Every animal shelter should have a mitigation plan in place for natural or human-caused emergencies or disasters that could directly affect the shelter, and shelter veterinarians can play an important role in the planning process. A sheltering organization's mission or mandate might also require having a plan to assist the local community or surrounding communities.
The first rule of rescue is “rescue yourself.” Accordingly, animal shelter veterinarians and staff should know what types of disasters can affect their geographical area, which disasters could call for an evacuation, and when to shelter in place.
A clear, written plan for protecting and evacuating animals housed at the shelter, as well anyone working there, should be developed. Disaster planning requires protocols, inventories, procurement of needed supplies, and memoranda of understanding with other agencies and organizations.
A disaster plan should address protocols for animal triage for mass casualties, considerations for backup power systems, water storage, expanded animal housing solutions, and waste management during extended emergencies. Disaster response requires regular staff training, emergency drills, and mutual aid agreements with other facilities.
Documentation planning should account for emergency recordkeeping, legal authority for providing care to animals during the disaster, and mechanisms to coordinate with law enforcement and emergency management agencies.
Planning for the aftermath of a disaster is also important and should include animal-owner reunification procedures, debriefing, and psychological support for staff.
The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act of 2006 requires state and local emergency preparedness authorities to include how they will accommodate households with pets or service animals in disaster planning to qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding.
Most regions of the US have emergency managers and an interagency community emergency-operations planning team to identify risk, hazards, and needs in case of disaster; shelters can assist with developing the community animal response.
Community planning for animals in disasters should include considerations for household pets, service animals, and both noncommercial and commercial production animals.
Key Points
Every animal shelter must have a plan in place for responding to emergencies or disasters that could directly affect the shelter.
An animal shelter may also be able to assist community members with temporary animal sheltering during mandatory evacuations; this activity requires preplanning and organization.
Regional emergency management organizations can be beneficial partners in planning disaster responses.
ForMore Information
Sample plans for evacuation and sheltering. ASPCA Pro, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
NASAAEP Sheltering Best Practices Working Group. Emergency Animal Sheltering Best Practices. National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP); 2014.
General disaster information: search your location [disaster response resources by location]. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Prepare your pets for disasters. Ready.gov, US Department of Homeland Security.
