Why a Florida Veterinary Corps?

• The Florida Veterinary Corps (The Corps) has been established to enlist veterinarians and veterinary technicians who are willing to volunteer their services in responding to animal emergencies in the state of Florida.
• During activation, Corps volunteers will work within an incident command structure under state Emergency Support Function 17 as part of the State Emergency Response Team.
• The Corps will be a component of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, under its Florida State Agricultural Response Team, in cooperation with the Florida Veterinary Medical Association and the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.
• Corps volunteers will be kept informed as to the status of emergencies and the need for volunteers depending upon the specific emergency.
• Volunteers may serve in veterinary infrastructure assessment teams, triage or emergency animal treatment teams, and animal disease surveillance or control teams under an incident command system.

Rationale

• Protecting agriculture in Florida begins locally and requires cooperation, participation, and partnership.
• Federal or other outside assistance to deal with an animal disease emergency may not be available for hours or days.
• Animal agriculture in Florida is highly vulnerable to severe disruption and financial loss through natural disasters and exotic or zoonotic diseases.
• Counties and state agencies must be prepared to respond to animal disasters through planning and identification of human and material resources.
• Natural disasters are unpredictable and cannot be prevented.
• Florida has a high risk for introduction of a foreign animal disease.

Obligation of Corps Volunteers

• Corps volunteers will serve only when activated and under the Incident Command System, under state Emergency Support Function 17 as part of the State Emergency Response Team, and adhere to all state regulations and rules.
• Corp volunteers must complete the following four (4) Incident Command System trainings to be eligible to apply for The Corps. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides the courses online, free of charge. It is estimated to take 12.5 hours total to complete all four courses.  The following four FEMA ICS courses are critical to train Corps volunteers and personnel capable of responding as part of the state Emergency Support Function 17 and State Emergency Response Team.

Click here to visit the FEMA Emergency Management Institute website to take the following required ICS training before submitting your volunteer application for the Florida Veterinary Corps.

• • IS-100.C: Introduction to Incident Command System
  • IS-200.C: Basic ICS for Initial Response
  • IS-700.B: National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
  • IS-800.D: National Response Framework, An Introduction

• Communications will need to be maintained by Corps volunteers to stay informed as to emergency status and volunteer needs.
• Volunteers will only be activated in response to specific emergency situations. Volunteers called upon may decline service at any time.

Click here to read the Request to Florida Veterinarians, by Dr. Mike Short, State Veterinarian/Director.

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