The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) announced yesterday it has deployed the Reserve Veterinary Corps to assist with response efforts at the SR 530 slide in Snohomish County, the first time in the history of the corps that it has been activated.
The agency is arranging veterinary care for rescue dogs working in the slide area. Currently, WSDA has received vet support requests for about 30 dogs that need treatment for conditions such as minor cuts, hyperthermia and damaged pads. More are expected. These dogs also need to be de-contaminated from their exposure to hazardous and contaminating material in the debris field.
Initially, two veterinarians and two vet techs are being deployed from WSDA’s Reserve Veterinary Corps (RVC). Starting Saturday, corps volunteers will be in rotating shifts for up to 14 days. In addition, the agency is contracting with Seattle Veterinary Services and Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital to continue assisting with the slide response by providing personnel, equipment and supplies.
The RVC is a body of 135 volunteer veterinarians, veterinary technicians and other animal health professionals trained in incident command response and available to assist with livestock or animal health care in the event of an animal disease outbreak or natural disaster, such as the devastating mudslide which struck along SR 530 on March 22.
Joining with other state, federal and local agencies, WSDA has assisted in the state’s biggest mudslide response in other ways as well. WSDA has provided the agency’s incident command trailer as a resting area, one of the only warm and dry facilities in the area where it is deployed. This trailer will also be incorporated into the rescue dog treatment effort.
The agency has also contributed an amphibious vehicle called a Marsh Master, which is able to navigate the slide area. Our staff operates the vehicle, ferrying response workers and rescue animals across the debris field, and additional staff heads up logistics.
WSDA’s Food Assistance Program acted quickly to assure that contractors in the area were able to access necessary state funds to offer relief food aid to affected communities.
For information on the RVC or to join the program, email mbuswell@agr.wa.gov or call 360-902-1889.
