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SMART State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team

Animal Disaster Planning and Response

Challenges and Opportunities

~ << Presenters Name >>~

~ << List Role in SMART >>~

…audience …

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Agenda• Animals in Disasters

• What is being done?• Individual / Private • Local / State / Federal

• SMART in Action• Work groups• Volunteer opportunities• Training requirements

• Working together

• Animals in Disasters Resources

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By the end of this presentation, you should be able to:

• List two examples of why animals need to be included in disaster response planning

• Describe individual responsibility for pets• Identify key local, private, state and federal

response partners and their responsibilities• Know how to volunteer for SMART• Understand basic SMART training

requirements• Know whom to contact in an animal disaster

in the local community

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Weyauwega, WI: Train Derailment March 4, 1996

Derailed train cars burn in Weyauwega on March 4, 1996. (Post-Crescent file photo, Appleton, WI)

http://www.postcrescent.com/specials/assets/APCweyauweatrain/63913.pdf

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Animals in Disasters….

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Hurricane Floyd – NC- ‘99

Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom McGinn III

Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom McGinn III

Photo courtesy of Dr. Mary Ann T. McBrideAnimals in Disasters….

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Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom McGinn III

Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom McGinn III

Photo courtesy of Dr. Mary Ann T. McBrideAnimals in Disasters….

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Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom McGinn III

Photo courtesy of Dr. Tom McGinn III

Photo courtesy of Dr. Mary Ann T. McBrideAnimals in Disasters….

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Hurricane Katrina, 2005Animals in Disasters….

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Otis Air National Guard Base

MA Welcomes Katrina Survivors

And their pets….

12MSNBC - Jan 2nd 2007

Winter Storms: ’06-’07

New Mexico National Guard member carries hay bales to a Black Hawk helicopter 1/4/07

Animals in Disasters….

STORY HIGHLIGHTS• An estimated 30,000 cattle are stranded• Ranchers ride along with pilots to spot cattle• '97 blizzard killed 30,000 cattle;

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

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Spring Floods

Topsfield Fair GroundsJeff Evaul. www.Boston.com Reader’s photos

Animals in Disasters….

Rescue workers free a horse caught in mud after a storm. www.ext.colostate.edu

Middleton firefighters, state agriculture, and animal rescue league response workers help evacuate Acorn, a 5 yr old pony during spring 2006 floods.

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Factory Explosion, Danvers, MA

Canine entering for secondary search.Photos: MATEF-1.org/gallery/Danvers

Animals in Disasters….

Photo by viewer Brian Barry --WBZTV.comPhoto by viewer Gabriel Cheung –WBZTV.com.

Nov- 2006

Photo: ????????????????

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Planning for Radiological Events Animals in Disasters….

Animal Protection Team Guidelines

Reception Center Operations

Example…Vermont Yankee Emergency Planning Zone

http://www.tnema.org/images/Facilities/SQN/SQN.jpg

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Every community is at riskEvery Animal is at risk

• Fires• Floods• Hurricanes• Explosions• Winter Storms• Zoonotic Diseases• Pandemic Diseases • Radiological Accidents• Transportation Accidents

Animal Disasters …

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Animal Population EstimatesUS Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook, AVMA, 2002

• Pets = (.589) x (total households) = pet-owning households

• Dogs = (.534) x (total households). – Rural areas usually higher; urban areas lower.

• Cats = (.598) x (total households). – Feral cats may increase in rural areas.

• Birds = (.126) x (total households)

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Roles, Responsibilities… &

Opportunities..

• Individuals & Families

• Local Agencies

• Business Community

• State Agencies

• Federal Agencies

• Private Agencies

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Family Preparation..Individual Responsibility

• DON'T LEAVE YOUR PET BEHIND! 

• Pet Disaster Kit:Items to be packed up and stored away in bag…

– Medical records, Photos and description of pet medication, ID tags, pet toys, small bag food, etc.

• Identify options in advance– Geographically distant family or friends– Nearby hotels which are pet friendly

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Primary Local Agencies Do you know ?

• Local veterinarians

• Local animal control officer

• Local first responders – Police, Fire

• Local emergency planning committee (LEPC) members

• Local private organizations / corporation

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Possible Local Activities:

– Educate individual animal owners– Insure animals included in local plans– Train responders on local animal

resources, needs issues– Identify possible co-located shelter options – Develop local animal care resource list

- Identify pet friendly motels– Animal ID program– Photos, microchips?

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Primary State Agencies Agriculture Department of Public Safety

Emergency Management

Department of Public Health Natural Resources

Department of Environmental Protection Fish & Wildlife Department

                                                                                                        

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Primary Federal Agencies• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS)

– Nat. Disaster Medical System - Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT)

• US Department of the Interior (DOI)

– Wildlife issues

• US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

– Water quality issues

• US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

– Veterinary Services (VS)

– Animal Care (AC)

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Pets Evacuation and TransportationStandards (PETS) Act of 2006

• Supports development of disaster plans that can accommodate people with pets and service animals.

• Supports development of pet-friendly emergency shelter facilities

• Allows FEMA to provide assistance for individuals with pets and the animals themselves..

•Prior, during and following a major disaster or emergency.

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Private Efforts• Humane / Rescue / Response Organizations.

– National– HSUS, EARS, IFAW, ASPCA, ……

– State / Local– MA ESF-17– CERTs, MRCs, DARTs– Newton, Southboro, Spencer animal annex– Newton ESF-17

• What can these organizations offer?• Training • Resources • Equipment • Coordination• Education• Advocacy

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State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team (SMART) A coordinated network of state organizations, agencies and individuals.

Mission: Provide timely and effective response to animal

populations in disaster situations.

Operates under direction of:

MA Emergency Management Agency and MA Department of Agricultural Resources

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Overall Goals of SMART

• Minimize the health and safety threat to animals and humans

• Minimize the economic impact of animal emergencies

• Decrease the spread of disease to animals and humans during emergencies

• Understand the interface between human and animal health

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How to Achieve those Goals:

• Establish committee to address SMART- related issues

• Establish teams of trained personnel who can respond to emergencies

• Provide outreach and public education materials• Develop a SMART team building guide• Develop and maintain a SMART website• Develop a SMART newsletter and publish

periodically

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SMART Functional Teams1. Shelter Operations2. Search & Rescue3. Assessment4. Deceased Animal Removal &

Disposal5. Veterinary Services6. Animal Control Officer7. Specialized Animal Services   

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Shelter Operations• What they do?

– Set up animal shelters – Operations follow emergency shelter SOPs– House and care for rescued /displaced animals

• Skills Needed:– Animal care, animal handling skills– Shelter operations experience– Organizational skills– Computer skills

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Search & Rescue• What they do:

– Search for/ Rescue missing, hurt and/or stranded animals

– Document activities to facilitate reuniting with owners

– Safely transport animals to Shelter Operations Site

• Skills Needed:– Animal Handling skills

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Assessment• What they do:

– The Assessment Team will assess damages and the stability of the area they are activated to.  This team will prioritize tasks and determine what, if any other teams should be activated.

• Skills Needed:– Members must be familiar with disasters, the

ICS system and should be able to assess quickly and thoroughly what is needed for a particular situation.

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Deceased Animal Removal & Disposal

• What they do:– locate deceased animals – dispose of deceased animals following

approved SOPs– document information on all deceased animals

• Skills Needed:– Knowledge of disposal regulations– Solid waste handling knowledge– Heavy equipment handling and knowledge

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Veterinary Services• What they do:

– Provide acute medical care based on triage of animals.  

– Monitor the health of rescued animals and those in sheltering.  

• Skills Needed:– Veterinarians & Animal Technicians – Animal care personnel– Pharmacy skills– Organizational and computer skills

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Animal Control • What do they do:

– Assist the Search and Rescue – Assist Shelter Operations teams.  – Monitor available shelter space.  Members

must be a current Animal Control Officer in the State of Massachusetts.

• Skills:– Current MA Animal Control Officer – Good Animal Handling skills

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Specialized Animal Services• What do they do:

– Work with Veterinary Services on care and sheltering of:• non-traditional pets, livestock, research animals, and

wildlife

– Provide acute medical care based on triage of animals– Monitor the health of rescued specialized animals

• Skills:– Specialists in wildlife, aquatic and zoo & animal

medicine and husbandry • Veterinarians, technicians and animal care personnel

– Specialized Animal Handling skills– Good organization skills and computer skills

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SMART’s Responsibilities

• Train volunteers on SMART Operations

• Develop and maintain procedures for requesting SMART Assistance

• Develop and Maintain Procedures for SMART Activation

• Evaluate Procedures through exercises

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Volunteer Responsibilities• Understand procedures for SMART activation• Participate in activations as needed and as

available– Following protocols and standards– Working collaboratively and responsibly

• Participate in exercises• Training:

– Incident Command and required technical skills• Maintain record • Stay updated

• Read SMART Operations Manual!

No Self-Deployments

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Animal Disaster and Response~ Summary of Agencies ~

• Local• State• Federal• Private Organizations• Private Businesses

And….

Every Agency Has a Plan!

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Working Together

What is this item called?

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Working Together

• Language Problems– What is it called?

• Bite Stick?, Rabies Pole?, Animal Snare?, Catch Pole?

– What capabilities (size, strength) do you need?

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Working Together Animal Search and Rescue Team

Monterey Park, CA www.ci.monterey-park.ca.us

LA County Emergency Rescue team May 2004 Photos:Carol and Steve Ford

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Working TogetherNIMS (ICS) -- NRP

National Incident Management System (NIMS)

Incident Command System (ICS)

National Response Plan (NRP)

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L ocalResources

StateResources

FederalResources

Incident

Where are the resources

available to support and

respond to an incident?

When (not if) an incident occurs …

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Working Together:

L ocalResources

StateResources

FederalResources

Incident

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Standardized process and procedures for

incident management

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Essential Components of NIMS• Defines command & control and

organizational structure – Incident Command System (ICS)

• Key component

• Terminology

• Communication protocols

• Defines resources and resource capabilities (resource typing).

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Essential Incident Command System Functions

• Common Terminology

• Modular Organization

• Management by Objectives

• Reliance on an Incident Action Plan

• Chain of Command and Unity of Command

• Unified Command

• Manageable Span of Control

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National Response Plan

National Incident

Management System

Federal ResourcesAll Hazards

All resources

& capabilities

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MA EMERGENCYSUPPORT FUNCTIONS

ESF 1 - TransportationESF 2 - CommunicationsESF 3 - Public Works & EngineeringESF 4 - FirefightingESF 5 - Information &

PlanningESF 6 - Mass CareESF 7 - Resource SupportESF 8 - Health & MedicalESF 9 - Search & Rescue

MEMA - DPH Regional Workshops 63

ESF 10 - Hazardous Materials & Environmental

ESF 11 - Food & WaterESF 12 - EnergyESF 13 - Military SupportESF 14 - Public InformationESF 15 - VolunteersESF 16 - Law EnforcementESF 17 – Animal ProtectionESF 18 – Business & Industry

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Training• IS-100:

– Introduction to Incident Command System• IS-700:

– National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction • IS-800:

– A National Response Plan (NRP), An Introduction • IS-10, IS-11

– Animals in Disaster, Modules A and B • IS-111

– Livestock in Disasters

Many more online and classroom based trainings available … http://training.fema.gov/www.state.ma.us/MEMAwww.smart-mass.org

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Other Training• Disaster Response

– Small /Large Animal handling skills– Shelter Operations– Search and Rescue– First aid for small animals– Canine and feline behavior– Bite prevention and safety for volunteers– Working safely with rescue gear– Water rescue– Ice rescue

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SMART website

www.smart-mass.org

Resources

SMART email

smart@state.ma.us

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How To Volunteer

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Animal disaster plans and resources by state

Click on a link to go to that state's resource page, or use the map below.

•http://www.avma.org/disaster/state_resources/

Other Resources

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Why Communities Need to be Prepared to be Self-sufficient for

First 72 Hours…

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Reunions!A nice way to end….

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The End