VA helps Veterans in response to Hurricanes Fiona and Ian

Leveraging the strength of the nation’s largest health care network, VA ensured that facilities directly in the paths of hurricanes Fiona and Ian were equipped to take appropriate action to help affected Veterans.

Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 provides care for more than 1.5 million Veterans across Florida, parts of South Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. VA’s Sunshine Healthcare Network is well-tested in hurricane preparedness and response, having experienced past storms, and participating in extensive education, training, drills and live exercises.

One of 150 Veterans transferred to other VA health care facilities

These steps included the appropriate rescheduling of elective procedures where possible and limiting admissions unless necessary. It also included expediting discharge for those who were clinically ready to leave and ensuring critical supplies were adequate to maintain continuity of operations.

Our teams contacted more than 10,000 Veterans we had identified as vulnerable to ensure they had the care and medication needed in advance of the storm, and we followed up with them after.

We also provided key staff to travel with evacuated patients while keeping other clinical staff onsite at locations where patient care was needed during and after the storm.

Most clinics operational in a day or two after storms

Thanks to preparation and quick response, most of VA’s clinics remained online or were fully operational within a day or two. Even those worst hit were fully operational within two weeks from when these storms made their historic landfalls.

VA employees across the enterprise consistently demonstrate their commitment to the Veterans we serve even when experiencing personal loss. As hurricane season officially comes to an end as we close out the month of November, I could not be prouder of their efforts and determination providing safe, timely access to care.