Vetnuus | May 2026 15 Leading Article A Consolidated Framework for Veterinary Disaster Preparedness A functional system must integrate: Planning • Risk assessment • Scenario development Preparedness • Training • Resource allocation Response • Coordinated deployment • Operational execution Recovery • Rehabilitation • System improvement This cycle must be continuous, not episodic. The One Health Imperative Disaster preparedness is inherently a One Health issue. The separation of human, animal, and environmental health systems is operationally inefficient and strategically flawed. Veterinary services are uniquely positioned to bridge these domains. Their exclusion weakens the entire system. Conclusion Disaster preparedness within veterinary systems is not a technical challenge; it is a governance and systems challenge. Effective preparedness requires: • Institutional integration • Operational clarity • Sustained capacity • Continuous evaluation The central proposition is straightforward: resilience is engineered, not improvised. Veterinary services must therefore be positioned, capacitated, and mandated as core components of disaster risk management systems. Without this, preparedness will remain partial, and response will remain reactive. To manage disasters successfully, a One Health approach should be followed, ensuring collaborative coordination by all stakeholders. v Figure 11. Implementation strategies for One Welfare/ One Health in Emergency Management through an animal lens: https://doi. org/10.3390/ani11113141
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