Animals in Disasters
Animals play many important roles in our lives, including providing companionship, service, and food.
Disasters, both natural and human-induced, can negatively affect animals just as much as people. In Texas,
the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has been tasked by the Governor’s Department of Emergency
Management with developing a planning and response system to address livestock and companion animal needs
during emergencies. This system, called the Texas State Animal Resource Team (TXSART), is currently being
developed via a partnership between the TAHC and the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, with the
assistance of a variety of government and private entity partners. At the federal level, the
Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act was signed into law on October 6,
2006. This law requires state and local disaster plans to include provisions for household pets and
service animals in the event of a major disaster or other emergency.
Please refer to the following links for additional information on emergency preparedness in Texas
and emergency preparedness information pertaining to animals.
State Resources
Federal Resources
Private Resources
Last Updated: Monday, November 06, 2006
Texas Department of State Health Services - Infectious Disease Control Unit
1100 West 49th Street, Suite T801, Mail Code: 1960 PO BOX 149347 - Austin, TX 78714-9347 (512) 458-7676 - Fax: (512) 458-7616 -
Topics A-Z / Site Map
|