1

PPlan – lan – all aspects of your own emergency all aspects of your own emergency response for both you response for both you andand your pets your pets. Ideally, . Ideally, design for two scenarios, one if you are design for two scenarios, one if you are confined to your home for several days and confined to your home for several days and another if you and your pet have to evacuate. another if you and your pet have to evacuate. Elements for both of these plans include, but Elements for both of these plans include, but are not limited to, supplies (including food and are not limited to, supplies (including food and medications), finding the safest parts of your medications), finding the safest parts of your home and escape routes if you are ordered to home and escape routes if you are ordered to evacuate or your home becomes unsafe.evacuate or your home becomes unsafe.

2

RResearch – various destinations as esearch – various destinations as well as escape routes. Investigate well as escape routes. Investigate routes in several directions, in the routes in several directions, in the event that one or more may be event that one or more may be blocked and impassible. Practice a blocked and impassible. Practice a “dry run” for each route so that if you “dry run” for each route so that if you have to improvise, you will be able to have to improvise, you will be able to do it quickly and without jeopardy. do it quickly and without jeopardy.

3

EEquip – your home quip – your home and and your vehicle with your vehicle with emergency supplies and provisions. Include emergency supplies and provisions. Include an easily readable map with routes an easily readable map with routes highlighted, waterproof containers for food highlighted, waterproof containers for food and medications; water; bowls; leashes; and and medications; water; bowls; leashes; and collapsible carriers or crates. Don’t forget collapsible carriers or crates. Don’t forget medical records, permanent identification medical records, permanent identification (microchip for pets), a photo and description (microchip for pets), a photo and description of your pet, as well as proof of ownership. A of your pet, as well as proof of ownership. A First Aid kit is also a necessity; most of the First Aid kit is also a necessity; most of the contents can be used for both humans and contents can be used for both humans and pets. pets.

4

PPractice – emergency situations and ractice – emergency situations and include your pets. Try to do a drill for include your pets. Try to do a drill for each type of emergency that may hit your each type of emergency that may hit your area. Over a period of time, practice until area. Over a period of time, practice until you can get the start-to-finish time down you can get the start-to-finish time down to a minimum. Experiment with to a minimum. Experiment with pretending to be confined to your home. pretending to be confined to your home. Make it a game for your pets whether “in Make it a game for your pets whether “in home” or “on the road,” and your pets will home” or “on the road,” and your pets will be more at ease if the real thing strikes. be more at ease if the real thing strikes.

5

AAdd – subtract and change supplies dd – subtract and change supplies periodically. Medications that are out-periodically. Medications that are out-of-date become ineffective at best and of-date become ineffective at best and toxic at worst. Food can become stale toxic at worst. Food can become stale or worse. Even water stored long-term or worse. Even water stored long-term can take on the taste of its container. can take on the taste of its container. Consider changing bedding for crates, Consider changing bedding for crates, and check to see that leads and collars and check to see that leads and collars still fit and are in good repair.still fit and are in good repair.

6

RReview – all plans and preparations eview – all plans and preparations regularly. “Safe havens” may change regularly. “Safe havens” may change or cease to exist. Roads may be closed or cease to exist. Roads may be closed or new ones built. Landmarks may be or new ones built. Landmarks may be torn down or names changed. If torn down or names changed. If friends have volunteered to help, friends have volunteered to help, make sure those offers are still viable. make sure those offers are still viable. Your plans as well as your vehicle Your plans as well as your vehicle preparation should be appropriate for preparation should be appropriate for various temperatures and seasons. various temperatures and seasons.

7

EEstablish – an ongoing relationship with stablish – an ongoing relationship with your local authorities, such as your local authorities, such as ooffices of ffices of eemergency mergency mmanagement (OEMs) and dog anagement (OEMs) and dog clubs in your area. FEMA dictates that in clubs in your area. FEMA dictates that in times of emergency, jurisdiction will be times of emergency, jurisdiction will be ceded to local authorities where the disaster ceded to local authorities where the disaster occurs. Planning and Communication with occurs. Planning and Communication with other clubs in your area will create a team other clubs in your area will create a team effect that can avoid duplication of effect that can avoid duplication of resources and efforts, as well as produce resources and efforts, as well as produce strength and a more efficient result. strength and a more efficient result.

8

Where is your nearest CART (Where is your nearest CART (CCounty ounty AAnimal nimal RResponse esponse TTeam)? How can you join eam)? How can you join or help them? If none exists, do you know or help them? If none exists, do you know how to contact the SART (how to contact the SART (SState tate AAnimal nimal RResponse esponse TTeam)?eam)?

Do you know how to reach your local OEM? Do you know how to reach your local OEM? Is there someone there who knows you?Is there someone there who knows you?

What does your local emergency response What does your local emergency response agency require from its volunteers?agency require from its volunteers?

How can you and/or your club members How can you and/or your club members fulfill those requirements so that you can fulfill those requirements so that you can be of assistance in times of crisis?be of assistance in times of crisis?

A

State Animal and State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Agricultural Emergency

ProgramsPrograms State Animal Response Team (SART)State Animal Response Team (SART) State Agricultural Response Team (SART)State Agricultural Response Team (SART) State Animal Resource Team (SART)State Animal Resource Team (SART) Generally similar programsGenerally similar programs State veterinary emergency response State veterinary emergency response

teamsteams State veterinary medical reserve corpsState veterinary medical reserve corps Animal Emergency Response Organization Animal Emergency Response Organization

(AERO)(AERO)

B

SART or any similar program exists or in development

VMRC/VERT exists or in development

Both SART/similar or VMRC exist or in development

No reported program or status unknown

NOTE: Not an official poll

C

Extension

Volunteergroups Wildlife, LHD

CountyEmergency Management

CARTAnimalcontrol

Private Vets

ISSUES

D

Incident Command System (ICS) Incident Command System (ICS) training and certification for club training and certification for club members. This is available free and members. This is available free and on-line at the FEMA website; on-line at the FEMA website; http://http://training.fema.govtraining.fema.gov and at and at www.nimsonline.comwww.nimsonline.com..

E

Collaboration: WhoCollaboration: WhoStates: Government & NGOLocal Government & NGOFederal agenciesNational NGOs Associations Animal welfare FoundationsAcademiaBusiness sectorIndividuals

F

NCSART

Extension

NCDA & CS

Emergency

Managem

ent

College/VMA

Industry Assoc.NGOs

PH

USDAUSDA FEMAFEMA

National NGOsNational NGOsAssociationsAssociations

PETS Act sheltering planning and trainingPETS Act sheltering planning and training