Animal Emergency Planning for Louisiana Parishes GOHSEP Meeting February 5, 2009

Concept of Operations  Sheltering and protection of animals is the responsibility of their owners  Parish-designated Animal Emergency Coordinator(s) is the lead agency in all local emergencies  State will support protection of animals as needed, when requested by parish  Requests for parish assistance are routed from local EOC through GOHSEP to State ESF-11, Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry

Local Parish Overwhelmed ESF-11 LVMA

Legislation & Funding   National Response Framework  Stafford Act  PETS Act amendment  Definition of household pets  Fed’s role in planning and response  FEMA Reimbursement Policy for Household Pets  Classification of Horses and Livestock in NRF   Louisiana Legislation  Animals in Emergency Planning – ESF-11  LA Pets Act 615  Definition of household pets  State’s role in planning and response  Parish’s role and responsibility

Goals for Planning, Response and Recovery   Save human lives   Evacuate and shelter people and pets together   Assuring safety of their pets saves lives of pet owners   Many people refuse to evacuate without their pets   Ensure community safety   Animals left abandoned will form packs   Risk of human bites, rabies and other diseases   Un-confined livestock in roadways   Relieve animal suffering   Animals left behind during evacuation are at serious risk of injury, starvation, and death   Owners more likely to put themselves at risk to recover their animals Animal Emergency Planning Goals

  Identify Animal Emergency Coordinators & animal contacts   All-disaster planning   Sheltering   Transportation   Evacuation assistance   Re-entry and reunification   Public information and messaging Parish Animal Emergency Plan Components

  Appointed by OEP Director or other parish official   Small Animal Coordinator (SAEC)   Animal Control Officer, Veterinarian, Sheriff   Equine/Livestock Coordinator (LAEC)   Sheriff, Veterinarian, Cattlemen’s Association, County Agent   Suggested Responsibilities   Available during emergencies to coordinate animal response   Designated as essential personnel   Important role in Parish Planning and Response   Reports to OEP Director   Must be member of parish emergency planning team   Communicates with state partners   Identifies and coordinates local animal response team   Assists OEP Director with annual updating of Parish Animal Plan for LDAF Animal Emergency Coordinator(s)

All-Disaster Planning Planning for more than hurricanes   Pre-event timeline   Longer planning time (hurricane, flood) vs.   Short/no advance warning (tornado, chemical spill)   Size of event   Parish-wide (evacuating or receiving parish) vs.   Local event (in-parish evacuation)   Evacuation time   Longer (fire) vs.   Short (train wreck)   Evacuation distance   Out-of-parish (hurricane)   In-parish (tornado, fire)

  >70% of LA households own pets   Evacuation assistance planning  Determine how many residents will need assistance (10%?)  Calculate number of pets owned by this population  Lafayette train derailment numbers, Gustav and Ivan stats  2008: est. up to 23,500 pets might need transport during coastal evacuation, actual numbers were 10% of est.   42% of pets are cats and toy dogs < 8 lbs; qualify as lap pets on buses using current kennel height specifications (8 inches high) Pet Ownership Statistics

Any incident that requires sheltering people requires sheltering animals   Identify potential shelter locations   In-parish pet shelter facilities   Mobile pet shelters might be good option   Partnering with another parish   State-operated pet shelters   Co-locate with human shelter   Staffing needs are lower   Security   Shelter management and manpower   LSART Training course   Partnership with humane organization Sheltering

Importance of Co-located Shelters   Fewer shelter volunteers required   With co-location: 10 pet shelter workers per 500 pets needed to oversee operations   Without co-location: Need 30 pet shelter workers per 500 pets to provide full care   Shelter volunteer billeting often a problem   Benefits to pet-owning evacuees   Relieves boredom, keeps people busy   Emotionally healthier population   Costs less   Easier shelter closing and parish re-entry

  State-assisted vs. Parish-operated pet transport   Lap pets travel with owners   Registration procedures   LSART Training available   Pre-positioning of transport supplies   Stage state-purchased kennels and supplies at parish   Readily available resources Transportation

  Assessment of Animal Control facilities and manpower   Assessment of animal care services in community   Veterinary care   Food and water supply (feed stores)   Manpower for animal industries   Continuity of community-based services as soon as safely possible   Reunification not needed when pets transported with owners Re-entry & Reunification

  Animal ownership is a personal responsibility   Animal owners are required by law to provide care for their animals   Animals should be included in a family’s personal evacuation plan   Only pets of residents needing evacuation assistance will be allowed access to state- operated transport and shelter   Small pets in carriers are allowed to ride on owner’s lap on state-operated evacuation buses Public Messaging

  LSART/ASPCA 2009 Summit   Animal Emergency Planning Workshop   for State and Parish Emergency Planning Directors, Animal Emergency Coordinators & Animal Control Officers   Friday, March 6, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.   LSU School of Veterinary Medicine   No charge, but pre-registration required   Meals and notes included   Register on-line or for more   LSART Web Site: Questions? More Information?