VA facilities begin preparations for Hurricane Irma

VA’s VAntage Point blog has the latest information on hurricane impact to VA facilities and services. For those impacted by Hurricane Harvey, click here. For information on Hurricane Irma, click here.

In preparation for effects of Hurricane Irma, the director of Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center has activated the hospital command center and appropriate supporting functions.

The command center’s leadership group meets twice daily in person and via telephone to discuss what VA Augusta is doing to prepare its two hospitals and three community based outpatient clinics for the storm and how it will support other VA facilities in the region. The two hospitals are located here while the clinics are located in Aiken, S.C., Athens and Statesboro, Ga.

In coordination with the facility safety officer and emergency management lead, the team discusses and prepares for continued patient care, power outages, flooding and other contingencies. From the discussions, employees take action to ensure patient safety and continuity of operations for the hospital. Matters are coordinated with the Veterans Health Administration regional office in Atlanta and the VA Central Office in Washington D.C.

For Veterans served in the area, VA Augusta will have a Facebook Live broadcast each day at 1pm until the storm passes at http://facebook.com/VAAugusta. The medical center will also publish updates via Facebook at and on Twitter @VAAugusta.

UPDATE as of Sept. 9, 5:45 p.m.: 

Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center’s Statesboro Community Based Outpatient Clinic is closed Monday due to inclement weather. VA staff are contacting patients to reschedule appointments. For additional updates and specific information about the clinic, go to https://www.augusta.va.gov/index.asp

Veterans from storm-affected areas who require immediate assistance may contact: Veterans in storm-affected areas who require immediate assistance may contact the Health Resource Center Disaster Hotline: 1-800-507-4571. Veterans may also go to www.va.gov for additional VA updates and resources.

For the latest on VA’s response, read more here on VAntage Point.