VA Central California Health Care System

Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Funds sign displayed proudly, at VACCHCS Patriot Brew coffee bar.

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, many of our fellow citizens in the state of Texas are now displaced, to include well over 500,000 Veterans spanning several areas largely affected by the Category 4 Hurricane, which made landfall August 25. The Department of Veterans Affairs has a long-standing tradition of helping whenever and wherever disaster strikes. VA’s mission is to provide continued, quality health care to Veterans, as well as other services. Today, Houston is in desperate need, and VA is once again reaching out to help.
 
Along with multiple localized services, the Department of Veterans Affairs has setup a relief effort and you can help. VA is raising support for those impacted or displaced. Donations are being accepted at your local VA. VACCHCS Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) is collecting donations to assist in efforts to rebuild homes, businesses and the lives of Veterans, Houstonians and VA employees who have been adversely affected. Veterans Canteen Service, originally established in 1946 is an integral part of VA supporting many programs benefitting Veterans, caregivers and visitors across the country.

In addition to providing support for many programs, including Woman Veterans, national Rehabilitation Games, Fisher House, Homeless Veteran Initiatives, Community Living Centers, and Veteran Suicide prevention, VCS is also accepting cash and credit card donations to aid in rebuilding the lives of those affected by Hurricane Harvey. VA employees may also contribute via Electronic Payroll Deduction (EPD), at VCS Canteen registers across the country. You too can contribute to donation efforts at the VACCHCS Patriot’s Store, Veterans Canteen, or Patriot Brew, each located on the first floor of the Fresno VA medical center.

Patriot’s Store hours are 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday’s and Sunday’s from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Patriot Brew coffee is open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,

Patriot Café is open from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In addition to raising money for victims of Hurricane Harvey, VA has made efforts on-site as well, deploying several Mobile units throughout greater Texas, including Dallas, Corpus Christi and Houston. To date, VA has deployed five Mobile Vet Centers, three Mobile Medical Units, a Mobile Canteen and a Mobile Pharmacy, each offering a variety of medical and ancillary services, to include pharmacy assistance, counseling and referrals for benefits to Veterans as well the affected communities.

The Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System (DEMPS) is made-up of VA employees, trained in various specialties. DEMPS is also VA’s main deployment program for disaster response, for both clinical and non-clinical staff. Employees enrolled in DEMPS are sent to assist during emergencies, operating mobile medical units (MMU) and mobile pharmacies. DEMPS teams are currently operating in Houston. They are also on standby, to travel where medical assistance is needed.

VACCHCS staff members are currently deployed to Houston, as Health and Human Services (HHS), working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, had already established the need for a Federal Medical Shelter (FMS). Once volunteers from VA Central California Health Care System’s local DEMPS database were identified, notices were sent out immediately. In each case, VACCHCS disaster emergency personnel departed for Texas, literally, the very next day.

Additionally, VA has activated the Pharmacy Disaster Relief Plan. This allows eligible veterans in impacted areas, with a VA ID Card in need of medications to receive a 14-day emergency supply, at any CVS or HEB pharmacy with a written prescription, or an active VA prescription bottle.

If you are a Veteran or know someone in need of assistance in a storm-affected area, please contact:
 Vet Center/Counseling: 1-877-WAR-VETS
 Pharmacy (Houston VAMC Veterans only)
 Telecare Call Center: 1-800-639-5137
 Medication request with refills: 1-866-265-0124
 Medication request without refills: 1-800-639-5137

Despite multiple deployments in Texas, keeping in line with their mission, VHA and Veterans Canteen Service is also gearing up to sponsor relief efforts in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. For the latest information on Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey, including any potential impact to VA services and facilities, please visit VA's VAntage Point blog, at; http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/