APHIS is an Emergency Response Organization |
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For nearly 40 years, APHIS' central mission has been to protect the health and value of U.S. agricultural, natural, and other resources. But as America has changed, that mission has expanded and evolved. Today, in addition to protecting the health of livestock, poultry, and crops from foreign diseases and pests, APHIS also works closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide assistance and coordination during all-hazards emergencies, including natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
APHIS has a long history of successfully responding to traditional animal and plant health emergencies, such as outbreaks of Avian Influenza and Mediterranean Fruit Fly, and it continues to build and refine these capabilities, as well as to conduct test exercises and prepare for all-hazard situations. In other words, our job is to make sure we have planned and tested our capabilities in advance and that when faced with an emergency, we can swiftly dispatch the right experts to handle the situation.
In the News |
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APHIS Releases Mobilization Guide (pdf; 12.26MB)
APHIS Emergency Response Factsheet (pdf; 45KB)
In the Spotlight |
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Test Exercises |
Info for States and Industry |
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Pet Evacuation and Shelter |
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Hurricane Katrina clearly demonstrated that enabling pet evacuation promotes citizen evacuation, thereby saving human lives, as well as pets. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act and the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act created a requirement for the federal government and States to develop disaster management plans for household pets. APHIS is integral to providing for the well-being of household pets by working with States and Tribes to develop and implement emergency plans that include evacuation and sheltering of pets.
Plant Health Emergency |
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APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program safeguards U.S. agriculture and natural resources from the introduction, establishment, and spread of plant pests, diseases, and noxious weeds. PPQ’s Emergency and Domestic Programs unit provides national leadership and coordination in crop biosecurity and emergency management.
Last Modified: November 18, 2009