USDA - APHIS - Animal Health - Emergency Management

National Center for Animal Health Emergency Management (NCAHEM)

As leaders in animal health emergency management, we develop strategies and policies for effective incident management and help coordinate incident responses. As a liaison to outside emergency management groups, we ensure that Veterinary Services (VS) emergency management policies, strategies, and responses are current with national and international standards.

Who We Are

Preparedness and Incident Coordination

Develops and distributes emergency response guidelines based on the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System for responding effectively and efficiently to a foreign animal disease or pest, and providing incident goals, objectives, strategies, procedures, and timelines.
Coordinates investigations and disseminates information about suspected outbreaks of foreign animal diseases.
Manages the National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps, a reserve of veterinarians and animal health technicians who can assist State and Federal response efforts during an animal health event.
Supports continuity of business planning through cooperative agreements with universities.

Interagency Coordination

Identifies resources and clarifies roles in the event of an animal emergency through participation in interagency and international working groups and permanent assignments at other Federal agencies.
Develops methods and techniques to obtain and analyze surveillance information within USDA and APHIS.
Leads the implementation of the joint USDA/Department of Homeland Security foreign animal disease modeling analysis center, and contributes funding to additional modeling efforts through cooperative agreements.
Coordinates development and deployment of emergency disposal and decontamination tools through international, Federal, State, industry and academic working groups and partnerships. For more information regarding disposal and decontamination, please visit Animal Disease Outbreak Emergency Management Tools.

National Veterinary Stockpile (NVS)

Provides within 24 hours the critical veterinary countermeasures (such as supplies, equipment, field tests, vaccines, and support services) to ensure States have the resources to fight catastrophic animal disease outbreaks that terrorists or nature may create.
Helps States plan, train, and exercise before an event the logistics operations they will need to manage during an event to receive, store, control, issue, and deliver the NVS and other resources. For more information visit the NVS web site.

Contact Us

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
National Center for Animal Health Emergency Management
4700 River Road, Unit 41
Riverdale, MD 20737
301-734-8073 (main number)
301-734-7817 (fax)
Emergency ONLY: 800-940-6524

NCAHEM Information and Programs

Organizational Charts
- NCAHEM
- VS
National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps (NAHERC)
NAHERC members assist in the federal response to domestic and international animal disease outbreaks, threats, and natural disasters. Veterinarians, animal health technicians, and other veterinary personnel are encouraged to visit this site and add their names to the NAHERC emergency roster.
Emergency Management Response System (EMRS)
EMRS is used to manage and investigate U.S. animal disease outbreaks. VS efforts are led by Federal and State field personnel in conjunction with more than 40,000 federally accredited veterinary practitioners who assist with disease exclusion, detection, and control.

Veterinary Services Information

Animal Disease Information

VS Fact Sheets
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
OIE is the intergovernmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide.

Draft National Avian Influenza Response Plan Summary
APHIS, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, developed a national response plan should highly pathogenic avian influenza occur in the United States. This document is a summary and abstract of the detailed National Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Response Plan. The plan is intended to complement specific regional, State, and industry plans written for local issues and needs. States should continue to develop plans that are specific to their poultry industry and requirements.

Library of Relevant Response Documents

Foreign animal disease training information
List of EPA approved pesticides for use against selected foreign animal diseases
National Summary Plans and Guidelines

Codes of Federal Regulations (CFRs) Regarding Animal Health

9 CFR 53 (Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Pleuropneumonia, Rinderpest, and Certain Other Communicable Diseases of Livestock or Poultry)
9 CFR 56 (Control of H5/H7 Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza)
9 CFR 82 (Exotic Newcastle Disease and Chlamydiosis)
9 CFR 94 (Rinderpest, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Fowl Pest, Exotic Newcastle Disease, African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: Prohibited and Restricted Importations)
- Statutory Authorities
  - Animal Health Protection Act
  - Animal Welfare Act
  - Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs)
    - HSPD-5 (Management of Domestic Incidents)
    - HSPD-7 (Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection)
    - HSPD-8 (National Preparedness)
    - HSPD-9 (Defense of United States Agriculture and Food)
    - HSPD-12 (Policies for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors)
  - Homeland Security Act of 2002
  - Stafford Act