Vetnuus | May 2026 13 Leading Article Figure 8: https://www.ie.edu/insights/ disaster-risk-management/ preparedness/effectiveemergency-response-the-roleof-contingency-planning/ Capacity Building: The Determinant of System Performance Capacity as a System Property Capacity is not an attribute of individuals; it is a property of the system. It reflects skills distribution, institutional readiness, resource availability and coordination capability. Functional Skill Categories Capacity development must address the following four tiers: • Foundation: focusing on awareness and basic competencies • Feeder: to assist and drive risk identification and reporting • Integration: ensuring cross-sector coordination • Execution: responsible for the operational response Weakness at any tier compromises the system. Training and Simulation Training must be continuous, scenario-based and multidisciplinary. Simulation exercises are not optional. They are the primary mechanism for validating plans and exposing system weaknesses. Community as a Force Multiplier Communities are important to extend response capacity, but only where awareness exists, their roles are defined, and trust in disaster institutions is established. Unprepared communities increase system strain and could easily become a risk factor in themselves. Operational Contexts in Veterinary Preparedness Companion Animal Systems Preparedness priorities in companion animal systems are owner education, evacuation planning and identification and traceability of animals. Failure in this sector rapidly translates into human welfare and public health issues. Livestock Systems Livestock systems are vulnerable to disasters due to the scale of operations, often involving large numbers of animals, mobility constraints in rapidly evacuating them, and dependency on infrastructure, especially housing. Preparedness must focus on continuity, not just response. Wildlife Systems Disaster impacts on wildlife are often underestimated. Veterinary roles include surveillance, rehabilitation of injured animals and risk management. Infrastructure repair, such as fixing washed-away fences, may become a priority. Neglect in this domain increases long-term ecological and disease risks. Communication and Coordination Communication failure is one of the most consistent predictors of disaster response breakdown. Internal Systems Effective internal communication requires defined command hierarchies, standardised reporting structures and real-time information flow. External Systems Externally, communication must balance accuracy, timeliness and public reassurance. Poor communication amplifies both risk and perception of risk. Recovery and System Reinforcement Recovery is not only a return to baseline, but it is an opportunity for system strengthening. >>>14
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