Role of Animal Husbandry Department in Disaster Management

In Pre-disaster:

• The equipment protection measures should be reviewed and updated.
• Information should be disseminated about Livestock diseases and precautions required among the public. Also, prepare a list of vaccines that prevent waterborne diseases.
• In collaboration with the Revenue Department, the department should prepare plans for cattle camps and cattle feeding centres.
• It is quintessential to have emergency medical equipment on hand during and after a disaster.
• Assessment of risk of injuries or illnesses should be done, and necessary drugs and medical supplies should be arranged accordingly.
• Information regarding disaster and potential damages/effects after disasters should be disseminated among the staff of veterinary hospitals and clinics to protect lives, equipment and property in the aftermath of the disaster.
• Disaster prone villages should be vaccinated before the occurrence of the disaster.
• Ensure proper documentation of emergency admission procedures.
• In drought-affected areas, awareness should be raised among farmers about cattle health, fodder and feed, vitamins and minerals, and sanitation issues.
• Every veterinary hospital and aid centre should be well informed about the resources provided to them.

During and Post-disaster:

• Plan a disaster preparedness strategy at an emergency meeting.
• The division should establish radio communications with veterinary hospitals and aid centres (including private practitioners).
• Provide extra medical supplies and on-sitecattle camps in case of a cattle calving
• disaster.
• In order to ensure their safety, cover surgical packs with polythene to prevent them from getting wet. Ensure they are not exposed to water by storing them in a protective cabinet. Assemble and sterilise surgical packs that will last 4-5 days.
• Sterilise the surgical packs that are going to last 4-5 days.
• All valuable instruments and equipment should be packed in protective coverings and placed in a room that provides the most protection.
• In the event of a disaster warning, unplug all electrical equipment.
• The organisation of vaccination campaigns is essential in disaster-prone areas before and after disasters.
• It is crucial that veterinarians and extension officers prepare veterinary disease kits and make them available to block veterinarians and village veterinarians. Clinics can also receive the kits.
• Emergency generators should be placed at hospitals and additional reserve fuel should be provided with this. If the generator is not operational, consider hiring one.
• Anaesthetic drugs should be provided in case of emergency.
• Special vaccination campaigns can be organised during and after disasters in hazard-prone villages.
• To order supplies to be sent to the hospital on an emergency basis from central warehouses as soon as possible.
• After they have been filled with fuel, park departmental vehicles in a safe area.
• Drink the water from clean, protected containers if there are no water storage tanks in a hospital.
• Water tanks in the hospital should be filled and conservation of water should be encouraged.
• For livestock, a large area should be provided to hospitals.
• A veterinary clinic should be contacted if an animal is seriously injured.
• Provide medical services to cattle camps and sites under the supervision of the District Animal Husbandry Officer.
• The amount of feed, fodder and water should be calculated properly and thereafter a plan should be developed accordingly.
• When necessary, purchase fodder from the Forest Department, traders, or private cultivators in neighbouring states.
• The farmer should be able to afford the prices of the fodder and, in addition, provide safe grazing for cattle on Army grounds, such as training centres and firing ranges.
• The maintenance of proper sanitary conditions through cleaning operations will help prevent outbreaks of any epidemic.
• Monitoring disease outbreaks is necessary to take measures to contain disease outbreaks at the right time.
• In case of emergency, arrangements for the accommodations for the veterinarians should be made outside the area.
• Provide information formats and monitoring checklists to the Emergency Operations Center. Disasters present both opportunities and limitations for the system.