| FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE January 1, 2006 |
CONTACT: Tom Womack |
TDA Offers Animal Emergency Credentialing Workshops
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is offering workshops statewide in March to qualify and credential animal care workers to assist in emergency or disaster situations.
The workshops are open to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, Extension personnel, animal control officers, animal owners, livestock producers and others with experience or an interest in assisting in the care of animals during an emergency.
“As we saw with Hurricane Katrina, in addition to the human suffering there is often a great need in terms of animal care during times of disaster,” said Dr. Ron Wilson, State Veterinarian. “But first, it’s important that individuals who want to help are properly trained and credentialed before they can be allowed to work within the emergency management system.
“These workshops are being conducted to help the state identify and credential individuals who can be called upon during a natural disaster or animal disease outbreak to assist in the treatment and care of both companion animals and livestock.”
The five workshops will be held Mar. 8 in Cookeville, at TTU’s Hyder-Burks Pavilion; Mar. 21 in Martin at UTM’s Boling University Center; Mar. 22 in Dickson at the Renaissance Center; Mar. 28 in Gray at the Appalachian Fairgrounds; and, Mar. 29 in Cleveland at the Tri-State Expo Center. All workshops are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Called “pre-incident” credentialing, these workshops will identify individuals having standardized training in emergency management and who are competent to work with specific species of animals.
The six-hour workshops are free, but in order to participate individuals must have completed Incident Command System (ICS) Courses 100 and 200, and the National Incident Management (NIMS) Course, IS-700. These courses are offered free online at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine’s Web site at www.vet.utk.edu, then click “Veterinary Tools.” Courses are also available through local and state emergency management agencies, and a course CD is available by calling (865) 974-5701. A copy of a “Certificate of Completion” must be presented at the workshop.
The workshops will also offer an overview of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the state’s Animal Care and Housing emergency plan (known as Emergency Support Function 16), principles in bio-security, foreign animal and emerging diseases and procedures for reporting of these diseases.
For more information, contact Dr. Fred Hopkins, University of Tennessee Extension at (865) 974-3471 or via e-mail to fhopkins@utk.edu.
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This and other news from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture can be found online at Tennessee.gov/agriculture/news