U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Resource: Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT)
Category: Animals and Agriculture Issues
Kind: Team
Minimum Capabilities (Component) Minimum Capabilities
(Metric)
Type I Type II Type III Type IV Other
60 Personnel Plus Equipment (NOTE 1) Deployment Readiness; Staffing; Training Status; Patient Treatment Capacity Deploy to site within 24 hours of notification; Provide animal care, treatment, and shelter; Food and water testing; Basic epidemiologic capabilities (NOTE 2) expressmedscanada.com Some mix of capabilities less than Type I      
Shelters, Equipment, and Supplies Logistics Status Full complement Limited or none      

Comment:

Definition: Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMATs) are volunteer teams of veterinarians, technicians, and support personnel, usually from the same region, who have organized a response team under the guidance of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the NDMS, and whose personnel have specific training in responding to animal casualties and/or animal disease outbreaks during a disaster.

NOTE 1: Usually includes a mix of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, support personnel, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and veterinary pathologists.

NOTE 2: VMATs are usually mission tailored on an ad hoc basis, and usually deploy only with personnel and equipment specifically required for the current mission. All VMATs within NDMS are considered Type 1. Epidemiologic capabilities are limited.

 


National Mutual Aid & Resource Management Initiatives
Health and Medical