Hurricane Katrina was a hard lesson in disaster
preparedness that revealed just how much further this country's disaster
planning still had to come to adequately protect both people and animals in
emergencies. Plans for
rescuing animals, in particular, were virtually nonexistent both among
individuals and at the government level.
Passage of the
Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act will go a long way toward
ensuring that we never again have to witness the suffering of animal victims as
we did after Katrina, but much of its effectiveness will depend on the improved
disaster preparedness of individuals and communities.
Today, there are a number of things you can do to protect
animals ahead of time, and to get ready to help rescue them the next time disaster
strikes.
- Start at home. The most basic step in
disaster preparedness is to develop a disaster
plan for the animals in your family. The Humane
Society of the United States offers a
Disaster Preparedness Quiz for animal owners that can identify areas you
might not have already thought about. There are also brochures specific to
owners of
horses and
livestock, as well as
domestic pets. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(ASPCA) also offers a downloadable
Disaster Preparedness brochure, as well as free
Pet Rescue Stickers to alert rescue workers to the presence of animals at
your home.
- Look to your community. To learn about your
community's disaster preparedness efforts, talk to your local shelter or animal
control or welfare department. (To find your local shelter, visit the
ASPCA
or you can enter your ZIP code at
Petfinder or
Pets 911.) If you live in an
apartment building or townhouse community, encourage your landlord or community
association to
keep track of all the animals living there for easy access by police and
disaster response efforts. Offer to provide backup care for a trusted
neighbor's pets in the event of an emergency, and see if they'll do the same
for you. If you live in a rural area, join forces with neighbors to develop a
plan to ensure the
safety of livestock in the case of a disaster; the American Red Cross has
tips and suggestions for creating such a plan.
- Get certified. The images and stories of the
animal victims of Katrina inspired thousands to offer their help, but often
those would-be volunteers lacked the experience and training most needed by
disaster animal response teams such as the one operated by the Humane Society. To become
qualified to help next time it's needed, you can choose from among a variety of
training options:
- The
Emergency Management Institute
offers an Independent Study Program with an array of downloadable and online
self-study courses in disaster preparedness, including several specific to
animals. Certificates are awarded for the successful completion of every course.
- The
American Red Cross also offers numerous classes in disaster preparedness
through its local chapters.
- The Humane Society also offers its own
Disaster Response Training classes in select cities for those who have
already taken a few courses through FEMA and the Red Cross.
- United Animal Nations offers a variety of workshops across the
country for those interested in volunteering in its
Emergency Animal Rescue Service.
- The American Humane Association offers two-day training sessions
for those interested in volunteering for its
Animal Emergency Services Volunteer program. Volunteers are also encouraged
to take courses through FEMA and the Red Cross.
There's no telling when the next disaster may come, but we
can be certain that it will, sooner or later. Once it does, a little
preparedness will go a long way toward easing its effects on the animals who
share our lives.
