Two months, three hurricanes, five states, hundreds dead, thousands homeless, billions of dollars in damage. How can we understand? More importantly, how can we help? In last month’s issue, we devoted many pages to covering what happened in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We’ve discussed specific and general needs of horse owners and veterinarians in those areas devastated by these storms. A long interview with mixed animal practitioner Jacque Broome, DVM, of Gulfport, Miss., was heart-wrenching, and uplifting. She described herself as a “tough broad” in her 40s who isn’t going anywhere, despite the loss of her clinic, some of the animals kept there, clients and their animals at home, some of her staff (who moved to find jobs), and most of the buildings on her farm. She was asked if she needed anything, and her insurance claim list provided a good description of how much she had lost. Unfortunately, the insurance company decided that the wall of water that came through Gulfport was flooding, not storm damage, and it will only pay for the roof and four windows.

At our request, she sent 3 1/2 hand-written pages of supplies and equipment needed to get back in business–everything from a metal building to house her clinic to a stethoscope; from X ray and ultrasound equipment to syringes and scissors.

Other small animal veterinarians in the area have let her use their facilities for pet services, and she has been working on clients’ horses as they catch her by spotty cell phone service or by leaving messages with other clinics or notes on the front door of her destroyed facility.

It was touching when Broome sent her requested list, putting an addendum at the bottom saying “Other local vets need help. I can get lists if interest is indicated