BVA has received periodic updates this week from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that confirm active monitoring and responses to the various consequences of Hurricane Helene. The focus is ensuring the maintenance of critical operations and safety for veterans and VA employees.

Despite its proximity to the center of the greatest damage and number of casualties, the Asheville, North Carolina, VA Medical Center remained open and was functioning as a hub for coordinated outreach and services for employees and veterans in the area. As of this past Tuesday, the facility continued on generator power but had received a large food delivery that same day. The Veterans Canteen Service Mobile Unit, equipped to serve 1,000 meals per day, also arrived on Tuesday. In addition, ten water trucks began supplying the campus, keeping the water tower full. Some 3,000 gallons of fuel also arrived. Community-Based Outpatient Clinics in Hickory and Franklin, both in North Carolina, regained power and reopened on Wednesday.

VA officials throughout the region are pursuing aggressive outreach to staff to account for each employee and ensure their safety. Some staff had reportedly lost family members, homes, or at least access to clean food and water. Other VA staff are going above and beyond expectations by helping with rescue activities while also managing their own personal needs and those of their families.

VA is committed to providing for those who care for our nation’s veterans and are actively reaching out to help. The Department continues to actively support Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel Systems (DEMPS) requests from facilities as they are received. Use the Find the VA locations tool to check the current status and operating hours of each local VA facility.