HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformational Item - Animal Rescue in Emergency and Disaster SituationsREQUEST:
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CITY OF PALM DESERT
RISK MANAGEMENT
STAFF REPORT
Informational Item Concerning Animal Rescue in Emergency and
Disaster Situations
Gary Rosenblum, Risk Manager
February 23, 2006
In September 2005, the City of Palm Desert SEMS Plan (version 3.0) was revised to
add Animal Rescue to the existing Care and Shelter Section. This is to incorporate
animal rescue into management of the Red Cross and other shelter needs.
On November 22, 2005, a meeting was held between the City Emergency Response
Team members who are responsible for operating this section. The three City team
members along with the Parks Manager and Emergency Manager met with the Red
Cross Operations Chief Steve Sisk, Department of Animal Services Operations Chief,
Douglas Austin, and Animal Samaritans SPCA Inc. Executive Director Fred Saunders.
The meeting lasted three hours and covered operational aspects of identifying human
and animal needs after a disaster, coordinating evacuation, sheltering operations and
management for people and animals, and discussing key operational challenges that
would occur with various scenarios.
Another meeting will be held, but is not yet scheduled.
Key Issues for Animal Rescue. Shelter and Evacuation
Both organizations are ready to assist the City during evacuation and shelter
operations. The animal rescue groups plan to have personnel and equipment to
coordinate with Red Cross shelter locations and evacuation staging areas that will be
established after a disaster.
If local Coachella Valley infrastructure is damaged, evacuations may be staged to
transport people and pets to locations outside damaged areas (i.e. Hemet, Temecula,
San Diego, etc.). This process requires no local evacuation shelters, but instead local
evacuation/transportation staging operations. Pets must be identified, tagged, and
receipted, then separately transported and sheltered/fostered until evacuation has
ended and owners can be reunited with pets. The alternative is for local displaced
persons to self -evacuate with pets. Red Cross shelters and pet shelters outside the
Coachella Valley are not likely to be able to be in an adjacent proximity, due to the wide
range of Red Cross shelter options (hotels, motels, apartments, etc.) and the likely lack
of suitable pet sheltering facilities immediately adjacent.
Staff Report
Animal Rescue in Emergency and Disaster Situations
Page 2 of 2
February 23, 2006
Key Unresolved Issues for Animal Rescue and Evacuation to be Addressed
1) Animal identity/matching to owners: Challenges include encouraging owners to keep
photos and information on pets readily available during evacuation to create quality
identification at evacuation staging area, or having animals microchipped with radio
frequency codes. Ability to photograph and tag pets at evacuation staging
centers needs to be created. Microchip information stored in local agency computers
may be lost in a disaster; the national database preferred, but registration requires an
annual fee to maintain and is used for only a small fraction of overall microchipped pets.
2) Animal Handling Experts: Many animals are not socialized for contact with unfamiliar
humans and animals. There is a lack of professional handlers and trained volunteers.
Some animals could be dangerous to less experienced handlers, and local animal
rescue groups will not endanger volunteers.
3) Animal sheltering: Space is limited, and many animals are not able to be placed
together and must be separated. Dogs, cats, horses, exotics need separate sheltering.
Specialty food for exotics is not routinely stockpiled.
4) Medical care: Veterinarians may not be able to operate and maintain shelters at their
own facilities if they are damaged. Veterinarians may not be available to provide
medical care for mass pet shelter operations and evacuation staging centers. Animals
with special needs may not be able to receive appropriate care.
5) Living Desert may be a great local resource and will be added to future meetings.
These issues will continue to be worked on at the continuing meetings.
Submitted By: Department Head:
Gary Rosenblum
Risk Manager
Approval:
Carlos L. Orte
City Manager
Homer Croy
ACM for De opment Services
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