ANIMALS IN DISASTERS INFORMATION FOR RESPONDERS

1. This presentation contains additional information in the “Notes” pages. When printing, please remember to print out the pages with the notes view included. ANIMALS IN DISASTERS INFORMATION FOR RESPONDERS Virginia Department of Emergency Management Public Safety Outreach Conference Richmond, Virginia November 20, 2003

2. Animal Care Community • Private Owners • Public Owners • Businesses • Humane Organizations • Educational Institutions • Governmental Agencies • Professional Association • Other Associations • Animal care community is diverse

3. Animal Issues in Disasters • 3 Mile Island PA ‘79 Nuclear Accident • Dayton OH ‘84 Chemical Spill • Snohomish WA ‘91 Flood • Oakland CA ‘91 Firestorm • Florida ‘92 Hurricane Andrew • Georgia ‘94 Floods • Animals are prominent in disasters

4. How People are Affected by Animals • Animal Bites • Outbreaks of Zoonoses • Spoilage of human food and water • Mental health issues • Evacuation Failure • Unsafe Rescues • Fatalities • Animals cannot be viewed simply as inanimate property

5. Pet Populations • Type Households Number • All Pets 58.9% • Dogs 32.6% 1.69 • Cats 27.3% 2.19 • Birds 4.6% • Horses 1.5% 2.67 • Other Pets 10.7% • 60% of pet owners consider their pets very or extremely important to them

6. Animal Care and Emergency Management • Be attentive to animal care issues • Include animals in planning process • Include animal training for employees • Secure equipment & supplies • Work with the animal care community • Animals impact operations at all levels

7. Scenario Examples • A train carrying propane derails and prompts the immediate evacuation of 1000 households in a 2 mile radius. You estimate that roughly 50% of the families in the evacuation area have pets • Emergency Managers - Do you have an action plan to evacuate people with their animals and know where to house the animals?

8. Scenario Examples • A train carrying propane derails and prompts the immediate evacuation of 1000 households in a 2 mile radius. You estimate that roughly 50% of the families in the evacuation area have pets • Animal Owners - How would you evacuate with your animals? What supplies would you take for your pets?

9. Scenario Examples • Hurricane Isabel has caused many people to be separated from their horses. • Emergency Managers - How would you reunite owners with their horses?

10. Scenario Examples • Hurricane Isabel has caused many people to be separated from their horses. • Animal owners - There are 35 bay mares in a temporary enclosure for horses. If one of them were yours, how would you positively identify it to a security guard at the pasture?

11. Scenario Examples • During a heat wave there is a local power failure that results in the death of 500,000 chickens in two adjacent barns. • Emergency Managers - What emergency power supplies could have been mobilized and prevented this costly loss?

12. Scenario Examples • During a heat wave there is a local power failure that results in the death of 500,000 chickens in two adjacent barns. • Animal Owners - How would you dispose of this large mass of dead birds?

13. Four Phases of Emergency Management • Mitigation • Preparedness • Response • Recovery • Animals will feature in each aspect in a disaster

14. Four Phases of Emergency Management Mitigation Recovery Preparedness Response

15. The Puppy that Conquered Firecrackers • Mitigation - You learned how to desensitizeyour dog to prevent future problems • Preparedness - Although unprepared at first, you recovered quickly and took action • Response - You sought help from you veterinarian • Recovery - You relieved stress in your pet • Not every disaster is a federal emergency!

16. Meteorological Hazards • Thunderstorms Wildfires • Flood Hurricane • Tornado Winter storm • Drought Heat wave • Animals should be considered in each type of disaster

17. Geographical Hazards • Earthquake • Landslides & Mudslides • Volcanic Eruptions • Tsunamis • Animals should be considered in each type of disaster

18. Technological Hazards • Hazardous Materials Release • Radiation Spills • Bioterrorism • Animals should be considered in each type of disaster

19. Care of Pets in Disasters • Avoid disasters in the first place • Prevent losing your pet by preparing • Develop and practice an emergency plan • Acclimate your pets to your actions in disasters • Prepare a pet disaster kit for each pet • Proper Planning Prevents Problems

20. Checklist for Disaster Preparedness • Follow the checklist • Routinely review contents for expiration • Update pictures and documents • Prepare for each pet • Microchip each pet • This may mean your pet’s life!

21. Responders’ Cautions • Looks can be deceiving • Things may not be what they appear • Be aware of your surroundings • Get basic animal behavior training • Know your animal care and control agency • Animal care and control professionals should be contacted to handle animals whenever possible

22. Animals in Disasters Senior Humane Officer Mark Kumpf City of Norfolk Animal Protection President, Virginia Animal Control Association Norfolk Animal Management Center 5585 Sabre Road Norfolk, Virginia 23502 (757) 664-PETS (757) 441-5538 (Fax) mark.kumpf@norfolk.gov

23. Animals in Disasters Information for this presentation taken from Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency Management Institute ANIMALS IN DISASTERS MODULE A AWARENESS AND PREPAREDNESSIS-010 May ‘98 Available online at http://www.fema.gov/library/dizandemer.shtm