Texas Veterinarians Call for Help in Aftermath of Hurricane Ike

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. —The Texas Veterinary Medical Association Foundation is sending out an immediate call for funding to assist them with the purchase of fuel for generators delivered to veterinary clinics hardest hit by Hurricane Ike. Those wanting to assist in this effort can call the Texas Veterinary Medical Association Foundation at 512-452-4224. Hurricane Ike, the largest hurricane to touch United States soil since Hurricane Katrina, made landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast in the early morning hours of Saturday, September 13, 2008. Due to massive power outages that area expected to last through the week, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association is delivering generators to veterinarians in hard hit Orange County.

People wishing to help are encouraged to be sure that any organization they donate money to is not just a political organization but one that uses donations to actually help save, treat and house animals and those who take care of them during emergencies. The American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) is one such group, offering grants to help fund disaster preparedness efforts, educating the public, providing disaster training, and reimbursing veterinarians for their out-of-pocket expenses on medical supplies, and also offering grants to help rebuild veterinary clinics destroyed in a disaster like a hurricane. Make donations to the Animal Disaster Relief and Response Fund by calling the AVMF at (800) 248-2862, ext. 6689 or visit www.avmf.org.

To aid in these evacuations the AVMA's Disaster Preparedness Series provides step-by-step information to veterinarians, pet owners, and others to ensure the health and well-being of people and animals during and after a disaster. For more information on the series, visit www.avma.org/disaster. For additional information on disaster preparedness, visit www.ready.gov.

For more information about Hurricane Ike visit the Houston Chronicle at www.chron.com, and the governor's Web site at http://governor.state.tx.us/. 

Source: www.avma.org