A small Tampa nonprofit is gearing up for a big job. Grey Bull Rescue says it is preparing to help Americans in the wake of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, with teams heading toward Jordan and staff already in the region drawing up evacuation plans. The veteran-led outfit, headquartered in Tampa, is positioning itself to plug gaps while commercial and government evacuation routes remain upended.
Grey Bull mobilizes to Jordan
According to WTSP, Grey Bull says its teams are en route to Jordan to conduct rescues, while crew members already stationed in the Middle East are preparing to carry out evacuations. The nonprofit told the station it is assessing possible routes and staging areas from its Tampa command center as the regional situation continues to evolve.
Strikes raise evacuation concerns
The U.S. and Israel launched strikes inside Iran, which triggered missile and drone reprisal attacks, widespread airspace closures and a wave of flight cancellations that are complicating commercial departures and movement across the region, reporting by The Associated Press shows. Those disruptions are a key reason private groups and allied governments have been working to line up alternate exit routes for civilians.
Who is Grey Bull Rescue
Grey Bull Rescue is a Tampa-based, veteran-led nonprofit founded by Bryan Stern that says it focuses on extracting Americans from conflict zones and disaster areas, as detailed by Fox News. The group has previously partnered with Florida officials to bring evacuees to Tampa, according to earlier coverage from Bay News 9.
How Grey Bull describes its work
On its website, Grey Bull describes itself as donor funded and says it operates “at the SPEED OF NEED,” offering an online “Request Help” form for Americans in danger. The group says its case managers sort and prioritize those requests, then pursue routes that are considered operationally feasible, per Grey Bull Rescue.
Official guidance and risks
U.S. embassies across the region have urged staff and citizens to shelter in place, and the State Department issued a “worldwide caution” as the attacks and reprisals unfolded, according to local reporting based on Associated Press dispatches. Officials continue to advise Americans abroad to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and to follow consular guidance rather than attempting high risk travel through areas where airspace and ground routes may be closed or contested.
How to get help
Grey Bull directs Americans seeking evacuation assistance to its “Request Help” portal at greybullrescue.org, where the organization says it will triage and prioritize cases based on threat level and available options. The group cautions that private extractions are complex, can rely on donor funding and intricate logistics, and are not a guaranteed substitute for embassy-led assistance.
Local officials say Grey Bull’s mobilization highlights Tampa’s growing role in humanitarian response, while federal authorities stress that evacuations in and around Iran remain dangerous and highly fluid. Americans overseas are being urged to track official embassy alerts and emergency messaging, even as private teams stand by to help where they can.
