vehicle to Florida, the cost is typically between $178.00 and $190.85, including a one-time $100 initial registration fee, and a $33.25 title fee, and an annual tag fee of between $27.60 and $45.60. If there is a lien on the vehicle, there is an additional $2 fee. There are five offices in Okaloosa County - to include a satellite office in the Eglin Personnel Center, Bldg 210, room 155. You are able to purchase license plates, pay tax and transfer registrations on vehicles, boats, and other things requiring registration. The phone number is 850.651.7300.

Members of the U.S. armed forces stationed in Florida, but who maintain their legal residence outside of Florida, are classified as nonresident military and are eligible for lower registration fees. The owner must submit a copy of their military orders or a current Leave and Earnings statement and sign a Military Nonresident Affidavit before a notary. Proof of Florida insurance is mandatory.

If a vehicle has been purchased overseas (tax-free), Florida requires that sales tax be collected (6% state tax and an additional 1% local tax) if it has not been previously collected (using either the blue book value or the bill of sale as the price of the vehicle).

Register Your Boat

All motorized vessels must be registered, titled and issued a decal before they can be used in Florida waters. This falls under the responsibility of the Tax Collector. Vessel registration fees are based on the length of the boat.

Crestview
101 James Lee Blvd.
Crestview, FL 32536
850.689.5700
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Destin
827 Highway 98 East
Destin, FL 32541
850.651.7300
Monday - Thursday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Eglin AFB
310 W. Van Matre, Bldg 210, Room 155
Eglin, AFB, FL 32542
850.651.7300
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed for Lunch 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Fort Walton Beach
151-C North Eglin Parkway
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
850.651.7300
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday and Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Niceville
506 Highway 85 N
Niceville, FL 32578
850.651.7300
Monday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tuesday - Friday 8:30 am- 5:00 pm

Childcare/Pre K

Early Learning Coalition
www.elc-okaloosawalton.org
2018 Lewis Turner Blvd., Suite C
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
850.833.3627

Eglin Air Force Base
Family Child Care
http://eglinforcesupport.com/activity/index.html?FCC_
Child Development Center
http://eglinforcesupport.com/activity/index.html?CDC_
Youth Programs
http://eglinforcesupport.com/activity/index.html?YSA_

Hurlburt Field
Family Child Care
http://www.hurlburtservicesonline.com/pages/fcc.html
Child Development Center
http://www.hurlburtservicesonline.com/pages/fcc.html
Youth Program
http://www.hurlburtservicesonline.com/pages/youth.html

Cities and Counties

Okaloosa County
www.co.okaloosa.fl.us

Walton County
www.co.walton.fl.us

Cinco Bayou
www.cincobayou.com
10 Yacht Club Drive
Cinco Bayou, FL 32548
850.833.3405 | Fax 850.833.4160

Crestview
www.cityofcrestview.org
P.O. Drawer 1209
Crestview, FL 32536
850.689.1618/1619 | Fax 850.689.4575

DeFuniak Springs
www.defuniaksprings.net
Post Office Box 685
71 US Highway 90 West
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
850.892.8500 | Fax 850.892.8506

Destin
www.cityofdestin.com

Fort Walton Beach
www.fwb.org

Freeport
www.freeportflorida.gov
112 Highway 20 West
Freeport, FL 32439
850.835.2822 | Fax 850.835.3137

Laurel Hill
www.laurelhillnow.com
8209 Highway 85 North
PO Box 158
Laurel Hill, FL 32567-0158
850.652.4441 | Fax 850.652.4492

Mary Esther
www.cityofmaryesther.com
195 Christobal Road N
Mary Esther, FL 32569
850.243.3566 | Fax 850.243.0736

Niceville
www.cityofniceville.org
208 N. Partin Drive
Niceville, FL 32578

Paxton
www.gtcom.net/~tricity
1099 Fifth Street
Florala, Alabama 36442
334.858.6252

Shalimar
www.shalimarflorida.org
#2 Cherokee Road
Shalimar, FL 32579
850.651.5723 | Fax 850.651.3337

Valparaiso
www.valp.org

Dental

United Concordia - TRICARE Dental Plan
1.800.332.0366

TRICARE Dental Plan - Conus
1.800.866.8499

Education

Okaloosa County Schools
www.okaloosaschools.com
Dr. Alexis Tibbetts – Superintendent
120 Lowery Place, SE
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548-5595
850.833.3100 | Fax 850.833.3436
TibbettsA@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us

Walton County Schools
www.walton.k12.fl.us
Carlene Anderson – Superintendent
145 Park Street, Suite 2
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
850.892.1100 | Fax 850.892.1191
AndersoC@walton.k12.fl.us

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University center at Eglin
P.O. Box 1553
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
850.678.3137 | Fax 850.678.0977
ec87@eerau.edu

Northwest Florida State College
100 College Blvd.
Niceville, FL 32578
850.678.5111
www.owcc.cc.fl.us

Pensacola Junior College
1000 College Blvd.
Pensacola, FL 32504-8998
850.484.1000 | 888.897.3605
www.pjc.edu

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale (SIUC)
251 W.D. Avenue, Room 108
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
850.678.8533

Troy University
Florida Regional Office
81 Beal Parkway
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549
800.551.6076 | 850.244.7414
www.troy.edu

University of Florida
1350 N. Poquito Road
Shalimar, FL 32579-1163
850.833.9350
www.reef.ufl.edu

University of West Florida
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL 32514
850.474.2000
www.uwf.edu

Employment

JobsPlus One-Stop Career Center
www.employflorida.com

Crestview
212 N. Wilson Street
Crestview, FL 32536
850.689.7823 | Fax 850.689.7825
TTY available via Florida Relay Service: 711

Fort Walton Beach
409 NE Racetrack Road
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
850.833.7587 | Fax 850.833.3924
Employer Services Hotline
850.833.9106 | Fax 850.833.9110
TTY available via Florida Relay Service: 711

DeFuniak Springs
171 North 9th Street
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
850.892.8668 | Fax 850.9519807
TTY available via Florida Relay Service: 711

Medical - Community Hospitals and Centers

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center
(Fort Walton Beach)
www.fwbmc.com
1000 Mar-Walt Drive
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
850.862.1111 | Fax 850.862.9149

North Okaloosa Medical Center
(Crestview)
www.northokaloosa.com
151 East Redstone Avenue
Crestview, FL 32539
850.689.8100

Sacred Heart Hospital on The Emerald Coast
(Destin)
www.sacredheartemerald.org
7800 U.S. Highway 98 West
Miramar Beach, FL 32550
850.278.3000 | 1.866.591.3600

Twin Cities Hospital
(Niceville)
www.tchospital.com
2190 Highway 85 North
Niceville, FL 32578
850.678.4131

White-Wilson Medical Center
(FWB | Destin | Niceville | South Walton)
www.white-wilson.com
1005 Mar-Walt Drive
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
FWB 850.863.8100 | 800.654.3585

Fort Walton Beach Immediate Care
1005 Mar-Walt Drive
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
850.863.8219

Destin
990 Airport Road
Destin, FL 32541
850.837.3848

Niceville
2001 East Highway 20
Niceville, FL 32578
850.897.4400

Niceville Immediate Care
2001 East Highway 20
Niceville, FL 32578
850.897.4400

South Walton
7720 Highway 98 West
Destin (So. Walton), FL 32550
850.622.3330

Medical - Military

Air Force Medical Service
www.airforcemedicine.afms.mil
1780 Air Force Pentagon
Washington DC, DC 20330-1780

This web site has links to all AF medical services, including TRICARE.
There is also a locator feature for the nearest MTF.

Eglin 96 Medical Group - Hospital
Central Appointments
307 Boatner Road
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
850.883.8600 | DSN 875.8600

DEERS
Building 210
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
850.882.2742/2745 | DSN 875.2742/2745

Enrollment is handled by MPF. Everyone must be enrolled in DEERS.

Eglin Hospital (Information)
www.eglin.af.mil/96MDG
307 Boatner Road
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
850.883.8242 | DSN 875.8242

Emergency Room (Eglin Hospital)
307 Boatner Road
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
850.883.8227 | DSN 875.8227

Main number for the Emergency Room at U.S. Air Force Eglin Regional Medical Hospital.

TRICARE Benefits Counseling and Assistance Coordinator
(BCAC) 207
Boatner Drive
Bldg 2793, Suite 114
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
850.883.9048 | Fax 850.883.8544 | DSN 875.9048

TRICARE Beneficiary Information Services
800.444.5445

TRICARE Claims Service
800.403.3950
TRICARE Health Benefits Coordinator
307 Boatner Road
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
850.883.8246 | DSN 875.8246

TRICARE Healthcare Benefits Coordinator
TRICARE Health Care Finder
800.333.4040

U.S. Air Force Regional Hospital (EGLIN AFB)
www.eglin.af.mil/96MDG
307 Boatner Road, Suite 114
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
850.883.8242 | DSN 872.8242

Military Installations

Destin Coast Guard
www.uscg.mil/d8/sta/destin/index~1.htm

Duke Field
www.919sow.afrc.af.mil

Eglin Air Force Base
www.eglin.af.mil

Hurlburt Field
www2.hurlburt.af.mil

Pets - Services

Eglin Pet Welfare
www.petwelfare.org
P.O. Box 1914
Eglin AFB, FL 32542
850.678.5066

The Panhandle Animal Welfare Society
W.F Thore Spay / Neuter Clinic
www.paws-shelter.com
752 Lovejoy Road
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549
850.243.1525

Pets - Veterinarians/Animal Hospitals

Donal Pyle
402 James Lee Blvd. W
Crestview, FL
850.682.2626

Okaloosa Animal Clinic
411 James Lee Blvd.
Crestview, FL
850.682.2706

Southside Animal Hospital
1502 Ferdon Blvd. S
Crestview, FL
850.682.2626

All Creatures Animal Hospital
1021 Beal Parkway NW
Fort Walton Beach, FL
850.863.2740

Animal Hospital
93 Eglin Parkway NE
Fort Walton Beach, FL
850.243.7144

Cove Animal Clinic
530 Eglin Parkway NE
Fort Walton Beach, FL
850.862.4215

Don Carter
623 Beal Parkway NW
Fort Walton Beach, FL
850.862.9813

Northside Veterinary Clinic
18 Racetrack Road
Fort Walton Beach, FL
850.862.1005

Reed Pet Hospital
5 Walter Martin Road NE
Fort Walton Beach, FL
850.243.4011

Utilities

Cable & Internet

Cox Communications
www.cox.com

Crestview
2217 S. Ferdon Blvd.
Crestview, FL 32536
850.682.5131

Fort Walton Beach
320 Racetrack Road, NW
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
850.796.1269

Niceville
1173 John Simms Parkway
Niceville, FL 32578
850.862.0175

Electric Service

Gulf Power Company
www.gulfpower.com
You can use the Gulf Power web site to connect or disconnect your home electric service at your new home.

Gulf Power Company
140 Hollywood Blvd. SW
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
1.800.225.5797

Choctawhatchee Electric
www.chelco.com
Simply fill it out a new service application and return it by mail, fax, or in person. Please provide a copy of your picture identification along with your application.

Cooperative, Inc. (CHELCO)
850.892.2111 or 1.800.342.0990

Natural Gas

Okaloosa County Gas District
www.okaloosagas.com

Crestview Area
850.682.3017

Fort Walton Beach Area
850.729.4700

Santa Rosa Beach / Navarre
850.244.5197

Telephone Service (Home)

Bell South
www.bellsouth.com
Residential 1.888.757.6500
Business 1.866.620.6000

Embarq
www.embarq.com
411 Mary Esther Cut-off, Unit B
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
1.888.723.8010

Water & Sewer

Crestview
812 E. James Lee Blvd.
Crestview, FL 32539
850.689.7922 | Fax 850.689.5514
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Closed for Lunch 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Fort Walton Beach
1804 Lewis Turner Blvd.
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
850.651.7171 | Fax 850.651.7747
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Niceville
1401 Catmar Road
Niceville, FL 32578
(Chelco Electric Building)
850.651.7590
Tuesday and Friday ONLY 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed for Lunch 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

City of DeFuniak Springs
850.892.8534

City of Destin
850.892.8534

City of Fort Walton Beach
850.833.9500

City of Freeport
850.835.2822

City of Mary Esther
850.243.3566

City of Niceville
850.729.2716

City of Paxton
850.834.2716

City of Valparaiso
850.729.5402

Weather and Emergency Services

Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA
www.fema.gov
1.800.621.FEMA (3362)

State Emergency Response Team
www.floridadisaster.org

Small Business Administration
www.sba.gov

Local FEMA Hurricane Relief Center
348 Racetrack Road
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
752 NW Lovejoy Road
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
850.243.1525

Informational Radio Station
870 AM, 24 hours a day

Red Cross of Northeast Florida
800.773.7620

Florida Governor -- Make a Donation Online
www.FLAHurricaneFund.org

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