When natural disasters upend lives—whether it’s a hurricane, wildfire, flood, earthquake, or tornado—Veterans and their families can count on the Department of Veterans Affairs to be a steady hand in the storm.

From emergency housing to health care, from benefits to fraud protection, VA offers a wide range of resources to help Veterans recover and rebuild. Here’s what you need to know.

Crisis Support—Anytime, Anywhere

If you or a Veteran you know is in crisis, help is always available:

• Dial 988, then Press 1
• Text 838255
• Chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net
• For those who are deaf or hard of hearing: 1-800-799-4889

Emergency Housing and Shelter Support

If you’ve lost your home or been displaced:

• Call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-4AID-VETS (1-877-424-3838) — available 24/7.
• VA teams may already be on-site at shelters or FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers to help connect you with housing, health care, and benefits.
• If you have a VA-backed home loan, review the VA Guidance on Natural Disasters (PDF) for next steps.

Health Care and Prescriptions

If you’re enrolled in VA health care and affected by a disaster:

• Contact your local VA medical center or use the Find VA Locations tool.
• VA may deploy mobile clinics and emergency pharmacy vehicles to provide prescriptions and medical equipment like oxygen tanks.
• For non-urgent needs, use My HealtheVet for secure messaging, refills, and appointment scheduling.
• VA Health Benefits Hotline: 1-877-222-8387 (Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET)

Caregivers can also reach out to the Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274 and explore the Caregiver Disaster Toolkit.

Benefits, Compensation, and Financial Relief

If your benefits are disrupted:

• Call the VA National Call Center: 1-800-827-1000 to request a one-time emergency payment.
• VA encourages mortgage servicers to pause foreclosures and waive late fees for 90 days post-disaster.
• GI Bill students may continue receiving payments if their school closes—call 1-888-442-4551.
• Displaced Veterans in employment programs may qualify for two extra months of Employee Adjustment Allowance.
• For home repairs, the Specially Adapted Housing Program may help: 1-877-827-3702.
• Lost a specially adapted vehicle? VA may assist after insurance coverage.

Mail Delays and Claims

If mail service is disrupted:

• VA will not penalize you for delays in submitting paperwork.
• You can upload documents and manage claims through your VA.gov account.

Life Insurance and CHAMPVA

• VA offers same-day processing for policy loans, dividend withdrawals, and death claims.
• Contact OSGLI at 1-800-419-1473 or email osgli.osgli@prudential.com.
• CHAMPVA beneficiaries can refill prescriptions at local pharmacies and may receive coverage for durable medical equipment.

Beware of Scams

Disasters often attract fraudsters. If you suspect a scam:

• Call the VA Fraud Line: 1-833-388-7233 (24/7)

For the most up-to-date information and resources, visit the VA Disaster Help website.