[The role of the veterinarian during natural disasters]

After a reminder of the main types of natural hazards that can lead to genuine disasters, the author examines the impact of such disasters on animal health. The conceptual approach to various groups of animals in a disaster situation is explained, as well as the direct and indirect effects of such disasters. Preparatory measures are presented within the general framework of prevention and forecasting, together with the veterinary measures to be implemented. Training of veterinarians and planning of activities are described in detail. A traditional approach to organising large-scale assistance is advocated, based on the competence of the personnel involved and a predefined hierarchical organisation. The author then describes veterinary actions to be taken in a disaster situation where emergency aid is required. Particular reference is made to providing assistance to save human lives, including search operations by dog teams for buried victims, and the subsequent phase of restoring human activities, during which assistance to animals is taken into account. Inter-ministerial co-ordination using crisis units and priority management implying real political choices are discussed. Finally, based on the example of the operational organisation of the French Civil Defence, the author describes the support available to Veterinary Services and the potential involvement of the profession, in particular veterinary officers attached to the emergency fire service.