Florida's veterinary community meeting immediate needs

Reeling from the battering inflicted by hurricanes Charley and Frances, the veterinary community in Florida is assessing the impact on animals and the veterinary infrastructure in the state as it braces for yet another potential assault.

Florida VMA Executive Director Don Shaefer said the animal needs are extensive, but he and state veterinarian Dr. Thomas Holt believe those of an immediate nature are being met by the local veterinary community. It's the long-term effects that are worrisome.

In the midst of the turmoil, the Florida VMA is holding its 75th annual conference, as scheduled, beginning today and continuing through Sunday, Sept. 12, in Orlando. The association expects a 50 percent drop in attendance, and even though it means a potential $100,000 loss for the FVMA, the association will refund registration fees for all who are unable to come. The disasters will be addressed at a special luncheon and during a general assembly. This is only the second time in FVMA history that disasters have had an impact on the annual conference.

Schaefer said that hundreds of veterinary practices, from Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale up to Daytona Beach and on barrier islands such as Cocoa Beach, are still without power. Many have repairable, minor damage. Rivers are still rising, causing widespread flooding. Many practices were hit by both hurricanes. "Lakeland, Haines City, Orlando, Longwood—all in central Florida—were in the path of Charley, and Frances moved up through the state and sat over central Florida for 18 hours, with winds up to 70 miles an hour, dropping 12 inches of rain," Schaefer noted.

Water damage is causing some animal-related problems. "We're getting isolated calls—unfortunately, they're spread out across the state—of animals trapped by water," Dr. Holt reported. "We're also having isolated reports of livestock that are having trouble getting water because of the electrical power being out."

Dr. Holt is working out of the state emergency operations center in Tallahassee. The state uses an emergency response team approach, in which volunteers recruited by the Florida VMA are involved. Each county also has its own emergency operations center. Eleven assessment teams have been traveling county to county. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association has been working with the Florida Cattlemen's Association to coordinate relief efforts from across the nation. There is no immediate concern about the veterinary profession's ability to tend to the million head of livestock, Schaefer said, or the horses, companion animals, or exotic animals in the state. All that is under control, for now.

Veterinary practices that have power or generators are helping in areas where practices are closed. Dr. Holt is impressed with the number of veterinarians and technicians who have volunteered to help, some through the state or county structure and others through networks they themselves have created. "In Charley, one of our counties had 13 practices, and there was only one in operation because of the power outages or actual damage to their buildings. Other practitioners were coming in and assisting in that practice. Teams of veterinarians volunteered to provide care at locations because there wasn't local care."

Dr. Holt said a team from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville is available to assist in the affected areas. At the governor's request, the college sent a team to Bartow, Fla., to assist animals injured in or displaced by Charley. The state also works closely with the Humane Society of the United States and the American Kennel Club through the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs. The HSUS and FAKC have provided volunteers to help shelter and care for animals being held until their owners return.

For several days, 17 members from AVMA Veterinary Medical Assistance Team-3 and five from VMAT-2 were staged in Southern Pines, N.C., with trucks packed, awaiting orders to deploy to Florida after Frances. On Sept. 7, they were allowed to return to their homes, but they remain on alert until Hurricane Ivan has made landfall.

"With Charley, we did have a VMAT team operating here, and I think they did a good job of helping provide for veterinary assessment and also some direct veterinary care," Dr. Holt said. "We may very well be calling upon them in the weeks to come to provide help."

Once the FVMA conference concludes and it becomes clearer where Ivan is headed, Schaefer expects to travel the state to better assess the damage to veterinary practices and their needs. "The immediate, surface problems are being dealt with, people are recovering; but as the impact on our communities becomes known, over the long haul it's going to be tough here in Florida for veterinarians in the companion animal community."

The pet-owning public will be spending much of their disposable income on maintaining their families and replacing losses, affecting their ability to pay for veterinary services. As a result, Schaefer predicts a potentially considerable drop in income for some practices. This would especially hurt newer practices and practices that are heavily financed, the kinds of practices often owned by young practitioners.

Disaster insurance premiums in Florida are "outrageous," according to Schaefer, and the high deductibles are causing anxiety. He explained that before Hurricane Andrew in 1992, home and business owners would typically have a $500 deductible. After Andrew, the Florida legislature allowed insurance companies to write policies with a deductible of up to 5 percent of the potential value of the policy for damage caused by a windstorm. A separate deductible applies for other causes of loss. Thus, a homeowner with a $100,000 policy that has a 2 percent windstorm deductible have to pay $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses plus $500 for other losses—for each storm.

Veterinary practice employees are a special concern. Schaefer has heard of more than one practice resuming operations, only to suffer a 50 percent decrease in business. Heartsick, owners have been forced to release their employees, many of whom have lost their homes to the hurricanes and have families to provide for.

In coordination with the counties, Dr. Holt's office has been distributing donated feeds and some veterinary supplies. There are no specific needs for more donated feed or supplies at this time. One way to help is through the Florida Veterinary Medical Foundation. FVMF monies assist agencies and veterinary practices that provide complimentary medical care in response to the hurricanes, and practices that are financially in need of humanitarian aid. "That is a wonderful way of helping fellow veterinarians. Every dollar will go straight into somebody's needy hands," Schaefer guaranteed. To donate to the Florida veterinary relief effort, visit www.fvma.com or call the FVMA Helpline at (800) 992-3862.

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation also seeks contributions to help animals impacted by the hurricanes and to support the VMATs. To help, give online at the secure Web site www.avmf.org or call (800) 248-2862, Ext. 6689. Disaster situation reports are posted on the AVMF Web site as they are issued at www.avma.org/disaster/.