The Austin Vet Center, San Antonio Northwest Vet Center and South Texas Veterans Health Care System recently combined efforts to assist with disaster relief support for those affected by July flooding in the Texas Hill Country.
On July 10, the Austin Mobile Vet Center (MVC) deployed to the Kerrville VA Clinic to provide confidential counseling, outreach and referral services for Veterans, service members and their families.
“Seeing the devastation firsthand, I know it will take much time to recover from this devastation,” said Veterans Outreach Program Specialist Tony Coble. “I am grateful that VA is here providing support to Veterans and families in need through our mobile vet center and other VA resources.”
Help for displaced Veterans
Army Veteran Herbert Chipman was forced from his house after flooding in San Angelo, Texas, brought 35 inches of water into his home.
Chipman, along with 20 other Veterans in the area, received assistance from the Waco Regional Disabled American Veterans office, the West Texas VA Health Care System and the Abilene VA Vet Center.
West Texas VA social worker Laura Ozuma worked in advance to reach out to Veterans she knew had been affected by the flooding.
“The Central Texas floods impacted so many,” said Ozuna. “As a VA employee, I was grateful to be able to provide assistance to impacted Veterans and their families in some way.”
VA staff engaged with more than 100 individuals with information about counseling services, financial benefits, housing, rent assistance, food and other disaster services.
Staff were able to provide on-the-spot counseling and connect people to VA, FEMA, Red Cross, Salvation Army and other disaster support organizations.
What Mobile Vet Centers provide
VA’s Mobile Vet Centers provide:
- Grief and healing services.
- Individual, group and family readjustment counseling to Veterans, service members and their families.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment and help with other related problems that affect functioning within the family, work, school or other areas of everyday life.
- Benefits referral services.
The RV-style mobile vet centers operate nationwide, working to enhance all three primary functions of outreach, direct service delivery and referral.
“The largest benefit of the MVC is its ability to take services directly to Veterans who may otherwise have a difficult or near impossible time reaching a permanent center,” said Lisa Fowler, Austin Vet Center director. “When disasters such as this strike, our mobile vet centers can go directly to those in need providing much needed VA support.”
