Disaster response

Viewpoint Disaster Response After a disaster, all of us want to help in some way. Unfortunately, most people feel frustrated with their inability to do anything. Did you find yourself suddenly willing to give time, money, and effort that otherwise would be put to other tasks and priorities as you watched the devastation of Katrina unfold? The horse-owning and veterinary communities can help in many different ways, from donations of cash to in-kind equipment, supplies, and professional expertise to time and effort. Here is some information from those on the front lines who have trained to help in emergency situations to help you plan how you can help not only others, but yourself and your own community. In the last decade, there have been outstanding improvements in planning for animals in disasters nationwide. We can learn many early lessons from the re-

sponses to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that affected the Gulf Coast to allow us as veterinarians and horse owners to make a better personal impact in the future on disaster response. Here’s how: 1. Understand the big picture. 2. Prepare and educate yourself first. 3. Don’t add to the problem. 4. Rethink the term hero. 5. Be a good leader, be a great follower. 6. Soul-search your motives. 7. Build on your skills and interests. 8. Plug yourself into the existing plan. 9. Understand your limitations. 10. Start with your own community. Janice Baker, DVM, and Rebecca Gimenez, PhD

0737-0806/$ - see front matter © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2005.09.012

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Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

November 2005