Animals in Disasters: Building community capacity

in partnership with NARSCPresented by Emily Colwell, Training Coordinator,

National Animal Care & Control Association on behalf of NARSC:

National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition

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Four parts to today's presentation• 1. Rationale for planning for animals

• 2. Who is NARSC and what do we do

• 3. Building local capacity before NARSC is needed

• 4. Training opportunities and preparedness resources available through NARSC and its member organizations

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Why plan for animals?"Of those who did not evacuate, about one-third (32%) indicate that this was mainly by choice – reporting that they did not want to leave their homes (82%), their pets (44%) and their family (18%)."

Fritz Institute. (2006) Hurricane Katrina: Perceptions of the Affected. San Francisco, CA. Retrieved from www.fritzinstitute.org

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Why plan for animals?

Because animals have intrinsic valueBecause pet owners are emotionally connected to their petsBecause agricultural owners' income depend on their livestockBecause wildlife protection helps keep ecosystems in balanceBecause human safety depends in part on animal safetyBecause animal issues are human issues

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Who is NARSC: Mission Statement

“…to identify, prioritize and find collaborative solutions to major human-animal emergency issues. NARSC members are dedicated to professionalism in animal emergency response and management.”

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What does NARSC do: Our Skill Set• Assessment Services: pre-incident/planning needs, initial incident, situational,

recovery needs• Administrative Services: animal data management, public relations, logistics,

volunteer coordination, inter-agency coordination, reunification, adoption• Field Services: wildfire-interfaced rescue, swift and slack water rescue (including

ice), technical large animal and livestock rescue, chemical immobilization and capture, mass transport, remains retrieval• Sheltering Services: animal housing, chemical decontamination, emergency

veterinary care, husbandry, non-sheltering alternatives (shelter-at-home, community care centers, aggregate containment)

… all within NIMS / ICS

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What does NARSC do: Our Skill Set• One or more member organization is active on disaster response

almost every week of the year.

• NARSC member orgs have responded to hundreds of disasters between us, including wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, typhoons, earthquakes, landslides, floods, tsunamis, and volcanos…

• …plus animal-centric disasters: exotic animal release, animal facility failure, and cruelty incidents (hoarding, high-volume breeding, ritual animal abuse, and blood sports.)

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Building local capacity before NARSC is needed: Preparedness for Households and Care Facilities

• evacuation plan and go-kit• shelter-in-place plan• first aid kit for animals• food and water for 72 hours• ID supplies: grease markers, instant ID tags, Sharpies (for hooves)• transportation tools: carriers, collars, tack, trailers• sanitation supplies: waste bags, cat litter, hand sanitizer• severe weather supplies: blankets, box fans, waterproof tarps, instant hot and

cold packs

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Building local capacity before NARSC is needed: Animal Care/Control Officers

• act as experts on their local jurisdiction, including species (plant and animal) of special cultural significance• act as advisors on household preparedness• offer informal surveillance on animal-borne disease• protect human public health and safety• act as day-to-day liaison with non-tribal animal welfare organizations• act as disaster liaison with NARSC to help us increase our cross-

cultural competence

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Building local capacity before NARSC is needed:

Mutual Aid or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

shared resources +shared responsibility =greater resiliency

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Building local capacity before NARSC is needed: Mutual Aid and MOU’s

• MOU’s with one NARSC member organization provides access to the resources of the other member organizations EXCEPT

• MOU’s for veterinary care (through the American Veterinary Medical Association/Foundation and their Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams) must be arranged separately from the rest of NARSC to accommodate licensure and insurance requirements

• MOU’s are best arranged in advance

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Training available from NARSC member organizations• Situational Assessment• Mass Animal Sheltering and Sheltering Alternatives• Veterinary First Aid• Swift and Slack Water Rescue • High-Angle Rescue • Chemical Immobilization and Capture• National Animal Control & Humane Officer (NACHO) Academy• Other topics as required, specific to situational needs

Other prepredness resources: ASPCA Capacity Project

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Other preparedness resources: ASPCA Capacity Project

•October 2015: Sent NCARE Survey to state and county emergency managers to measure existing capacity and identify locations interested in improving future capacity

• Forthcoming: Community Preparedness Checklist - a self-assessment tool identifying all of the components necessary for a community to be disaster resilient

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Other preparedness resources: ASPCA Capacity Project Highest Priority Zones

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Other preparedness resources: ASPCA Capacity Project

• Forthcoming: Resources (grants, training, equipment) available to move from current capacity, toward the goals set by the local agency

• To request a survey for your tribe, or for more information: Dick.Green@aspca.org

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In summary...

• NARSC is here when you need us. • Increased local planning will increase resiliency.

• Resources are available to help you reach your community's preparedness goals.

• Reach me at: EColwell@NACAnet.org or (510) 981-9487• Or NARSC at: TheNARSC@gmail.com or (336) 496-2772