La gestion multidisciplinaire des situations d'exception implique aussi les vétérinaires

The floods in the province of Liège in July 2021 were a catastrophic event and caused by their unexpected nature and their large size for a large number of victims, with major consequences for health, economic and psychosocial aspects. Priority went the
aid to the human victims. Due to the waxing and rapidly rising water, the population concerned first of all took care of themselves to bring safety. This is often at the expense of their pet. As a result, many animals were carried away by the current and the
did not survive flooding. In the multidisciplinary management of an emergency, veterinarians are often forgotten as a potential resource. Vets who are educated for disasters (“Emergency Rescue & Disaster Veterinarian,") have together with veterinarians from the university veterinary clinic CVU (ULiège) spontaneously set up an operational response plan in the emergency that adapted to the situation, i.e. without putting oneself in danger and by providing targeted assistance without disturbing the emergency services
hinder or give them more work.
They had six goals:
1° persons affected by the disaster and their animals in a crisis center;
2° collect and distribute donations for animals;
3° temporarily house found animals or animals of victims;
4° roaming and/or injured animals and carcasses on the site to find;
5° provide medical assistance to the cynotechnic teams (dog teams) of the federal police/civil protection;
6° intervene for animals in urgent calls from the fire brigade/police or private individuals.
In the end, the goals were achieved and about 160 animals were rescued examined, cared for, housed, relocated or rescued. A twenty cadavers were found on the site and at various
animals identification procedures were performed (on request from the fire service/police or private persons). In the future plans, the municipalities/provinces should provide the veterinarians should officially integrate multidisciplinary management
of emergencies.