Information Resources for Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees 1985-1999

Disaster Planning

• Disaster Planning for Animal Facilities
  
  
• Preparing the Farm and Farm Animals for Disasters
  
  
• Bibliography
  
  
• Useful World Wide Web Sites

The U.S. Department of Agriculture gratefully acknowledges the Florida Animal Disaster Planning Advisory Committee (ADPAC) for permission to use the following article and checklist. Their website is http://www.fl-adpac.org/

ADPAC is an ad hoc group of organizations and individuals interested in promoting the effective development and implementation of disaster plans to protect animals. The group was organized after Hurricane Andrew killed, injured, and displaced tens of thousands of dogs, cats, horses, cattle, birds, exotic pets, and other animals.

ADPAC is not a formal legal entity. Its members seek to open lines of communication among the various animal groups in the state, and with governmental entities that develop and implement disaster plans with the goal of protecting human lives and property. It is the belief of ADPAC that the plans for humans and animals must be intertwined if either are to be effective.

If you would like information on ADPAC, contact Laura Bevan, Southeast Regional Office Director, The Humane Society of the United States, 1624 Metropolitan Circle, Suite B, Tallahassee, FL 32308, call (850) 386-3435, or e-mail lbevan@unr.net for more information.

Introduction:

It is vital that animal facilities prepare for disasters, not only for the animals housed inside, but so that the facility will be viable in the aftermath. These facilities will include animal shelters, kennels, veterinary clinics and hospitals, pet shops, horse stables and other facilities where animals are routinely housed. The following guidelines are appropriate for all and will help determine which disasters and dangers a facility may be vulnerable to, and what plans they can make now to mitigate damage and downtime.

Evaluate your Animal Facility

It would be advisable to have the building properly evaluated by an engineer or another professional experienced with the requirements necessary for a facility to withstand a major disaster. Check with your emergency management department to see if this is a service it provides or if it can recommend a professional.

Is your insurance adequate to cover all losses? You need to properly evaluate your coverage at least once a year.

• Flashlights with batteries (refrigerated for longer life).
• Transistor Radio with batteries
• Fire Extinguisher
• Tarps and/or plastic
• Rope or cord
• Tape
• Tools necessary to shut down equipment, tanks, etc.
• First Aid Kits for human and animals
• Food and water to last for 1 -2 weeks
• Portable corrals for livestock
• Collapsible cages or crates
• Additional collars, leads, leashes, halters
• Additional office supplies of those items used frequently
• Weather Alert Radio
• Police Scanner

• Telephone tree - those whose telephones are working and who can relay information around and out of the disaster area.
• Make contacts with local ham radio operators. See if someone can relay messages for the facility after a disaster.
• Become part of your emergency management department's system.
• Portable CB's will work short distances if all other systems are down. Information can be relayed by CB until better systems are operating.
• Cellular phones may not work because of downed relaying towers or crowded airwaves, but are useful to have on hand.

You must also plan for incidents such as tornadoes, earthquakes, or hazardous material releases for which you will have little or no advance warning.

You should also consider the impact of a disaster not just on your facility, but on the neighboring community or region. A disaster in your area may bring a flood of animals to your doorstep, creating a ripple disaster in your shelter.

This plan developed

for:___________________________________________

Date:_________________

I. EVALUATION OF FACILITY

A. Known dangers to facility in area

_________ Storm Surge area

_________ Flood Plain

_________ Hazardous material plants or disposal sites

_________ Railroad tracks

_________ Interstates

_________ Fuel depots

_________ Wildfires

_________ Earthquake faults

_________ Fire inside facility

_________ Heat or cold emergencies

_________ Emergency Management has assessed dangers to facility

B. Dangers of structure

Construction quality of building: ____Excellent ____Good ____Fair ____Poor

Glass: ____Sliding doors ___Large windows ____Large number of windows

Kennels: ___Indoor / outdoor ___Indoor only ___Outdoor only ___Other

_________ Presence of interior "safe" areas

_________ Roof hurricane strapped or clipped

_________ Exposed, overloaded, or old electrical wiring

_________ Professional evaluation of facility

_________ Area cleared around structure

II. INSURANCE

_________ Annual check for adequacy

_________ Location identified on flood plain map

_________ Inventory done

III. PRIORITIES

_________ Identify vital property and protect

_________ Movable inventory (i.e. vehicles)

_________ Secure furniture

_________ Glass secured

_________ Fire drill conducted

_________ Fire alarm installed

_________ Fire extinguishers installed

_________ Employees trained to use extinguishers

_________ Lightning suppression system installed

_________ Adequate hoses attached to building

IV. EMPLOYEES

_________ Pyramid of release

_________ Personal disaster plans

_________ Non-business hours plan

_________ Notification of return

_________ Training in C.P.R.

_________ Training in First Aid (human & animal)

_________ Training in Disaster Planning

_________ Cross training done

_________ Up-to-date protective shots

V. SPECIFIC PREPARATIONS

________ Hazardous Materials - Labeled, secured

________ Outside tanks - secured and valves closed

________ Incompatible chemicals separated

________ Update inventories regularly

________ Vital business records protected and secured

________ Prepared for loss of power

________ Outside area clear of loose objects

________ Flags down

________ Refrigerated inventory protected

________ Movable inventory, fueled and protected

________ Freezer emptied of carcasses

________ Generators available

VI. FINAL SECURING OF PREMISES

_________ Contact alarm companies

_________ Take identification

_________ Unplug equipment, shut off breakers, gas and water

_________ Recheck hazardous material valves

VII. RETURNING AFTER THE DISASTER

_________ Rubber gloves and boots

_________ Enter with buddy

_________ Flashlights only

_________ Inventory

_________ Safety repairs

_________ Building checked by electrician

_________ Outside agencies notified of status

VIII. PLANNING

_________ Flood Plain Map posted

_________ Flashlights with batteries

_________ Transistor radio with batteries

_________ Weather alert radio

_________ Police scanner

_________ Fire Extinguishers

_________ Tarps and/or plastic

_________ Rope and tape

_________ Tools

_________ First Aid Kits (animal & human)

_________ Food/Water

_________ Extra cages and crates, halters

_________ Quarterly disaster drills - test smoke detector batteries

_________ Disaster plan updated annually

_________ Annually recharge fire extinguishers

_________ Identify safe areas from tornados, earthquakes, etc.

_________ Telephone tree created

_________ Electrical wiring checked

On ___________________________ this plan should be re-evaluated and employees should be re-trained.

___________________________________

__________________

Signature & Date

Disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, severe winter weather, hazardous material spills or nuclear power plant accidents can occur any time. The event may occur suddenly or be anticipated for several days as with an approaching hurricane or flood. The time to prepare for these events is long before they occur. Even at the farm level, procedures should be written. They should be kept in a safe, fireproof, quickly accessible place with other important documents and taken along if it becomes necessary to evacuate the farm. Each member of the farm family and herd personnel should know of and practice the plan so that action may be taken even in the absence of key management personnel.

The first step in planning for a disaster is to determine what type of disaster could occur on the farm and with what frequency. It would be useless to spend time and money, for example, to plan for severe winter weather if the farm is located in a tropical environment. If the premises are near a nuclear power plant, even though the risk of an accident occurring is slim, the owners would want to consider how to protect their animals from radioactive fallout. If the farm is near a major highway, one might want to consider a hazardous material spill from a road accident in the planning. Living next to a river or stream would put planning for flooding or a barge accident in the forefront.

Only after farm owners have considered their risks can they prioritize the time, money, and other resources they wish to allocate to each potential hazard. An all-hazards plan is most desirable; however, plans should also be customized for specific situations. Once the risks are known, decisions can be made about what actions can be taken in advance and what actions would be required once the disaster occurs. Generally, the effects of a disaster on livestock are lessened by avoiding the disaster, mitigating its effect if it cannot be avoided, or sheltering the animals. The approach taken would depend upon the type of disaster anticipated. Sometimes only one approach may be appropriate such as sheltering. In some instances, combined approaches, such asmitigation and sheltering, may be required. In events such as floods or firestorms, sheltering may be the wrong thing to do.

Hazard mitigation is defined as any action taken to eliminate or reduce the long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological hazards. Some examples of hazard mitigation might be hurricane seeding to reduce the intensity of a storm, tying down homes or barns with ground anchors to withstand wind damage, redirecting the impact away from a vulnerable location by digging water channels or planting vegetation to absorb water, establishing setback regulations so building is not allowed close to the water's edge, and constructing levees or permanent barriers to control flooding.

The farm and farm buildings should be surveyed to figure out what mitigation procedures should be followed based on the hazard risk. These procedures include:

A list of resources and people should be developed by the farmer and kept with important papers. This list should contain emergency phone numbers, suppliers, truckers, and people that can help with the animals, especially if normal working conditions are disrupted.

Supplies that may be needed during or after the disaster should be obtained. Many of these items may not be readily available after the disaster. By obtaining them in advance, more reasonable prices will be paid. Unfortunately, disasters attract individuals who gouge and prey on the misfortunes of victims. Items that could be obtained are portable radios and TV's, extra batteries, flashlights, candles, portable generators, salt, gravel, litter, fuel, antifreeze, stored feed such as hay (the amount to store would depend on the hazard--after the Washington State flood, most producers vowed never to inventory large amounts of hay due to excessive flood damage and spoilage), ropes, halters and other animal restraint equipment, and medical supplies. Onceobtained they should be stored in such a manner that they will be usable after the disaster. While in storage they should be checked at regular intervals--i.e., once a week--to assure that they do not spoil, and that electrical or mechanical appliances are still working. They should also be rechecked and evaluated after the event to assure they are still usable. A log should be kept to record when and how often the items were monitored. Animals should be kept current on all appropriate vaccinations and booster shots before the disaster. Keep a written record of the products given and the date of injection. Because the stress of the event and the disruption of the environment could cause an increase in infectious disease spread, proper vaccination could protect the animals.

As the disaster approaches or after it arrives, the most important thing the farmer needs is truthful, accurate, and current information. Government's response to most disasters is coordinated by a county, State, or Federal emergency management agency. Representation to this agency for the farmer is critical. In most instances, this is competently done by a member of the State or Federal Department of Agriculture. It is strongly suggested that farm organizations lobby for veterinary representation either through their State or Federal Department of Agriculture or separately to the emergency management agency. Often, the needs of animals during disasters are given low priority. Veterinarians, who are aware of these needs and can also verify the validity of requests for help, are most suited to bring animal problems to the forefront. In many instances, actions required to protect animals, such as sheltering or evacuation, must be done before a similar action is taken for people. This is because moving animals to shelter from pasture or evacuating them to other locations takes considerable time and many workers. However, governmental agencies will not issue such directives for animals before similar instructions are issued for people. They fear that a panic situation might occur and people might be critical about animals being protected before them. (Animals can always be released from the shelter or returned from their point of evacuation if the disaster does not materialize.) What they do not consider is that it must be done while it is still safe for people to do the task since animals cannot shelter or evacuate themselves. After the disaster, government usually limits access to the disaster area. However, animals have to be fed, watered, and milked. Who is better suited to do this than the owner? Designation of farmers as emergency workers by government solves the problem of who will be responsible for this task. A veterinarian located in the emergency operating center can get these messages across.

If evacuation of the animals is being considered, then evacuation procedures, places, and routes should be planned. Since all animals may not be able to be evacuated, owners should decide ahead of time which are the most important ones to save. Various decision criteria can be used such as sale value, breeding quality, stage of pregnancy, stage of production, or simply sentimental preference. These animals should be identified ahead of time and a written list kept. If the owner is not home when the disaster threatens, others would then know which animals to save.

Animal evacuation routes must not interfere with human evacuation routes. Alternate routes should be found in case the planned route is not accessible. Places where animals are to be taken should be decided in advance and arrangements made with the owners of these places to accept the animals. Trucks, trailers, and other vehicles should be obtained in advance and the animals acclimated to them so they are not frightened when they have to be used. Restraint equipment, feed and water supplies should be available to use and move with the animals and sufficient people should be on hand to help move them. The animals should be photographed and permanently identified by metal eartag, tattoo, brand, registration papers, or microchip. A permanent record of the identification must be kept as this information is useful in resolving arguments of ownership in case animals gets loose. Papers documenting the identification should be kept with other important papers. Ultimately, the decision to evacuate will depend on the distance to be traveled, the amount of time before the disaster will affect the farm, and whether there is any advantage to moving the animals to the place selected. Sometimes evacuation may be done after the disaster, provided the roads are passable and the equipment needed for travel usable. If this is the case, the accepting location must be contacted to find out its condition.

Whether to move farm animals to shelter or leave them outside will depend on the integrity and location of the shelter being used and the type of disaster. During Hurricane Andrew, some horses left outside suffered less injury then those placed in shelters. This was because some shelters selected did not withstand the high winds. Horses were injured by collapsing structures and flying objects that may have been avoided on the outside. Another reason for possibly leaving animals unsheltered is because flood waters that inundate a barn could trap animals inside, causing them to drown. During severe winter weather, shelter animals from icy wind, rain, and snow. Generally, if the structure is sound, the animals should be placed indoors. Once they are inside, secure all openings to the outside. As mentioned previously, the sheltering should be ordered and completed before similar action is taken for humans.

Farm cats and dogs should either be placed in a disaster-proof place or turned loose, as they generally will stay close to their home in the immediate period following a disaster. If they are loose, however, attempts must be made to immediately catchthem after the threat is over to prevent these animals from becoming feral and a public health hazard. Some farm dogs are dangerously aggressive, and under normal circumstances should be kept chained. These dogs cannot be kept chained or turned loose during a disaster. If an inside shelter cannot be found, then the only safe and humane thing to do is to euthanize these dogs as a last measure before evacuation.

What can be done with the animals if there is a need to evacuate the premises and the animals have to be left unattended? There is always the risk that animals left unattended for extended periods could die or suffer injury. Sometimes, this may be the only option to protect human life. Protecting human life should always take priority in planning. Regardless, after the animals are secured in appropriate shelters, food and water should be left for them. The amount necessary for survival is considerably less than for other purposes. If the animals survive, then the decision can be made after the disaster whether it is worth the time and expense to bring them back to their previous condition.

Consult the table as a guide to the amount of food and water to leave. Every practical effort should be made to leave animals with sufficient food and water for their survival--enough for 48 hours should be left. Usually, within that time the initial effects of the disaster will be over. During the recovery phase, the decision can then be made as to the best way to mount a rescue effort.

Some practices that may be followed in planning for disasters, especially during the winter, require a special alert. During winter weather it is common to use portable heaters, gritty substances on the floor to prevent slipping, and antifreeze. When using these heaters, be sure they are working properly and are located in an area where there is adequate ventilation. Heaters not working correctly could be a source of carbon monoxide, a deadly, odorless, colorless gas. Antifreeze used in vehicles is a deadly poison. Animals seem attracted to it and will readily consume it because of its sweet taste. Take care to properly label all containers. Do not use containers previously filled with antifreeze for other purposes, especially feed and water. Promptly clean up all leaks and spills. Water supplies should be checked for freezing. Many animals have died of thirst during the winter, even with abundant water sources, because they could not drink the water as it was frozen solid. If gritty material is spread on floors to prevent slipping, use only approved nontoxic materials. Recently, a farmer mistakenly used Furadan, a fungicide, for this purpose and several cows who licked it off the floor died.

Farms can be insured against catastrophic events. Insurance policies are available for replacement of damaged materials, repair work for recovery, boarding of evacuated occupants and animals, lost production, and relocation. These should be investigated and purchased before the disaster threatens. For a farmer to claim compensation for lost production, which in many cases is the largest economic cost during a disaster, the farmer must have substantial records that document the level of production his/her herd has achieved in previous years. This is generally only successful in herds with recognized herd monitoring programs, such as Dairy Herd Improvement or other programs that are available for various species. To verify the validity of these records a herd health program, based on a valid veterinarian-client-animal relationship, should be in place. A copy of all production records should be kept in a secure place so that the details are not lost during the disaster. Many veterinarians are willing to keep copies of their clients' production records, if they are computerized and space efficient.

Depending upon the event, disaster preparation may or may not be successful. However, it is known that effects of disasters are lessened by proper planning. Economically, it is cheaper to prevent the problem or lessen its effect than to pay the costs of recovery. The time to do this is NOW, before the disaster occurs.

Bibliography

American Veterinary Medical Association (1997). Emergency Preparedness and Response Guide. Schaumburg, Illinois: American Veterinary Medical Association, 10 sections. Available from the American Veterinary Foundation Disaster Relief Fund for $55.
Descriptors: operations of the AVMA emergency response force, agency coordination, enrollment procedures, planning and preparation, disaster resource material, animal care and handling, training procedures and materials, sample reporting forms, acronyms, key contacts in Federal and State agencies, and commercial organizations, includes copy of Veterinary Services in Disasters and Emergencies.

Anderson, S.L. (1998). Hazard analysis: Preparing for natural disasters. Lab Animal 27(1): 24-31.
NAL call number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: hazard categories, risk assessment, resources for emergency planning, list of criteria to follow when analyzing a facility and preparing a response, check lists, laboratory personnel, coordinating response, planning the facility program.

Dorn, C.R., J.G. Gordon, and C. Sherry (1993).Veterinary service and animal care emergency operations plans. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 203(7): 1005-1008.
NAL call number: 41.8 Am3
Descriptors: veterinary services, emergencies, disasters, planning.

Gerrity, L.W. (1998). Expecting one disaster and getting another. Lab Animal 27(1): 29.
NAL call number: QL55.A1L33
Descriptors: A case study of the effects of Hurricane Opal on the animal resources program of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Heath, S.E., R. Dorn, R.D. Linnabary, J. Casper, J. Hooks, and K. Marshall (1997). Integration of veterinarians into the official response to disasters. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 210(3): 349-352.
NAL call number: 41.8 Am3
Descriptors: veterinarians, disasters, emergencies, planning, responses, coordination of relief efforts, not specifically for animal facilities but may be useful for universities with large laboratory animal, agricultural, or veterinary facilities.

Heath, S.E., R. Dorn, R.D. Linnabary, J. Hooks, J. Casper, and K. Marshall (1997). An overview of disaster preparedness for veterinarians. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 210(3): 345-348.
NAL call number: 41.8 Am3
Descriptors: veterinarians, disasters, emergencies, veterinary services, planning, funding, programs.

Heath, S.E. (1995). Preparing horse farms, horses and their owners for disasters. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 15(4): 206-209.
NAL call number: SF951.J65
Descriptors: farms, disasters, farm planning, local planning, transport of animals, fires, legislation, telecommunications.

Leonpacher, R.J. (1991). Disaster planning in animal facilities. AALAS Bulletin 30(6): 20-21.
NAL call number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: disasters, laboratory animals, designing a plan, damage or destruction of building contents even though the building is still sound, loss of communications, loss of access, loss of utilities--electrical supply, water, steam, gas, drainage, key elements in disaster plans.

University of California (1998). Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Guide to Disaster Preparedness Resources. D. Klingborg, D. Dawson, and S. Donahue (eds.), Davis, California: Veterinary Medical Extension, University of California at Davis, 60 p. Available at http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vetext/INF-DI_DANRGuide.html
Descriptors: overview of emergency services in California, guide to roadblocks and fire designations, standardized emergency management system, articles, training manuals, workshops, videotapes and other information resources, disaster planning--a comprehensive look at developing a response program, contacts in California, emergency contacts in California--includes animal transporters, animal shelters, feed and supply stores, pet stores, veterinary personnel, sample animal care guidelines and forms.

Vogelweid, C.M. (1998). Developing emergency management plans for university laboratory animal programs and facilities. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 37(5): 52-56.
NAL call number: SF405.5.A23
Descriptors: creating your plan, establish a planning team and obtain authorization to develop the plan, analyzing response capabilities and identifying specific hazards that are likely to effect an animal facility, develop your plan, include proper authorities--fire, police, environmental safety, community outreach, recovery and restoration of services, implementing the plan, training.

Useful World Wide Web Sites

American Red Cross Disaster Services
http://www.redcross.org/disaster/safety/guide.html
The mission of American Red Cross Disaster Services is to ensure nationwide disaster planning, preparedness, community disaster education, mitigation, and response that will provide the American people with quality services delivered in a uniform, consistent, and responsive manner.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Virtual Library and Electronic Reading Room
http://www.fema.gov/library/
Pertinent resources include full-text documents in the following categories:

The online library of FEMA contains full-text resources for planning your disaster response program. Also includes information in Spanish. An excellent resource provided by the Federal Government.

Florida Animal Disaster Planning Advisory Committee
http://www.fl-adpac.org/
ADPAC is an ad hoc group of organizations and individuals interested in promoting the effective development and implementation of disaster plans to protect animals.

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Animal Care & Use Program
http://www.uchsc.edu/animal/
This document is designed to do the following: Guide you during emergencies; Inform you of potential emergency situations before an emergency occurs; and Help you to avoid and anticipate dangerous situations. To access this site, scroll down the left frame and click on After Hours Emergencies/ Disaster Prep.

University of Florida Emergencies
http://www.health.ufl.edu/acs/emergency.htm
The Animal Resources Branch is responsible for emergency planning and implementation with regard to the research animals. This manual will serve as an annex to the University of Florida Natural Disaster/Hurricane Emergency Plan in addition to other Emergency Procedures (i.e. fire, flood, threats by animal activists, etc.) as established by the University of Florida.

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the Florida Cooperative Extension Service
http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu/
The Disaster Handbook Web site is one component of the Comprehensive Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Education Module, which also includes: The Disaster Handbook (Print and CD-ROM Editions) and "Are You Ready?" a video based on the Disaster Preparedness Satellite Video conference.

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