VA FILES AT ROANOKE REGIONAL OFFICE COULD COLLAPSE BUILDING

[Jamastiene]

VA FILES AT ROANOKE REGIONAL OFFICE COULD COLLAPSE BUILDING

The backlog of VA claims files is so great that it is compromising the structural integrity of the building.

Be sure to watch the video of this story using the embedded player at the bottom of the page.

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Backlog of veteran files could cause collapse at Roanoke’s Poff Building

By Angela Hatcher | WSLS10 Reporter/Anchor

http://www2.wsls.com/sls/...icle/backlog_of_veteran_f
iles_could_cause_collapse_at_roanokes_poff_building/75802/



The problem is literally from floor to ceiling inside Roanoke’s Poff Federal Building. According to a report uncovered by our Lynchburg newsroom the News and Advance, nearly 11,000 folders were found sitting on top of full file cabinets. That was during an inspection between August 25 and September 2.

In the report by the Va’s Inspector General, an engineer states the load on floors 10, 11 and 12 of the 14 story building is double what is considered safe. The load was determined to be 160 pounds per square foot, twice the 80 pounds per square foot recommended limit.

That’s heavy enough to cause a potential collapse. The engineer mentions the possibility of structural damage that would threaten the safety of the building and people inside.

http://www.vawatchdog.org...10/nfjan10/nf012010-4.htm

Video:
http://vp.mgnetwork.net/viewer.swf?u=2453d2f056aa102da6fd001ec92a4a0d&z=SLS

Go To Pages 12&13 in the PDF File (Page 8 of the actual file) here to read the actual report:
(Search for VARO LACKS ADEQUATE SPACE TO STORE AND SAFEGUARD VETERANS' CLAIMS FOLDERS)
http://www4.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2010/VAOIG-09-01995-63.pdf

And yes, it really does say the building is in danger of collapsing with the weight of the backlog of veterans' claims.

[MindPilot]

1. There's an entire fucking jobs program right there.

Fix the VA from a the ground up and start paying your dues to the vets.

Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for the people who served her.

edited to add, I wish Obama would quit navigating the ship and captain it. Seriously, this could be this generation's space program. If the president can get out there and say look, our first priority is to take care of the people who have been keeping us free. Obama needs to sell it so there is no way you can go against vets and not get vilified. If he wants to justify spending for a war he has to bring the war home.

[Jamastiene]

2. That is exactly the same thing my aunt just said when I read the article to her.

She is still trying to get her service connected claim through from where they did chemical/biological testing on her in the late 50s when she was a WAC. For years, they've been stringing her along at a snail's pace.

Someone who so proudly served this country and was in Hawaii when it became a state is being told she has to just live with the aftereffects of nasty experimental testing with no real help.

What you said about the jobs program was EXACTLY the same thing she just said. I agree too. It's a disgrace the way vets are treated.

[dgibby]

4. She needs to take her story to the press and her elected reps,

but especially the press. As a vet myself, the one thing I know they don't like is adverse publicity.

[druidity33]

3. so true

there's your jobs program right there! Maybe even combine it with service work initiatives (Americorps) so that the youth can help while getting money for college too.

:)

K&R

[dgibby]

5. All of those records should be computerized.

Maybe they can outsource that job to India.:sarcasm:

[w8liftinglady]

6. I wonder how many other VAs are like this?I'll have to research Texas

[Crowman1979]

7. Their still using paper files?

We can afford to let contractors to rip off the taxpayers, poison the air & water, and point guns at our troops. But we can't afford to modernize the VA's filing technology?!?!