Complete Story
02/07/2025
VA Emergency Ambulance Service
Doug Villiard, MD
VA Emergency Ambulance Service
Written by: Doug Villiard, MD (Director for the EAS program for the VA)
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Ambulance Service (EAS) and Veterans Transport Service (VTS) collaborated as part of the Veterans Affairs Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) efforts to mobilized Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System (DEMPS) to provide life-saving assistance to the Veterans served by the Charles George Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina. From October 12th through October 18th, highly trained EAS paramedics, and an advanced life-support ambulance with specialized equipment to deliver emergency medical care and transportation worked alongside Charles George VA Medical Center’s Veterans Medical Transport teams to care for Veterans impacted by the hurricane's devastation.
Over the course of the week, paramedics from Martinsburg WV, Amarillo TX, and Battle Creek MI’s VA Medical Centers assisted area veterans, offering critical care transport and care to patients suffering from injuries, dehydration, and exposure, and providing essential support to those with chronic medical conditions disrupted by the storm. Paramedics worked tirelessly, not only providing safe transport to medical facilities, but also assisted in addressing immediate health concerns of veterans seeking care in the Emergency Department.
The EAS paramedics ensured that emergency care was accessible and of the highest standard. Their expertise in both pre-hospital emergency services and specialized medical interventions contributed greatly to reducing fatalities and injuries in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Veterans receiving care expressed profound gratitude for the EAS teams’ tireless efforts. One of the comments received was: “The VA Emergency Ambulance Service saved lives and brought a sense of hope when we needed it most. We are forever grateful.”
