VMATs guard against disaster

The national response to disasters affecting animals, instituted in partby the AVMA, comes in the form of Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams.

Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams care for animals affected by disasterswhen the local veterinary community is overwhelmed, according to Dr. CindyLovern, spokesperson for the AVMA. They are deployed only when state orlocal officials call for their involvement and federal authorities authorizethe deployment. Veterinarians, veterinary technicians and support personnelrepresent VMAT, which is able to respond within 48 hours of notification.

VMATs coordinate animal relief efforts with the state veterinarian, stateand local veterinary medical associations, state officials, the local veterinarycommunity, animal control units and responding humane groups.

Web site information:

VMAT homepage:

http://www.vmat.org/

AVMF

http://www.avma.org/avmf/Drmain.htm

General disaster planning:

http://www.animaldisasters.com

USDA training material:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/training/