When disaster strikes, a successful response depends on partnerships. In Florida, those partnerships are built through a strategic network of professionals from a wide range of institutions. From government agencies to associations and even universities, these entities create a coordinated network of veterinary professionals, emergency responders, and government agencies working toward a common goal: protecting the people and animals of Florida before, during, and after disasters.
In this blog, we will explore the statewide partnerships between the State Agricultural Response Team (SART), the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine (UF CVM), and the Florida Veterinary Corps (FVC), and examine how these organizations work together to protect Florida’s animals, the roles they play in disaster response, and what veterinary professionals can do to help through these agencies.
FDACS and SART Leading the Charge in Agricultural Response
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) serves as the lead agency for animal and agricultural emergencies. To support that mission, the department established the State Agricultural Response Team (SART) in partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Contrary to popular belief, SART does not function as a single response agency. The organization brings together local, state, and federal agencies, as well as private industry and nonprofit organizations, to strengthen Florida’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The team helps coordinate planning, training, and statewide response efforts while supporting Incident Management Teams, providing emergency response resources, and enhancing local preparedness through education and outreach.
This collaborative approach ensures Florida’s agricultural and animal communities remain protected long before disaster strikes. Remember, relationships established during preparedness efforts become invaluable when emergency response begins.
The Expertise Behind Florida’s Response
The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine (UF CVM) has long been a cornerstone of veterinary education and clinical excellence in Florida. As home to the state’s only veterinary teaching hospital, UF CVM provides world-class education, innovative research, and advanced patient care while serving as an important technical resource during emergencies.
- Support in large, small, and exotic animal medicine
- Disease outbreak identification
- Damage assessment, logistical coordination
- Large-animal technical rescue
- Training in the Incident Command System (ICS)
The partnership between the FVMA and UF CVM dates back to the 1960s. In fact, FVMA members played an instrumental role in establishing the college. Today, that partnership continues through scholarships, educational programming, student engagement, and shared efforts to strengthen the veterinary profession throughout Florida.
Why Coordination Matters
Whether it’s a hurricane, disease outbreak, or industrial accident, disasters rarely involve a single organization. It takes a coordinated effort to manage the chaos of response and relief efforts, and veterinarians are often part of that call for aid.
The effectiveness of that aid depends largely on liaison roles within the Incident Command System (ICS).
Liaison personnel serve as bridges between agencies, ensuring information flows efficiently, resources are coordinated, and everyone is working toward the same operational objectives. For veterinary professionals, these relationships are especially important because animal health intersects with nearly every aspect of emergency management. Strong coordination allows those resources to be used efficiently while ensuring animal needs remain part of the overall response strategy.
This is exactly why organizations like SART, UF CVM, and the Florida Veterinary Corps are so valuable. By creating established communication channels before emergencies occur, they allow veterinary professionals to integrate seamlessly into Florida’s emergency response framework rather than operating independently during a crisis.
Your Opportunity to Make a Difference
Every year, Florida veterinarians and veterinary technicians volunteer their time and expertise to assist communities impacted by disasters. Whether helping with animal evacuations, supporting emergency shelters, responding to disease outbreaks, or providing medical care after a storm, these volunteers make a meaningful difference when Florida needs them most.
The Florida Veterinary Corps is actively recruiting additional volunteers to strengthen this statewide network of responders.
The training required is simple and can be completed on your schedule. All it takes is four training modules to become part of a coordinated statewide response effort dedicated to protecting animals, supporting fellow veterinary professionals, and strengthening Florida’s emergency preparedness.
Sometimes, during disaster, Florida state regulations may allow for out-of-state veterinarians to treat animals in response to an emergency. Out-of-state veterinarians may apply for a temporary license with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations:
To learn more, download the Florida Veterinary Corps Information Guide and take the first step toward making a difference during times of need.