{"id":70041,"date":"2023-08-29T17:55:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T17:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/08\/29\/hurricane-idalia-threat-prompts-va-to-move-patients-warn-other-vets\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:21:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:21:09","slug":"hurricane-idalia-threat-prompts-va-to-move-patients-warn-other-vets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/veterans\/2023\/08\/29\/hurricane-idalia-threat-prompts-va-to-move-patients-warn-other-vets\/","title":{"rendered":"Hurricane Idalia threat prompts VA to move patients, warn other vets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CHARLOTTE, N.C. \u2013 In advance of Hurricane Idalia\u2019s expected landfall in Florida<\/a> this week, Veterans Affairs officials<\/a> on Tuesday began moving some veteran patients out of potentially impacted areas and sent warnings to tens of thousands more about the likely impact on <\/b>VA services in coming days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meteorologists are predicting that the storm, currently a Category 1 hurricane, <\/a>could grow in power before hitting the western shoreline of Florida, bringing with it damaging winds and rain. Local officials have already closed services temporarily and urged evacuations in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During an appearance at the annual American Legion convention<\/a> in North Carolina Tuesday, VA Secretary Denis McDonough<\/a> urged veterans in the area to follow the orders of those local leaders and stay in touch with VA in coming days, to ensure their medical care and benefits are not disrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur team is working overtime to make sure that all of our vets are taken care of and moved to safer ground,\u201d he said. \u201cAny of our vets who are worried about listening to local authorities and leaving their homes, rest assured that your VA benefits will travel with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t