The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act was passed October 6, 2006, to avoid animal-related challenges similar to those faced during Katrina, in the event of future catastrophes.  The PETS Act expands on current requirements that cities and
States submit detailed disaster preparedness plans to qualify for FEMA funding, by asking State and local emergency preparedness authorities to include households with pets or service animals in their planning.  Fortunately, this aspect of emergency man-
agement is already being addressed by Citizen Corps Councils and partners in many parts of the country!

Best Practices: Here are examples of how some Citizen Corps Councils and partners are already integrating animal preparedness activities into their communities’ plans.

CO:  Colorado addresses companion animal response and rescue training through its State Animal Response Team (SART) and its County Animal Response Teams (CART).  Arapahoe County Citizen Corps has been running SART and CART for
several years and works closely with Citizen Corps Councils and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).  
 
DC:  The District of Columbia is among a select group of cities and counties across the country that have formally adopted plans to include pets in disaster planning.   The District of Columbia Department of Health led the effort, working with the DC
Emergency Management Agency and Humane Society of the United States.
 
DE: The State Citizen Corps Program Manager and Program Coordinator are on the State Pet Care Planning Committee sponsored by the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA).  DEMA is drafting “State Pet Care Plan Progress,” and a State
planner is working to arrange the use of a school district's facilities as a pet shelter. The planner has also met with the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania SART to obtain guidance in forming a SART in Delaware.  In addition, the State’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) instructors taught a unit on "Animals in Disaster" to over 1,000 CERT students. Other efforts include collaboration on a new initiative called Delaware Animals in Disaster Service (DADS) among Ocean View Police Department, the Delaware Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) . DADS held a free micro-chipping
event that served over 200 pets.  
 
FL: Disaster Animal Response Training (DART) is recognized by the State of Florida as its primary animal response unit.  The Humane Society cosponsored the development of a 20-hour pilot DART training program in Florida, and nationwide implementation of the training program is under consideration. The Humane Society works with the Florida Department of Agriculture (which is the lead agency in the State for animal issues) to track animal activities, direct the movement of DART teams into impacted areas and evacuate animals to safe areas, and coordinate incoming supplies and donations.

IA: Six counties in Northwest Iowa have pooled their Citizen Corps funds and formed a Producers Emergency Response Team (PERT) to address bio-security concerns by providing training and resources to local agriculture producers in their area. Lyon, Osceola, O’Brien, Sioux, Plymouth, and Cherokee counties recently held two training sessions designed to help producers develop a biological risk-management plan for individual farms in the event of an animal infectious disease, such as foot and mouth.
 
MO:  Independence, MO, Citizen Corps volunteers developed a DART program to obtain experience and training for community disaster response, as well as specialized response techniques for rescuing, handling, and sheltering animals affected by  disasters.  DART training includes animal first aid, body language, handling, rescue techniques, and sheltering.  Volunteers receive hands-on training to help set up animal shelters near facilities that provide refuge to people during an emergency.  In an actual disaster, Independence Citizen Corps DART volunteers will use the City of Independence Animal Control Department’s equipment and supplies that are already assembled in response trailers.  Equipment includes cages, cleaning/hygiene supplies, food, medical supplies, fencing, tents, livestock trailers, and communications radios.  In  addition, local veterinarians will help register and examine animals, and a foster home program will help house animals until they can be reunited with their owners.
 
NV: The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) of the Southern Nevada Health District in Las Vegas is adding a veterinary component to its unit. In addition to creating and distributing pet preparedness information to citizens and veterinary offices, the MRC unit is also communicating with local animal control agencies to see how veterinary volunteers could fit into established disaster plans.
 
PA: CART training is regularly held throughout the State.  CART is the key component of the Pennsylvania SART, which is a network of government agencies, non-profit organizations, private businesses and volunteers.  These teams are dedicated to the preparation, planning, response, and recovery of animal emergencies. CARTs were recently activated in Berks, Bradford, Lebanon, Luzerne, and Wyoming counties  during the flooding in Pennsylvania. Approximately 175 animals were sheltered.

Citizen Corps Newslettter, February 2007
http://www.citizencorps.gov/news/enews/