Flooding damaged the Phoenix VA's emergency department. Here's what we know

"A fork and a wad of paper towels" caused flooding that has reduced emergency department capacity at the Carl T. Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Phoenix, VA officials say.

Officials with the hospital, which sits on 27 acres at Indian School Road and Seventh Street, maintain they have not had to refer any patients to other hospitals. Rather, "alternate space in the hospital has been identified for use," according to an email from Shevonne Cleveland, chief of public affairs for the Phoenix VA Health Care System.

The Phoenix VA's emergency department typically sees about 106 patients per day, Cleveland said.

The flood happened Sunday and no employees or patients were injured, officials said. Because of "sanitation processes," repairs are expected to take six to eight weeks, Cleveland wrote.

"The flooding was caused by a fork and wad of paper towels, which clogged the sewage system," she wrote. "Patient and staff safety remain our top priority and we are taking every measure to ensure both are addressed before resuming normal operations."

Reach healthcare reporter Stephanie Innes at Stephanie.Innes@gannett.com or at 602-444-8369. Follow her on X formerly known as Twitter @stephanieinnes.