The veterinary role in disaster relief : examples from Hurricane Katrina

Abstract

The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and the breach of the levees that flooded New Orleans brought an unprecedented scene to the animal welfare community. The rescue and relief response was the most massive ever launched, and veterinarians played key roles in the effort. This paper outlines the importance of the veterinarian's role in disaster situations as well as illustrates the specific roles of the veterinarians who responded to Katrina.