WHO WILL HELP THE ANIMALS?
Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams Deployed to Aid Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina
Many of Katrina's victims will be those least able to help themselves — animals. So who will be there for the animals injured in this devastating storm? Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT), established by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and funded primarily by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), are working as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to care for injured animals, as well as provide advice concerning public health issues.
As Katrina neared landfall, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deployed two fully-staffed VMAT teams, VMAT-3 led by Dr. James Hamilton and VMAT-5 led by Dr. Garry Goemann, and stationed a separate disaster assessment team in Houston, Texas with VMAT representative, Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMAT-1 Deputy Team Commander.
Twenty-five VMAT members are on the ground in Anniston, Alabama, while another 22 members are making their way from Memphis, Tennessee to New Orleans ready to assist the local veterinary community with animal victims as soon as it is safe to do so.
VMAT personnel consist of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, scientists, epidemiologists, toxicologists, pathologists, pharmacists and other support personnel trained to assist the local veterinary communities provide medical care to injured animals, help coordinate animal relief efforts on site, and address public health issues.
Since 1994, VMAT teams have been deployed to both natural and manmade disasters such as Hurricane Floyd and the September 11th tragedy, to assist in the delivery of medical help to injured animals and to provide public health advice. A significant amount of funding for the Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams comes from the AVMF.
Individuals wishing to support VMAT in their disaster relief efforts may make an online donation on AVMF's secure website, www.avmf.org or send a contribution to:
The American Veterinary Medical Foundation
http://www.avmf.org
1931 N. Meacham Road Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
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