The VA announced medical centers open in Houston and central Arkansas are providing assistance to veterans affected by Hurricane Harvey across southeastern Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. It also has deployed Mobile Vet Centers to veterans in Corpus Christi, Texas and other effected areas to provide counselling services.
Due to the State of Emergency declared in Louisiana and Texas, TRICARE has implemented emergency refill procedures from August 23 rd - September 5 th. Phone numbers and advice have been provided to assist in refilling prescriptions. The referral requirement also has been waived for those who have been evacuated in southeastern Texas counties from August 24 th- September 5 th.
The DoD has deployed about 3,000 Texas National Guardsmen and Guardsmen from other states for search and rescue. Director of domestic operations for the National Guard Bureau, Air Force Maj Gen. James C. Witham, says the bureau has identified “20,000 to 30,000 additional soldiers and airmen that could be used.” The Texas National Guardsmen has its personnel and about 16 aircrafts conducting day and night searches. National Guardsmen from all over the country have been involved in the rescue of more than 3,500 people and 300 pets through boats, vehicles, and helicopters. The DoD also is providing 11 generators, and 50,000 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel through the Defense Logistics Agency for.
On Tuesday alone, 2 U.S. Navy helicopter squadron detachments rescued 227 flood victims while flying from Fort Worth, Texas. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons 7 and 28 have relocated to be closer to the epicenter of the flooding in and around Houston.
In order to drastically reduce response time, the 112 Sailors from the Dusty Dogs and Ghostriders of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons (HSC) 7 and 28 (respectively) moved their staging site and six MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters in order to be even closer to the disaster zone in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. USA.gov has provided resources on what to do now that the hurricane has subsided for residents in the affected areas. A list of recommendations from federal officials, advice on how to replace vital documents, and the latest news on the storm are provided with links.
FEMA has provided a list of emergency phone numbers to County Emergency Operation centers and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Huston Command Center for life-threating situations. Other resources for safety tips, the National Flood Insurance Program, how to apply for assistance, and how to help others needing assistance are provided as well.
