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O'Brien offers three keys to preparing for event of mass animal mortality
Only one percent of emergencies are designated for the federal government to handle, Dr. Bethany O'Brien of USDA/APHIS reminded participants during a FAZD Center Nov. 13-14 workshop in Austin. And that's why leaders at state, local and industry levels must be prepared to address mass mortality among livestock.
O'Brien, senior staff veterinarian for the National Center for Animal Health Emergency Management, addressed the closing session of the FAZD Center's Emergency Management of Mass Animal Mortality workshop.
To prepare for catastrophe, she suggested planners focus on three key items.
1. Identify who is in charge.
"This is the first priority," she t
old the group."For some reason, knowing who is in charge makes people feel good."
2. Identify the players and make a list of their roles.
"Start with the lowest common denominator," Dr. O'Brien said. "Start with what needs to be done, then expand once the need outgrows your resources. Begin at the county level and work your way up. Tell the next level: 'Here’s what we can do, can you handle this part?'"
3. Make sure you are all speaking the same language.
"You need a common understanding of terms and tasks," she said. "You must have an organizing system in place to make sure no one person is trying to do everything One of the best ways to get that is with training through FEMA or through Extension."
Every catastrophe presents a different set of problems, Dr. O'Brien said.
"But the good news is that the approaches to solving those problems tends to be very consistent," she said.