Animal Emergency Management Program
Animal Emergency Management Program (AEMP) is CVMF’s program that helps protect both animal and public health and safety in our state.
The Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation has made great strides in helping our state become better prepared to deal with animal issues in disasters through the CVMF Animal Emergency Management Programs, which include:
1. The Colorado State Animal Response Team program and Community Animal Response Team programs developing across our state.
2. Unit coordination for the Colorado Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps.
3. Support of animal resource issues through Emergency Support Function #11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources) at the Colorado Emergency Operations Center.
Under the overall authority of the Department of Agriculture, CVMF provides staff to lead support efforts related to companion animal and non-commercial livestock issues during disasters and provides support to state agencies on other animal issues.
Colorado State Animal Response Team
Community Animal Response Team
Across the nation, there are numerous Colorado State Animal Response Team (SART) type programs. While there are necessarily significant differences between state programs, they all have certain features in common. SART-type programs provide a partnership between state government, non-governmental organizations, industry and volunteers. In Colorado, the SART provides a resource development and training network that complements the efforts of state agencies. Colorado SART is in a unique position to help forge a strong statewide coalition.
Colorado SART originated at the April 29–30, 2003 Colorado Summit on Animal Emergency Preparedness, a national pilot program sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and the North Carolina State Animal Response Team. 80 people representing 60 governmental and not-for-profit organizations voiced strong support for the formation of a SART program. By the end of June of 2003, the Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation had agreed to develop the program. In 2004, Colorado SART provided regional County Animal Response Team development training across all of Colorado.
The development of the Colorado State Animal Response Team program and local response capabilities across the state is a complex and challenging task. We are making good progress, but you support is need.
Colorado Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps
The Colorado Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps (CO VMRC) is comprised of organized veterinary medical and animal health professionals who serve as volunteers to respond to natural disasters and emergencies. These volunteers assist communities nationwide during emergencies and with ongoing efforts in animal health.
The VMRC program provides the structure necessary to deploy veterinary medical and animal health personnel in response to an emergency, as it identifies specific, trained, credentialed personnel available and ready to respond to emergencies.
The Colorado VMRC is a Medical Reserve Corps Unit under the CO Medical Reserve Corps program and is supported by a broad multi-agency partnership. CO VMRC may be deployed in one of three general ways:
1. By local emergency management to provide veterinary and public health support in emergency situations.
2. By the State Veterinarian in an animal health emergency or other state-level incident where veterinary personnel are needed.
3. CO VMRC members may also sign up for the National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps for deployment as paid temporary USDA employees during an emergency event in the U.S. or even in support of other nations. CO VMRC members receive information on signing up for NAHERC.
The CO VMRC introductory training program includes four basic training modules combined with an interactive scenario-based exercise:
1. Introduction to Animal Emergency Management for Veterinary Professionals
2. Biodefense and Zoonoses
3. Overview of CBRNE Threats for Veterinary Professionals (CBRNE = chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive)
4. Personal Preparedness and Business Contingency Planning
Emergency Support Function #11
CVMF is tasked in the Colorado Emergency Operations plan with coordination of ESF#11, Section E (Companion Animals and Non-Commercial Livestock) and is therefore part of the StateEmergencyOperationsCenter during any major emergency. CVMF is a member of the Colorado Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (CO VOAD). CVMF also supports animal issues in ESF#6 (Mass Care) and supports the Donations and Volunteer Annexes to the Colorado Emergency Operations Plan. All CVMF-sponsored tasks in support of the Colorado EOC must comply with the Colorado Emergency Operations Plan and are supervised by the ESF#11 Coordinator for the Colorado Department of Agriculture as well as the Operations staff of the Colorado Division of Emergency Management.
Colorado Needs CVMF Animal Emergency Management Program
Colorado has seen numerous disasters in the last two decades, including floods, dam failure, tornadoes, and severe winter storms, hundreds of wildfires, sustained drought, mass casualty criminal events, domestic eco-terrorism, animal disease outbreaks (Vesicular Stomatitis) and hazardous materials emergencies. Additional credible threats include avian influenza, pandemic influenza, and terrorism (including bioterrorism targeting people, animals and agriculture).
Colorado’s animal populations include an estimated 2.5 million dogs and cats, at least 500,000 additional pet animals, approximately 3 million beef cattle, 90,000 dairy cattle, 800,000 pigs, 600,000 sheep and goats, over 200,000 horses, up to 20 million poultry, and additional populations of other livestock including llamas, alpacas, emus, ostriches, bison, deer, elk, etc. In all, Colorado domestic animal population could exceed 27 million, or approximately 6 times the number of residents of our state. We have three major zoos, several sanctuaries for large carnivores (lions, tigers, etc.), multiple biomedical research facilities with laboratory animal colonies, and many facilities with concentrated animal populations, such as kennels and veterinary hospitals. These animal demographics make it clear that both agricultural and companion animal issues are of critical concern to emergency managers in Colorado. In addition, Colorado has vast wildlife populations that are critical to our environment and economy, and are highly valued in our society.
CVMF is funded by donations from individuals, businesses, corporations, and foundations. If you wish to make a donation to the Animal Emergency Management Fund click here.
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