In the aftermath of a disaster, veterinary colleges are often called upon to respond, whether by sending teams into the field to provide direct medical assistance to injured or displaced animals, offering support to animal shelters, or in other ways. Dr. Larry Garcia, medical director of the UF Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service, discusses some of the aspects of managing a field hospital in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, why disaster response training is an important part of veterinary medical education and why having a disaster plan is important for all pet owners.