September is National Preparedness Month. The American Association of Equine Practitioners is joining the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, along with other veterinary and equine organizations, to promote the need for equine emergency and disaster preparedness.

To help horse owners and veterinarians get ready in advance of an emergency or disaster, the AAEP provides several online resources. Available tools include a hurricane equine evacuation plan, disaster planning guidelines for veterinarians and links to numerous state and federal agencies. To access these materials and more, visit www.aaep.org/emergency_prep.htm.

“As we’ve learned from flooding, fires and other natural disasters this year, planning ahead can mean the difference between life and death for humans and horses alike,” said Manuel A. Thomas, Jr., DVM, Chairman of the AAEP Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Committee. “Having the proper housing for animals, food and water supplies and evacuation transportation options ready are just a few of the key decisions that should be made before an emergency occurs.”

The AAEP Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Committee is dedicated to the development of beneficial resources for veterinarians and horse owners. The Committee invites others to support its efforts by sharing information regarding state and national animal emergency management. For more information about the AAEP’s emergency and disaster preparedness efforts, website or printed materials, please contact Keith Kleine, Director of Industry Relations, at (859) 233-0147 or [email protected].

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide coordinated effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. More information is available at www.ready.gov.

This September will be the fourth annual National Preparedness Month. For the first time, the month will focus on different areas of emergency preparedness:

September 1-8; Back-to-School (Ready Kids)
September 9-15; Business preparedness (Ready Business)
September 16-22; Multicultural preparedness (Listo Campaign)
September 23-30; Home and family preparedness, including animals, older Americans and those individuals with disabilities and special needs (Ready America)