Burke County, North Carolina, And Los Angeles County, California, Implement Emergency Response Plans For Animals 

Release Date: May 8, 2003
Release Number: HQ-03-110

Washington, D.C. -- As this week's Smart Practice, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) highlights Burke County, NC, and Los Angeles County, Ca., efforts in developing emergency response plans for animals during disasters. Burke County Emergency Services developed a rescue plan and sponsored training for emergency workers. Los Angeles County's Department of Animal Care and Control organized and trained the LA County Equine Response Team to train volunteers to evacuate large animals during emergency situations.

"FEMA's effort to prepare the nation includes highlighting the smart practices of state and local emergency managers and first responders to strengthen their preparedness and response capabilities," said Michael D. Brown, undersecretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "By collecting and sharing the best ideas from the state and local level, FEMA can help communities improve their emergency preparedness and response-related activities for effective programs."

State and local smart practices could involve: effective mutual aid practices, response operations, training, assessment tools, planning models, exercises, standards and competencies, incident management and much more. Selected smart practices will be e-mailed to state and local customers in a weekly Spotlight on Smart Practices bulletin. Visit www.fema.gov/onp to read about Burke County, NC, and Los Angeles County, Ca., and their efforts to implement emergency evacuation plans to better train their citizens about rescue and evacuation plans for animals during a disaster, as well as view other smart practices.

To submit a smart practice idea to share with other emergency managers and responders or to subscribe to the weekly Spotlight on Smart Practices, e-mail a request to SmartPractices@fema.gov.

Last Modified: Thursday, 08-May-2003 16:47:48