V

Vapor Protective Ensemble
A vapor protective ensemble or garment that is intended for use in an unknown threat atmosphere or for known high health risk atmospheres is vapor tight, and is in compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard # 1991, “Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies.”

Veterinary Epidemiologist
A practitioner who studies factors influencing existence and spread of diseases among humans and animals, particularly those diseases transmissible from animals to humans.  Required to hold degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT), National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
VMATs are volunteer teams of veterinarians, technicians, and support personnel, usually from the same region, that have organized a response team under the guidance of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the NDMS, and whose personnel have specific training in responding to animal cas­ualties and/or animal disease outbreaks during a disaster.  They help assess medical needs of animals, and conduct animal disease surveillance, hazard mitigation, biological and chemical terrorism surveil­lance, and animal decontamination.  Usually includes a mix of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, support personnel, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and veterinary pathologists.  See Annex A:  Federal Response Teams for more detailed information on this Federal Resource.

Visual Flight Rules (VFRs)
Set of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules, guidelines, and procedures that apply to aircraft when a pilot is conducting flight with visual reference to the ground.

Volcano Search and Rescue Team (Wilderness Rescue Team)
Team provides technical rescue, avalanche rescue, and other aspects of mountain rescue services applicable for search and rescue operations in and around the surface of a volcano.

Volunteer Agency Liaison (VAL)
The Volunteer Agency Liaison serves as the central point between government entities and volunteer organizations in the coordination of information and activities of VOADs (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters) responding in times of disaster.