CAS3
09-14-04, 12:33 PM
VA Employees Help Floridians Recover from Hurricanes
WASHINGTON (Sept. 8, 2004) - Nearly 800 hundred Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) employees from around the country have volunteered to assist
Florida communities damaged by Hurricane Frances.
Many employees, representing clinical, engineering, safety, security,
logistics and administrative skills, have been deployed to nearby staging
areas to wait for assignments from the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).
"So far, more than 120 of our dedicated VA employees have gone directly to
stricken areas to help with relief efforts," said Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "Individually and in teams, VA people are
performing an important part of our mission by providing emergency aid to
communities hit by natural disasters."
Principi said VA has chartered busses to transport its emergency response
personnel to community centers and shelters to provide nursing and medical
care to people who are sick, injured or at risk of illness due to age in Ft.
Pierce, Indian River and St. Lucie.
In support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, VA has deployed four
teams to the area. Each consists of 15 nurses, one pharmacist, one area
emergency manager, one driver and one administrative clerk. Four VA
emergency managers in Miami coordinate their activities.
VA officials said personnel are on call as HHS monitors the advance of
Hurricane Ivan. VA liaisons at the Department of Homeland Security
operations center in Washington, D.C. help coordinate recovery requirements
for the department.
WASHINGTON (Sept. 8, 2004) - Nearly 800 hundred Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) employees from around the country have volunteered to assist
Florida communities damaged by Hurricane Frances.
Many employees, representing clinical, engineering, safety, security,
logistics and administrative skills, have been deployed to nearby staging
areas to wait for assignments from the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).
"So far, more than 120 of our dedicated VA employees have gone directly to
stricken areas to help with relief efforts," said Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "Individually and in teams, VA people are
performing an important part of our mission by providing emergency aid to
communities hit by natural disasters."
Principi said VA has chartered busses to transport its emergency response
personnel to community centers and shelters to provide nursing and medical
care to people who are sick, injured or at risk of illness due to age in Ft.
Pierce, Indian River and St. Lucie.
In support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, VA has deployed four
teams to the area. Each consists of 15 nurses, one pharmacist, one area
emergency manager, one driver and one administrative clerk. Four VA
emergency managers in Miami coordinate their activities.
VA officials said personnel are on call as HHS monitors the advance of
Hurricane Ivan. VA liaisons at the Department of Homeland Security
operations center in Washington, D.C. help coordinate recovery requirements
for the department.