Shelters opening their doors, rescue teams on the ground, and community volunteers sorting through debris. This is what the public may see, or think of, when it comes to disaster response. What is less visible, and often forgotten, is the extensive preparation that makes those coordinated efforts possible.
Successful disaster response relies heavily on relationships developed over months, and sometimes years, through education, collaboration and coordinated planning. Veterinary professionals play an essential role throughout that process, not only by providing medical care but also by serving as leaders and trusted sources of knowledge and guidance for pet owners while contributing valuable expertise to broader emergency preparedness efforts, including public health matters.
The Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA) recognizes that preparedness is not defined by a single action but by a network of people working together toward a common goal. Understanding how veterinary teams fit into local emergency response, client education and broader preparedness efforts strengthens not only individual practices but also the resilience of the communities they serve.
Education is the Key to Effective Action
Education is the first step in effective disaster preparedness, and veterinarians are uniquely positioned to help clients and their communities before an emergency occurs.
Many pet owners are unsure what supplies they need for their pets in the event of an emergency. From creating sheltering and evacuation plans and assembling emergency kits to maintaining accessible medical records, veterinary professionals have valuable insights that can help simplify these essential tasks. Veterinarians can help by:
- Providing educational resources
- Hosting preparedness workshops
- Partnering with local emergency management agencies
By informing and educating clients today, veterinary professionals help build more resilient communities and ensure families are better equipped to navigate emergencies with confidence.
The Importance of Community Ties
Preparing veterinary practices for disasters extends beyond protecting the clinic and educating clients. It also requires preparing their families, team members, and their homes, and building relationships with local emergency management partners before an emergency occurs.
One of the biggest roadblocks is simply understanding how emergency response functions within the community and where veterinary practices fit within that system. Establishing those relationships before disaster strikes helps ensure a faster, more coordinated response when every minute counts.
Clinics shouldn’t automatically assume they will be included in community disaster response efforts, usually because local emergency managers may be unfamiliar with their capabilities or points of contact. However, by participating in local emergency planning meetings or through a designated liaison, veterinarians can build relationships that strengthen their role within the community’s emergency response network.
Who Does What in Statewide Disaster Response?
In Florida, response efforts include a coordinated network that includes government agencies, non-governmental agencies, veterinary professionals, agricultural extension, livestock associations, breed associations, non-profit associations, and trained volunteers working together to protect people and animals before, during, and after disasters.
The following organizations provide the training, coordination, and expertise needed to strengthen statewide preparedness, ensuring veterinary professionals can integrate seamlessly into Florida’s emergency response framework when they are needed most.
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) – FDACS leads Florida’s animal and agricultural emergency response, overseeing statewide coordination before, during, and after disasters. It works with local, state, and federal partners to ensure animal health and agriculture remain integrated into Florida’s overall emergency management system.
State Agricultural Response Team (SART) – SART is Florida’s statewide network for animal and agricultural emergency preparedness, bringing together government agencies, nonprofits, private industry, and volunteers. Through planning, training, and resource coordination, SART strengthens disaster readiness and helps ensure a unified response during emergencies.
Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) – The Florida Division of Emergency Management coordinates the state’s overall disaster response by managing the State Emergency Operations Center and ensuring agencies work together under the Incident Command System. It provides the framework that allows specialized organizations, including animal response teams, to coordinate resources and respond efficiently, including:
- Emergency Support Function 17 (ESF 17) is the designated framework in Florida’s emergency management system for coordinating the response to animal, agricultural, food safety, and vector control issues during disasters. Led by the (FDACS) at the state level, SART operates under ESF 17 to provide preparedness, response, and recovery.
- ESF 17 addresses domestic animal, wildlife, and pet issues, as well as pre-harvest agricultural concerns, ensuring coordinated care for small pets, livestock, and exotic animals before, during, and after significant incidents.
- Integration: ESF 17 collaborates with other support functions, such as ESF 6 (Mass Care), to facilitate the emergency evacuation of people and their household pets, animal supplies, vector control, and certain public health needs that affect people and animals.
State Watch Office – The State Watch Office operates 24-hours a day, year-round and operates as an extension of the State Emergency Operations Center, monitoring local, state, and national media, as well as communicates with Florida’s
counties and state agencies to ensure that the State Emergency Response Team is aware of any developing emergencies.
For immediate coordination or to reach the on-duty ESF-17 representative, call: 800-320-0519 or 850-815-4001.
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine (UF CVM) – The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine provides veterinary expertise, specialized animal care, and emergency response training and capabilities that strengthen Florida’s disaster preparedness. It also educates veterinarians, veterinary technicians, students and first responders in emergency animal management, and partners with organizations across the state to build a skilled emergency response workforce.
Florida Veterinary Corps (FVC) – The Florida Veterinary Corps is a statewide network of trained volunteer veterinary professionals who deploy during disasters to support animal response efforts. Working within the Incident Command System, members provide emergency veterinary care, shelter support, and other critical services that expand Florida’s veterinary response capacity.
Conclusion
Disaster preparedness is not measured by how a community responds after a storm arrives but by the work accomplished long before it does. Every conversation with a client, every relationship built with a local emergency manager, every training course completed, and every partnership formed strengthens the network that protects Florida’s people and animals when disaster strikes.
Veterinary professionals are uniquely positioned to contribute at every level of that network, serving as educators, trusted community partners, and essential members of coordinated emergency response efforts. Together, Florida’s veterinary community can continue building a preparedness ecosystem that not only strengthens disaster response but also helps protect the animals, families, and communities that depend on us.