Emergencies & Disasters
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CDC study validates concerns about veterinary suicides
12/27/2018
Higher proportion of deaths by suicide found among U.S. veterinarians
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Hurricane Maria's effects minimal on veterinary drug supply
12/18/2017
But sterile IV bags reportedly on back order
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Veterinarians focus on rebuilding after California firestorms
10/12/2017
Efforts under way to shelter, save animals
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Out of disaster, humanity emerges
9/25/2017
Stories of veterinarians impacted by Hurricane Irma
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Lost and found Harvey pets in new central listing
9/7/2017
Ohio veterinarian single-handedly collects entries
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Waters recede; animal rescues expected to rise
9/1/2017
Veterinarians take stock in storm's aftermath; new ways to help emerge
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Devastating floods swamp Houston-area veterinarians
8/28/2017
Louisiana braces for rain as shelters take in displaced animals
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Burglar to veterinarians: Don’t display lavish stock of flea-tick products
7/13/2017
Prisoner shares his views in letter
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Veterinarians brace for Hurricane Matthew
10/6/2016
Survivor of past flooding opens clinic to pets of evacuees
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Veterinarians offer, accept help during 'Great Flood'
8/25/2016
17 veterinary practices reportedly impacted by Louisiana flood waters
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Alberta wildfire still out of control
5/19/2016
Veterinarians and veterinary staff pitch in to help affected pets
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Storms like Jonas challenge veterinary practices
2/3/2016
Practitioners discuss staffing, transportation during inclement weather
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Veterinarians rally for uprooted colleague
11/12/2015
Somali practitioner-turned-refugee needs better prosthetic leg
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South Carolina veterinarians dig out from epic flood
10/9/2015
Water rose almost to roof of one clinic
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Veterinary community rallies to combat burglaries
9/25/2015
Thieves target flea, tick, heartworm products
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Veterinary clinic recovering from deadly fire
6/19/2015
Rebuilding can take years
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MRI explodes at Oradell Animal Hospital
3/6/2015
Contract worker reportedly critically injured; hospital evacuated
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Fending off a riot
12/5/2014
Around Ferguson, veterinarians prepared for civil unrest
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First canine Ebola quarantine met with good luck
11/17/2014
Texas veterinarians recount 16 days with Bentley
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Dog under Ebola watch gets high-level caretakers
10/20/2014
Pending quarantine protocol for pets unlikely to involve private clinics
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Changes coming to common rodent poison
10/16/2014
Potent anticoagulants to be discontinued
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Tornadoes a reminder to veterinary clinics: Plan for disasters
4/29/2014
Experts suggest ways to prepare
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Human medical emergencies pose conundrum for veterinarians
6/7/2013
Many are unsure of their responsibility and liability
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Animal death toll unknown after Moore twister
5/21/2013
At least four veterinary clinics still operating in devastated area
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Tornado missed veterinary hospital by 70 yards
2/11/2013
Doctor and staff huddled with surgery patient
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Free pet food offer brings deluge of requests
12/26/2012
All 10,000 pounds now spoken for
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Free pet food available by the ton
12/21/2012
Surplus from Hurricane Sandy relief sits in warehouse
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Storm recovery focus of NYC symposium
11/15/2012
Veterinarians, physicians, dentists invited to free event
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Battered, not beaten: Veterinarians brace for new storm in Sandy’s wake
11/7/2012
Ravaged areas of East Coast evacuated ahead of nor'easter
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Veterinarians, clinic staff recount effects of Sandy
10/30/2012
ACVS cancels annual symposium
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Veterinarians recount Pentagon 9/11 search and rescue
9/11/2012
Effort less publicized than Ground Zero’s but equally intense
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Louisiana authorities checking Isaac's effect on livestock
8/29/2012
Mississippi shelter transfers pets to New York
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Colorado wildfire livestock refugees treated for free
6/25/2012
Tales from fire include donkey heroics
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Duluth veterinarian corrals zoo animals during flood
6/22/2012
Polar bear breaks out, seals swim in street
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Ohio Veterinary Medical Association building burns
6/1/2012
Flames destroy more than half of structure
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Company asks veterinarians to stop using its hyperbaric oxygen chambers
2/14/2012
Fatal explosion a 'wakeup call' for safety, training
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Veterinary practice digs out from Alabama twister
1/24/2012
Animals unharmed; massive cleanup ensues
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Veterinary 9/11 first-responders were local
12/1/2011
Shared experience forged lifelong ties
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Preparedness urged for Australian bushfire, cyclone season
10/6/2011
Experts advise reviewing insurance coverage, readying for evacuation
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9/11 brings first responder to ‘emotional brink’
9/9/2011
Memories from Ground Zero haunt veterinarian
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Veterinarians encounter Irene
8/29/2011
Accounts mixed on storm's impact
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North Carolina veterinarians brace for Hurricane Irene
8/26/2011
NCVMA collects names of volunteers
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Colorado State to examine rubble in fire's wake
8/2/2011
Source of blaze that destroyed Equine Reproduction Laboratory unknown
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Zoo stranded by titanic flood
8/2/2011
Displaced animals won't return for a year or two
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Joplin marches forward
7/12/2011
Adopt-a-thon finds homes for 745 displaced pets in two days
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Wildfires: Veterinary volunteers urgently sought in Arizona
6/21/2011
Pharmaceuticals, supplies needed
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Veterinarian tells story of chaos, relief in tornado's aftermath
6/1/2011
Dr. Ben Leavens sets up makeshift ER while family is missing
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Tornadoes strike again; veterinarians shaken
5/25/2011
Oklahoma veterinarian escapes twister by jumping into kennel
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Veterinary relief under way in deadly tornado’s wake
5/23/2011
At least one Joplin, Mo., veterinary practice destroyed
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Recovery continues for wildlife affected by Gulf oil spill
4/22/2011
Rescuers able to release most animals back to sea
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Fearing overseas radiation, Americans seek potassium iodide for pets
3/18/2011
Veterinary experts say medication isn’t warranted
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Normalcy returns to Queensland veterinary school after epic flooding
2/17/2011
Most pets reclaimed by families
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Pet rescues undertaken in flooded Queensland
1/17/2011
Veterinary school becomes ad hoc shelter
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AU veterinary student missing in Thailand
7/30/2009
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Australian vets treat victims of deadly Victorian bushfires
2/18/2009
At least one veterinary clinic reportedly succumbed to blaze
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Colleagues Beset by Disaster Set Bitterness Aside
One forgives employee who set clinic on fire
10/31/2008
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Ike promises depressed economy for Texas region
9/24/2008
17 veterinarians practice in Galveston, TVMA reports
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Generators wanted, Texas veterinary officials say
9/17/2008
More than 1,000 DVMs in devastated counties, TVMA reports
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Ike's aftermath
9/17/2008
Veterinarians endure post storm
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Texas gears up for countdown to Ike
9/10/2008
Animal care agencies prepare for storm's strike
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LSART to assess damages before taking on new volunteers
9/2/2008
Aide workers should wait, officials say; supply donations not needed at press time
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At least one Joplin, Mo., veterinary practice destroyed
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May 23, 2011
By: Jennifer Fiala
For The VIN News Service
 Hundreds of animals are believed to be missing or displaced by yesterday's massive tornado in Joplin, Mo. Maggie Kelley and Trey Adams hug their dog, Saint, after finding him amid the rubble of her home.
Photo by Adam Wisneski, Tulsa World Click here for larger view Veterinarians are gathering in Joplin, Mo., to care for animals injured and displaced in the wake of the area’s deadliest tornado in more than a half-century.
With the city’s death toll at 116 and 30 percent of the city damaged, search and rescue dogs are said to be entering Joplin, situated in the southwest corner of Missouri near the Kansas and Oklahoma borders.
The half-mile-wide F5 tornado hit the town at 5:41 p.m. CDT yesterday, cutting a 4-mile-wide strip through the city of 50,500 residents before continuing eastbound through more rural areas. (F5 refers to the intensity of the tornado and is the strongest category on the Fujita scale.) Seven to eight veterinary practices operate within Joplin. National and local media reports show entire neighborhoods blown away and flattened.
Dr. Linda Scorse, owner of the Joplin Veterinary Hospital and member of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), says her practice was untouched by the tornado, but without power, she’s wary of taking in more than the eight cats and one dog she’s already boarding — at least until her husband can install a generator.
“It’s humid but cool enough that they’re OK today,” she said. “Tomorrow they’ll need fans.”
In the meantime, Scorse is doing what she can to help out with displaced animals, estimated by the Humane Society of Missouri to number 500 within the next couple of days. Right now, rescue workers are setting up shop at the Joplin Humane Society, which has a surgery suite but is not equipped to function as a triage center.
Scorse says authorities are looking for an empty warehouse to house animals rather than using tents because more severe weather is rolling into the area. Trucks on are their way loaded with supplies and cages, but there is not yet a central command center.
“It’s hectic,” Scorse says. She’s helping direct the relief efforts and has procured five generators from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “I’m a member of the Missouri Emergency Management Committee, and I’m not a coordinator. But I sure feel like one today,” Scorse says.
Gov. Jay Nixon announced this morning that the damage had been declared a federal disaster. As a result, FEMA is extending assistance to the area.
A 15-member disaster response team with The Humane Society of Missouri reportedly was deployed to Joplin by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency. The team, which is canvassing the area for displaced and injured animals, includes a veterinarian.
Dr. Charles Massengill with the Missouri Voluntary Veterinary Corps stated that he and his team of veterinarians and technicians are on standby, awaiting orders from FEMA to deploy. Veterinarians who volunteer must have a license to practice in the state.
“We don’t want to inundate them with resources,” he says. "We don't know what's needed."
Because relief efforts are in the early stages of getting organized, it's tough to point those who'd like to donate their services, money or supplies in the right direction, Massengill says. He added that collection points likely will go up throughout the state and more information could come from the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association.
Scorse hasn’t had a chance to survey damaged areas of Joplin but is bracing for a landscape that's dramatically changed.
“I’ve been through lots of tornadoes, but I have never seen a city this big get hit," she says. “I’ve been told that an estimated 1,000 homes have been destroyed, and one pet per family might be displaced.”
As of this afternoon, only the practice owned by Dr. Jim Christman had been confirmed destroyed. The message from his answering service: “Parkview Animal Hospital is no longer going to be open.”
The VIN News Service could not reach Christman. His answering service noted that no animals were harmed in the facility.
Dr. Donald Loden, owner of Cornerstone Animal Hospital and a VIN member, responded to an interview request via e-mail. Loden noted that his practice is intact, but like much of the area, he’s without power and phone service.
His family is safe, but he has friends who have lost their lives and homes.
“Probably half or more of my clients and friends are in the area that has been destroyed,” Loden writes. “Much of the town has been closed down unless you have a reason to be there. They are begging everyone to stay home.
“As soon as power is restored, we will open our office to try to meet the needs of pets. Based on spotty information, that may be several days. Beyond that, I do not know,” he adds.
While Dr. Ben Leavens, owner of Main Street Pet Care, could not be reached, news of how his practice fared through the storm made it to the social networking site Facebook.
Despite the practice’s precarious location — 20th and Main Sts., near some of the most heavily damaged areas — the building survived and so did the animals inside. Practice staff announced that they would be taking in boarders at 4 p.m. today.
Displaced animals are listed on another Facebook page titled, “All animals lost and found, Missouri and surrounding states.”
VIN News Service commentaries are opinion pieces presenting insights, personal experiences and/or perspectives on topical issues by members of the veterinary community. To submit a commentary for consideration, email news@vin.com.
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