AVMA Offers Disaster Resources For Veterinarians, Pet Owners As National Preparedness Month Begins

Main Category: Veterinary
Article Date: 07 Sep 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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September begins with the nation looking back at the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and much of the nation dealing with floods, wild fires and hurricane-level wind speeds.

It is fitting, then, that September 1 also marks the beginning of National Preparedness Month.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. The goal of the month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action.

As was evident after Hurricane Katrina, one area of disaster preparedness that often gets overlooked has to do with the welfare of pets and other animals. To address this issue, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has developed the AVMA Disaster Preparedness Series to help veterinarians, pet owners and others address animal and human well-being during and after a disaster.

"The AVMA Disaster Preparedness series is a valuable resource to assist pet owners and emergency planners in preparing for an emergency. Creating an effective animal evacuation plan is the best way to keep individuals and their animals out of danger in the event of an emergency," said Dr. Heather Case, AVMA Assistant Director, Scientific Activities Division and Coordinator for Emergency Preparedness and Response.

For more information on the series, visit http://www.avma.org/disaster. For additional information on disaster preparedness, visit http://www.ready.gov.

Contents of the AVMA Disaster Preparedness Series

The AVMA Disaster Preparedness Series consists of the following:

- AVMA Disaster Preparedness and Response Guide: This guide contains 500 pages of disaster planning information, including templates for writing detailed animal disaster annexes to county and state emergency operations plans. This guide is a resource designed for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, emergency managers and others interested in local and state planning for veterinary and animal disaster issues.

- Saving the Whole Family: Designed for veterinarians, this booklet provides detailed information on planning for both small and large animals in disasters. Veterinarians are encouraged to share this booklet and its resources with clients, staff and the community.

- Disaster Preparedness for Veterinary Practices: Another resource for veterinarians, this brochure prepares veterinarians for continuing their practices in the aftermath of a disaster.

The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. More than 75,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine including its relationship to public health and agriculture. Visit the AVMA Web site at http://www.avma.org to learn more about veterinary medicine and animal care and to access up-to-date information on the association's issues, policies and activities.

http://www.avma.org

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