What is TXSART?

Elizabeth WangExecutive Director

James Steele Conference on Diseases in Nature Transmissible to Man

May 11-13, 2007 • Austin

Overview

• Why are animal issues in emergencies important?

• How did TXSART originate?

• Mission, goals, structure

• Summary

• Questions… but stop me at any point to ask!

Why are Animals Important?

• Animal issues are people issues– Owners become very attached to their animals– By preparing, both human and animal life can be protected

• Animal issues are big issues– 22.8 million residents in Texas– Nearly 62% of households have at least one pet. That makes

about 4.3 million dogs and 4.8 million cats– Animals outnumber humans over 30 to 1 in Texas

• Animal issues are business issues– TX is #1 for the number of cattle, sheep, goats, and exotic

hoofstock– 1 million horses represent about 11% of all horses in the US– 14 million head of cattle

Photo courtesy of T

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Photo courtesy of T

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A Need Identified…

• A hotwash of Hurricane Rita response efforts provided evidence that a coordinating entity was needed– Many organizations involved– Duplicative and/or competing

efforts– Communication from state to

county and regional levels

Photos courtesy of FEMA

TXSART is Born

• TXSART is the Texas State Animal Resource Team

• Formed in February 2006 modeling the best efforts of other states’ programs

• Housed within the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation, a non-profit organization

• A non-profit identity allows TXSART to better serve the state– Ability to solicit and receive donations

(resources and money)

Mission

Empower Texans to protect public and economic health by providing education and statewide

coordination of resources to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters affecting animals and

agriculture.

Photo courtesy of FEMAPhoto courtesy of UAN EARS

Photo courtesy of A. Barnes

Goals

• Promote the active engagement of each jurisdiction’s EMC

• Support the development of animal issues committees (AICs) and functional animal issues plans/annexes

• Promote the establishment of Community Animal Response Teams (CARTs) as a functional response group within each jurisdiction or region

Goals

• Provide training opportunities for all TXSART and interested animal and agricultural personnel

• Identify state/local resources available for an emergency/disaster

Goals

• Work to comply with the state emergency management system, National Incident Management System (NIMS), and National Response Plan (NRP)

• Work with national partners and other states to address common goals of animal and agricultural emergency management programs in the United States

Organizational Structure

Texas Veterinary Medical FoundationBoard of Trustees

Regional CART Areas

Executive Director and Support Staff

TXSART Board of DirectorsAll voting except Executive Director

Advisory CouncilAll voting except Executive Director

Incident Management Team

Local CARTs

Working Group Meeting Participants

• Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation • Texas Veterinary Medical Association• Texas Animal Health Commission• Governor’s Division of Emergency

Management• USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service, Veterinary Services• USDA Natural Resources Conservation

Service• Texas A&M University System including

College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Texas Cooperative Extension

• The Humane Society of the United States• The American Society for the Prevention

of Cruelty to Animals• SPCA of Texas• American Red Cross• Garner Environmental Services, Inc.• Texas State Guard Medical Rangers

• Texas Animal Shelter Coalition• Texas Animal Control Association• Texas Federation of Humane Societies• Pets America• Texas Association of Dairymen• Texas Department of State Health

Services (DSHS)• Texas Poultry Federation• Texas Department of Agriculture• Houston SPCA• Harris County Public Health and

Environmental Services• Harris County Veterinary Medical

Association• Texas Society for Biomedical

Research

2007 Objectives

• Hold Summit in January

• Install BOD and Advisory Council – applications being submitted now

• Launch Web site, www.txsart.org – in development

• Enact Bylaws and Strategic Plan

• Acquire initial response equipment

• Continue committee work and regular meetings

• Offer additional training opportunities

• Plan for 2008 Summit! – in process with Dallas and San Antonio

Summary

• TXSART created by TVMF in Feb 2006 after Rita hotwash reveals coordination needed for animal disaster issues

• Currently 25+ organizations participating at Working Group meetings

• Goals include promoting AIC and CART development, promoting disaster preparedness for animal issues at the personal, county, regional, and state levels, and working with national partners and other states to advance common goals of animal and agricultural emergency management programs

• Organizational structure: TVMF Trustees, TXSART BOD, Adv Council, and ED

• Objectives and “Liz’s desk” includes: Web site launch, enact Strategic Plan, install BOD and Advisory Council, plan for trainings…

Contact Information

Elizabeth A. Wang

c/o Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation

8104 Exchange Drive

Austin, Texas 78754

Phone 512/452.4224

Fax 512/452.6633

ewang@tvma.org

Questions?