Bad Weather in Texas – Animal Health Planning and Response - Dr. TR Lansford, Assistant Executive Director, Animal Health Programs, Texas Animal Health Commission, from the 2015 NIAA Annual Conference titled 'Water and the Future of Animal Agriculture', March 23 - March 26, 2015, Indianapolis, IN, USA. More presentations at http://www.trufflemedia.com/agmedia/conference/2015_niaa_water_future_animal_ag

1. Animal Health Planning and Response–
TAHC’s Perspective
T.R. Lansford, III, D.V.M
Assistant State Veterinarian

2. Texas Animal Health Commission
(TAHC)
Serving Texas Animal Agriculture Since 1893
Agency Mission
• To protect the animal industry from, and/or mitigate the effects of domestic,
foreign and emerging diseases
• To increase the marketability of Texas livestock commodities at the state,
national and international level
• To promote and ensure animal health and productivity
• To protect human health from animal diseases and conditions that are
transmissible to people
• To prepare for and respond to emergency situations involving animals

3. Texas Animal Health Commission
• Veterinarians
• Inspectors
• Legal & Compliance
• Laboratories
• Communications & Public Relations
•Animal Disease Traceability
• Entry Requirements
• Certification Programs
• Emergency Management

4. Texas Animal Health Commission Regions
Veterinarians serve as
Region Directors
Dr. Brodie Miller-Region
5 Director, Bobby Crozier
Region 3 Supervising
Inspector

5. • Lead agency
• Damage assessment
• Carcass disposal
• Animal shelter evacuation
• Triage
• Assist Vet community
• Assist local jurisdictions in
response
• Develop state response plan
• Partnerships with other
agencies and organizations
• Coordinate resources
Role of TAHC in Natural Disaster Response

6. Why is animal planning needed?
Animal issues are people
issues
Tex. Gov’t. Code
§418.043 (11)
 State law, TDEM & TAHC
help local jurisdictions
plan for animal issues
PETS Act
 Federal law amending
FEMA Stafford act and
requiring locals to plan
for household pets.
Right thing to do!!

7. Issues and Challenges
Animal
issues
quickly
garner
political
and media
attention

8. All
emergencies
& natural
disasters are
“local”
problems
FIRST!

9. • Tornadoes
• Wild Fires
• Hurricanes
• Floods
• Ice Storms
• Earthquakes
• Windstorms
Hazards Affecting Animals

10. County Animal
Issues Committees

11. Animal Issue Committees -
examine local vulnerabilities
and prepare for those first!

12. Industry Planning
Industry must be involved
at local, regional, and state
levels
Determining role
of state and local government
with industry
Assess vulnerability/needs
Veterinary Practitioners
must participate!

13. Role of local veterinarian
Community Response activities:
• Triage injured animals
• Treat animals, euthanasia
decisions
• Support animal sheltering
issues
• Reimbursed?

14. Role of Local Veterinarian
Community Planning:
• Participate in local emergency management
activities:
– Animal issues planning
• Be engaged in local animal issues committee
– Know the local EMC
– Shelter planning advisement
– Be written into animal plans as a resource!
– Understand EM system and where to go for help (ICS
training)
– Encourage client preparedness
– Animal issues exercises

15. State Animal Response Plan Partners
• TX Division of Emergency
Management
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
• TAMU CVM VET team
• Industry – TSCRA, ICA, TCFA,
TxFB
• USDA VS, NRCS, AC
• Texas Veterinary Medical
Association (TVMA)
• Texas Department of Agriculture

16. Hurricane Ike – Pre Impact:
– Evacuation
– Shelter
– Interstate entry waivers
– Activation of Animal
Response Coordination
Center (ARCC)

17. Hurricane Ike – Post Impact:
– Re-entry
– Damage Assessments
• Veterinary clinics
• Livestock facilities
– Displaced livestock

18. Hurricane Ike – Post Impact
– Carcass disposal
– Animal health issues
• Dehydration, salt toxicity
– Displaced livestock
• Capture, shelter, owner ID
– Donations management

19. Small-scale events
Traffic
accidents
Local
weather
events

20. Flooding:
TAHC with TXDOT,
County, TCEQ,
TPWD
Larger
events,
not federally
declared

21. Larger events,
not federally declared
Wildfires:
TAHC with TxDOT,
TCEQ, Local vets triage,
County landfill personnel

22. TAHC Emergency Horseback
Response Team
https://www.youtube.com/user/TxAnimalHealth

23. Produced by the
Texas Animal Health
Commission
“Because livestock & poultry health matters”
www.tahc.texas.gov
800-550-8242
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