The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, announced the next meeting of the National Advisory Council (NAC). The NAC advises the administrator of FEMA on all aspects of preparedness and emergency management.

The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the date, time, location and agenda for the next meeting of the National Advisory Council (NAC). At the meeting, the newly formed subcommittees will be reporting back regarding their work since the meeting in February 2008. Public comments were solicited.

The AVMA commends FEMA for its creation of the National Advisory Council and urged the appropriate Federal agencies (DHS and FEMA) and Congress to revisit the National Response Framework, the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act of 2006, and the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act (PKEMRA), in order to ensure comprehensive coordination of command and control for implementation of the PETS Act of 2006. This is necessary to resolve significant gaps for effective implementation at all levels of government.

The AVMA also contends that while the National Response Framework exemplifies an ever stronger emergency preparedness system for the United States, it is not comprehensive. The AVMA asserts that the FEMA National Integration Center should ensure the development of an Animal Annex within the National Response Framework to address all species-all hazards issues.