What If the Future of Disaster Response Was No “Response” at All? Presenters: Karel Minor, President/CEO, Humane Pennsylvania Damon March, Chief Operating Officer, Humane Pennsylvania

Everything is a Nail to a Hammer People and organizations are predisposed to responding and reacting based on what they already do. We tend to be hammers, even if we are presented with a screw.

What is our model? Disaster response has been based on a “First What, The How” model What do we do? We shelter. How do we respond to a disaster? Set up a shelter. We suggest a “First Who, Then Why” model Who needs help? Why do they need help? How can we help them? What are we capable of providing?

What do we mean by “no response” and what will we cover? How can your organization alter its response model from what/how to who/why? When is the Mega-Sheltering model right for a community? When is it wrong? What relationships are important to form and maintain prior to a disaster? How can the average animal shelter prepare its community to maintain custody and care for their pets in a disaster? What are the hidden financial and logistical nightmares? How do you prepare traditional emergency responders for a different model and the level of response your organization can deliver? We will focus on one approach which is very effective: Pet Retention Teams

What we will not cover How to set up and operate a Mega-Shelter For that matter, how to set up or run any shelter Heart tugging pictures or disaster porn

History of response- Pre-Katrina Red Cross/war based response Transition to peacetime relief- first conflict between what/how and who/why models Transition to disaster relief, applying the what/how to a new who/why Expansion to smaller, local focus Human oriented

History of response- Katrina The same what/how Red Cross model implemented and suited to a mega-disaster- National Guard, “refugee” camps, large scale. A new “who” was identified: Animals Why did they need help? Because the cameras were on. Red Cross/military style response via sheltering/animal welfare community What do we do? We help animals. How do we do it? We set up shelters.

History of response- Post-Katrina The Katrina model became stamped on the nation as the model. Everyone must plan to help the animal victims of disaster. Everyone must plan to do it by preparing for a mega-shelter. Smaller disasters then call for mini-mega-shelters. PETS Act helps to cement the large scale, one size fits all, big response, inflexible, what does the disaster plan say, model Subsequent disasters impacting different Whos with different Whys call into question this approach

PETS Act Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act A 2005 initiative in the House of Representatives to require states that are seeking FEMA assistance after a disaster to accommodate household pets and service animals in their evacuation plans. A direct response to heartbreaking media coverage of families separated from their pets in the aftermath of Katrina, specifically “Snowball”, a small white dog removed from the arms of a little boy as he boarded the bus to the human shelter at the Superdome. Signed into law by G.W Bush in 2006 and amended the pre-existing “Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act” to allow FEMA funds to be used to accommodate “household pets and service animals”. Language is somewhat vague, so far has allowed for formation of FEMA funded SART & CART What does it do? Essentially nothing.

Future History of Response Given all this, what is the best response to future disasters? We believe the current approaches are sound but missing a critical first step in planning, preparation, and implementation: First Who, Then Why. This change in the underlying approach will allow us to select the correct tool from the toolbox and to stop hammering screws.

New approaches Right-size the response Encourage pet owners to maintain custody and control of their animals after a disaster Support pet owners in doing so Refuse to facilitate bad models of response

Pet Retention Teams A Pet Retention team’s sole purpose is to keep animals with their owners after a disaster. Pet retention programs are one of the core practices in modern animal sheltering Draw on the same resources and knowledge employed by pet retention programs in shelters. Very basically put: Discover the barriers to pet owners ability to maintain care and custody of their pets after a disaster, come up with solutions. Don’t lead with Humanitarian Pet Seizure and the first option

Pet Retention Teams (PRTs) Who is gong to be on your PRT? Well trained volunteers Shelter staff Repurposed traditional responders. PRTs can be CART or SART “Special Teams”

Pet Retention Teams: Before the Storm PRTs should: Estimate number of pets likely to be affected by possible disasters Identify general and location specific barriers to pet retention Develop strategies to overcome these barriers Identify and compile resources needed to promote retention Develop education and messaging to be used on an ongoing basis as well as what is to be messaged right before the event (when possible) Develop messaging to be used as the event unfolds and beyond. Form and maintain partnerships with local Emergency Services, Disaster Responders and selected support organizations

Pet Retention Teams: Before the Storm Estimation of pets in a community: AVMA.org has a pet ownership calculator used for market research. This will not tell you how many pets will be effected by disaster, but roughly how many are in a given area. Calculated based on national data. May be of assistance when you are requesting support and for up front decision making.

Pet Retention Teams: Before the Storm Barriers to pet retention: Economic Logistical Expectations Awareness Institutional (Red Cross rules and regulations, etc)

Pet Retention Teams: Before the Storm Strategies: Economic barriers: Grants, donations and program funding Logistical barriers: Resources, plans, support Expectations/Awareness: Messaging Institutional barriers: Pre-planning, partnerships

Pet Retention Teams: Before the Storm Pet retention resources that can be ready in advance: “Pet retention Kits”-Prepackaged items to be delivered to or picked up by victims that will allow them to maintain custody and care. Individual daily care items (food, litter pans and litter, leashes, carriers, bowls etc.) Transportation that gives your PRTs the ability to take victims to resources or better yet, resources to victims. Information about local boarding facilities, pet friendly hotels, collocated shelter options and other retention friendly resources. Veterinary partners. Trained personnel to act as Pet Retention Responders after a disaster.

Pet Retention Teams: Before the Storm Messaging The purpose of pre-event messaging is to create a community that is prepared to meet the needs of their own pets in a disaster. Messaging should highlight the negative impacts of separation of pets from their people. Stress to animals and owners Additional strain on responder resources The risk of permanent separation, illness, injury The limited and/or delayed availability of pet rescue resources

Pet Retention Teams: Before the Storm Messaging in advance of an event should include instructions for pet owner preparation activities: Including ALL pets in evacuation plans Special messaging for cat owners! Creation or acquisition of Pet Retention Kits Information about contacting Pet Retention Personnel Discussing alternate pet housing plans with friends and relatives likely to be outside of the areas effected by local disasters. (anything & everything you wish they would do in preparation!)

Pet Retention Teams: Messaging as the event unfolds Urge pet owners to who will evacuate not to leave pets behind(especially cats!) as it may be several days before they can return home. Provide the location of collocated sheltering Be sure to let pet owners know of any rules or requirements for entering traditional (no pets allowed) and collocated shelters How pet retention resources will be made available after the event

Pet Retention Teams: Messaging during the response Reminders that maintaining custody of a pet may be the best option. Constant information about what resources are available where and when. Supply drop locations Supply pick up locations Available space at collocated shelters PRT “Hotline” information (or wherever pet owners can get info)

Co-Located Shelters Simply put, a shelter for people that also provides shelter for their pet animals. May be unstaffed and provide access to caging and daily care supplies away from other human residents. Pet owners are solely responsible for the care of their pets. May be partially staffed and provide the above, plus access to personnel who can assist with ongoing or changing needs. Pet owners may be responsible for some pet care, some may be provided by PRT personnel May be fully staffed and provide a greater degree of hands-on care for animals by PRT personnel. More like on-site boarding. Sometimes human shelters provide separate housing for people and pets so that they may stay together constantly.

Co-Located Shelters Preparation Meet with your local Red Cross or other human sheltering managers. Go with human sheltering personnel to potential colocation shelters and work out in advance where people and animals will be housed Let the human sheltering people know exactly what your team can and cannot be expected to do! Compile resources: caging, daily care supplies Conduct drills with Red Cross and or PRT personnel

Partnerships & Resources Planning & Preparation resources: National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP) National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC) Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) HSUS SART/CART Local Animal Welfare Organization Local Emergency Services Coordinators Red Cross

Partnerships & Resources Response Partners: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) PETCO Foundation Petfinder.com Foundation PetSmart Charities HSUS National Animal Welfare Orgs. (AHA, ASPCA, Etc.) SART/CART Local Animal Welfare Organizations Local Emergency Services Coordinators Red Cross Local Boarding Facilities Local Veterinarians Local Builders & Building Supply Truck rental companies The community at large

Hidden costs Management and distribution of donated supplies. Food, water and other necessaries for responders. Fuel Trash Unexpected/opportunistic relinquishment Continued support of victims for days, weeks or months beyond what is expected.

What not to do- FEMA NIMS Carefully consider the cost/benefit ratio If your assistance is needed, no one will as you for your NIMS results Don’t jump through hoops simply because they present themselves

What If the Future of Disaster Response Was No “Response” at All? Presenters: Karel Minor, President/CEO, Humane Pennsylvania Damon March, Chief Operating Officer, Humane Pennsylvania This PowerPoint presentation available online at