The Veterans’ Health Administration, or VHA, provides care to military veterans and their families.
But providing that care can get complicated during floods, which are growing more common as the climate warms.
Derrick Jaastad is with the VHA Office of Emergency Management.
Jaastad: “A case in point, 2017, when Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, there were over 40 inches of rain. The VA Medical Center there was located on a hill, so it did not flood. However, we had a hard time getting food and nutrition … into the medical center.”
To help prevent similar situations at some of the most vulnerable facilities in the country, the agency purchased six high-water trucks.
Jaastad: “The wheels are about four feet high … being able to essentially ford water 48 inches deep.”
During a flood, they can transport supplies and get hospital staff to medical facilities to care for their patients.
The VHA has also expanded its telehealth offerings so patients at home do not have to miss an appointment during a weather emergency.
So on-site or off, veterans can get the health care they need, even when floodwaters rise.
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media
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