Fires put stress on Vallejo-area veterans

Aug. 26--The year was already bad enough for veterans. Now the fires.

"As if economic, unemployment, social, educational and community disruptions brought by COVID are not enough, these wildfires are adding more major stressors," said veterans advocate, Ret. Col. Nestor Aliga of Vallejo.

"I think our veterans are even more affected because all these stressors may pile up to worsen their combat-related PTSD," Aliga said. "Also, since many of our veterans are already suffering from pre-existing service-connected disabilities like heart and lung issues, this constant exposure to fine particulate matter from wildfire and building-material smoke can lead to irregular heartbeats, aggravated asthma, and other issues like cancer."

To make a veteran's life even more challenging, the Fairfield VA Outpatient Clinic at Travis Air Force base remains closed because of smoke and other VA Clinics, including Mare Island's, offers limited services during COVID-19, Aliga said.

"Given the damage and disruption that COVID and the wildfires are causing, it is not surprising that almost everyone is suffering," Aliga said. "While the initial relief to be alive may be followed by distress, fear, and anger, survivors may find it hard to stop thinking about what happened, be on-edge or hyper-vigilant, have trouble focusing or even resting."

For most, "these feelings will lighten over the first few weeks," Aliga said. "But for those who lost a loved one, were injured, or are homeless, those reactions may be more intense, wide-reaching, and longer-lasting before getting better."

After disasters, Aliga said veterans respond much like anyone: "Reestablishing a perception of safety; regaining control and security; connecting with loved ones and community; resiliently fighting through the crisis; and then a sense of hope, optimism, belief or faith that things will work out."

Aliga emphasized that "we must be mindful of feelings of distress after disasters that cannot be resolved by a simple fix .. that it really takes a village."

Aliga said he and his colleagues at the American Legion Manuel L. Quezon Post 603 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Karl H. Kreh Post 1123 do "buddy checks" weekly of fellow veterans.

"This is similar to what we did in the military -- always checking on the health and welfare and helping to improve the tactical and technical proficiency of our 'battle-buddies,'" Aliga said.

"I've been getting a lot of calls about homeless veterans," Aliga continued, adding that the's heard of several who lost their homes in the Vacaville fires.

Aliga works with Elizabeth Hoffman and Rebuilding Together Solano County to help get free food to veterans and he expects an uptick in those in need because of the fires.

"Any veterans in need of food deliveries, we can help," Aliga said by phone Tuesday afternoon.

With the added pressure of surviving COVID-19 and now a fire, Aliga said many veterans turn to alcohol or drugs.

"And I hate to say it, but they will often take their problems to their families. Human beings will do more to hurt their loved ones than others," Aliga said. "Child abuse ... spousal abuse issues all go up. Alcoholism goes up. And if they had PTSD from combat it compounds it."

The VA Clinic on Mare Island is at 201 Walnut Ave., and is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information, (707) 562-8200. Other VA clinics are in Martinez, 50 Muir Rd, Martinez, (925) 372-2000, Santa Rosa, 3841 Brickway Blvd., (707) 569-2300, and the Sacramento VA Medical Center, 10535 Hospital Way, Mather, (916) 843-4200.

Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness should contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for assistance. https://www.va.gov/homeless/

Veterans in crisis must call the Veterans Crisis Line: Call 800-273-8255, then select 1, or chat online at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or text to 838255. https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/

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