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Oregon Veterinary Emergency Response Team & Veterinary Disaster Response Team

Oregon Veterinary Emergency Response Team & Veterinary Disaster Response Team

 

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Division of Animal Health and Identification (AHID), in conjunction with the USDA, has developed a plan of action for response to animal disease emergencies. The plan is called the Oregon Animal Disease Emergency Management Plan and encompasses response to highly infectious disease outbreaks.

The combined staff of the ODA AHID and USDA Veterinary Services in Oregon will not be adequate to carry out all of the actions that will be required to quickly and efficiently respond to the incursion of a foreign animal disease, such as Foot and Mouth Disease.

Oregon Veterinary Emergency Response Team (OVERT)

AHID has recruited veterinarians and animal health technicians who are willing to undergo training in animal health emergency management and serve as members of the Oregon Veterinary Emergency Response Team (OVERT).

Veterinary Disaster Response Team

Due to the overwhelming effect of natural and manmade disasters on animals, AHID developed the Oregon Response Planning Guide to assist local emergency managers develop plans and teams to shelter and care for animals that are evacuated with their owners or become stray due to a disaster.

AHID also initiated a Veterinary Disaster Response Team to assist local emergency managers care for animals in shelters that may have been injured or become stray due to a disaster. The Veterinary Response Team is made up of a select group of veterinarians and animal health technicians who are also members of OVERT. These team members have volunteered to respond anywhere in the state where animals are affected by natural and manmade disasters. The team members have been credentialed to satisfy the Federal Emergency Management Agency requirement when deployed in an emergency situation.

Volunteers

If you are a veterinary professional who wants more information or is interested in joining either team, please call (503) 986-4680.