The Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team (VET) deployed Friday morning to Central Texas to support emergency response efforts following widespread flooding across the region. The deployment comes as emergency responders continue search and rescue operations following days of heavy rainfall that triggered catastrophic flooding across the Texas Hill Country and communities west of San Antonio. The flooding has resulted in evacuations, road closures and high-water rescues across the region. VET is deploying as a state resource, providing veterinary care for the Texas A&M Task Force and federal working dogs, though the team anticipates that its mission will likely expand to support additional animal health needs in communities with severe home flooding and the need for emergency animal shelter care. “Every disaster presents different challenges, and our training and experience allow us to stand ready to serve the state of Texas and our fellow Texans by adapting quickly to meet the needs of both emergency responders and the animals affected by this flooding,” said Dr. Deb Zoran, VET director. “The health and readiness of the working dogs conducting search and rescue operations are critical to the overall response effort,” she said. “We’re honored to care for those teams while remaining prepared to address additional animal care needs as communities identify the need for additional assistance.” Because the flooding is happening in a region included in the designated New World screwworm (NWS) Infested Zone, the team also anticipates continuing to work with the Texas Animal Health Commission to screen for NWS and advise on potential NWS issues as sheltering operations become necessary, as well as to provide veterinary care to impacted companion animals and livestock impacted by the extensive flooding. The initial deployment includes 13 faculty and staff members from the Texas A&M VET, four veterinary students participating in the team’s fourth-year clinical rotation and two Disaster Assessment and Recovery agents from Texas A&M AgriLife, who deploy with the team to provide logistics support. Additional veterinary students will rotate into the response as operational needs evolve next week. Since its establishment in 2009, the VET has responded to 30 emergency events across Texas and the U.S., including hurricanes, floods, wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes, animal disease outbreaks and more. As the largest and most sophisticated veterinary emergency response team in the nation, the VET includes veterinarians, veterinary technicians, logistics specialists, emergency management professionals and veterinary students who train year-round to provide veterinary expertise during disasters affecting animals and the people who care for them. Equipped with specialized mobile response units and decades of disaster response experience, the team stands ready to assist local, state and federal partners during disasters and animal health emergencies.
