What Veterans, Retirees in Areas Affected by California Wildfires Need to Know

What Veterans, Retirees in Areas Affected by California Wildfires Need to Know
Firefighters watch over a back fire along a hillside during firefighting operations to battle the Kincade Fire in Healdsburg, Calif., on Oct. 26. (Philip Pacheco/AFP/Getty Images)

By MOAA Staff

Veterans in need of assistance as a result of wildfires in both Northern and Southern California have specialized resources at their disposal.

While VA advises those with medical emergencies to dial 911 or visit the nearest emergency room, the department is attempting to connect with veterans who may need assistance. VA provided the following contact details:

  • Veterans facing wildfire-related threats or dealing with related scheduled power outages who need emergency prescription refills should call 1-800-733-3202.
  • Veterans with Apria oxygen devices should call 1-866-509-7732. Those with other oxygen-related issues should contact the vendor listed on their equipment or oxygen supplies.
  • Veterans with urgent symptoms that do not require emergency care can call the VA’s telephone nurse advice line at 1-800-733-0502.

 

VA is attempting to reach out to all veterans threatened by the wildfire. Specific attention is being paid to those in the following populations:

  • Veterans receiving treatment for spinal cord issues.
  • Veterans receiving home care (including home oxygen) or nursing home care.
  • Veterans receiving hemodialysis.
  • Veterans receiving mental health care.
  • Homeless veterans.

 

In Northern California, the Santa Rosa VA Outpatient Clinic remained closed as of early Oct. 29, with much of the area under evacuation orders. Other community-based outpatient clinics in Clearlake, Eureka, San Bruno, and Ukiah were open but with limited resources because of planned power outages. The downtown San Francisco clinic and the San Francisco VA Medical Center were operating as normal; more information on these facilities and others in the Sierra Pacific Network are available online here – click the “Our Medical Centers” tab to find contact details for specific locations – and emergency updates are online here.

In Southern California, as of Oct. 28, all Desert Pacific facilities were operational, according to the VA. More information on the network, including links to individual facilities, is available here.

TRICARE Emergency Benefits

TRICARE beneficiaries throughout California are eligible for emergency prescription refills through Nov. 6, according to the TRICARE website.

Under this provision, beneficiaries may take their prescription bottle to any TRICARE retail network pharmacy to receive an emergency refill. Find a network pharmacy by searching here or by calling 1-877-393-1303.

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