Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Infectious Salmon Anemia

Partnerships with States and Industry

Spring Viremia of Carp

Pseudorabies

National Animal Health Laboratory Network

Incident Command System: An Interagency Approach to Emergency Response

CEAH Emergency Management Reporting System (EMRS)

Incident Command System: An Interagency Approach to Emergency Response

During the outbreak of LPAI in Virginia in FY 2002, VS used, for the first time, the USDA's Forest Service's ICS to help manage the emergency.

VS is in the process of transitioning to a State-based, nationally coordinated Animal Emergency Response Organization (AERO) based on ICS principles. The ICS structure, a model for disaster-workforce organization, was developed by the Forest Service and adopted by FEMA and other emergency management organizations. Because the ICS is well-known, representatives from the many Federal and State agencies helping in Virginia found it easy to fit in.

In planning for major animal health emergencies, local, State and Federal governments and their industry partners in the private sector will have to respond in a coordinated, mutually supportive manner. No single Federal or State agency will have enough resources alone to rapidly contain and eliminate a swiftly spreading foreign animal disease.

The potential for extensive spread of disease across the United States requires an integrated and coordinated, yet flexible, response mechanism that is locally based, but nationally coordinated.

Using the ICS has many benefits including a well-established command and control structure to serve as a framework for a national system; standardization of terminology, training, and qualification standards; a well-established State- Federal partnership mechanism in the Joint Incident Command system, and establishment of joint information centers to coordinate communication of information to stakeholders. ICS is all inclusive and allows people from various State agencies, private industry, and multiple Federal agencies to work together with a common goal and mission.

Use of the AERO system based on ICS will extend VS’ resources and will allow personnel to take advantage of training opportunities already available through the Forest Service and FEMA. This incident management approach can be applied to all types of incidents, including natural disasters and human-caused events with the capability of handling multiple, large-scale emergencies simultaneously.