Local Animal Disaster Preparedness

October 2001
Travis Seawright - Manatee County Livestock Extension Agent

Does your county have an Animal Disaster Preparedness Plan? If not get involved and organize a Plan under the State Guidelines of ESF-17. Each county should have an ESF-17 Plan in place at this time.

Manatee Animal Disaster Preparedness Coalition

It is certainly great news for all of us involved in the animal disaster effort within the local community. Recently, most of the local animal organizations in Manatee County agreed to participate in a coalition effort to respond more effectively when disaster strikes. The Manatee Animal Disaster Preparedness Coalition, Inc. (MADPC) was formed to "pool" our local talent and resources together as a group and be able to assist each other in responding to various disasters. The great news is that the public considers our cooperative effort as an excellent way to assist and help each other locally.

President George Bush is stressing the same concept of local community groups helping other local community groups. We are doing just that! The idea of utilizing the talents and resources locally make real good sense. The concept of the MADPC recognizes that the existing local animal groups are doing their good deeds every day of the year and are truly interested in serving the needs of others. There is duplication if one local group is preparing for the same specifics tasks the others are doing i.e.: MASH unit to provide relief in case of emergency. The various groups in Manatee County have been working and training together for the past three years very successfully and have found it most appropriate to organize as a coalition. The Hernando Emergency Animal Response Team (HEART) has been successful in being incorporated for several years. It is also worthy of note that many communities animal groups will be forming local 501(C)(3) not for profit corporations as the evolve to help one another in cases of disasters.

The key to the success is the every day effort to help one another in cases of emergencies and to assist when asked. Typically, each group has its own goals and objectives and provide a community service i.e.: Bishop Animal Shelter cares for dogs and cats, the Cattleman's Association focusing on cattle issues, the Myakka River Riders interest in horseback riding, etc. It is important to recognize that each of the various organizations is the expert on their respective animal and we combine efforts locally, we enjoy the best of each other. This is the true team effort, long after the disaster passes and the other relief efforts leave the community, we are here to continue the relief effort.

It is most noticeable that "egos" are left at the door and a true spirit of cooperation is present. Now, numerous times throughout the months, we call upon each other for help. It is extremely important to note the coalition support of the Manatee County Animal Service Division. The Manatee County Animal Services Division is the agency in Manatee County responsible for the Emergency Support Function (ESE-17). The Manatee Animal Disaster Preparedness Coalition works and trains with Animal Services representative. We provide the major support effort both at the Emergency Operation Center ESE-17 desk and provide the Animal MASH unit at the Manatee County Fairgrounds.

In Manatee County, the animal organizations that are team members include the Myakka River Riders, Manatee County Cattleman's Association, Bishop Animal Shelter, the Humane Society of Manatee County, Inc., Manatee County Off-Leash Assoc., Manatee in Defense of Animals, Florida West Coast Avian Society, Wildlife Rescue, Inc., Manasota Herpetological Society, the Manatee County Animal Services Division, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Manatee Agricultural Agent, Llama and Goat handlers, and other supporting the effort. Several groups and individuals including the Fire Districts, Veterinarians, Local Florida Agricultural Agent, Doctors, Salvation Army, FL Division of Forestry, local FL Wildlife Officer, and others teaching and lending assistance as necessary. It is quite an impressive group of local folks helping one another. Collectively the Coalition member groups represent approximately 1000 local volunteers. As mentioned earlier, when called to action each group represents expert skills in their respective area of interest. The coordination of monthly training sessions, training exercises and willingness to work side by side is most valuable. The local groups working together provide the extra team effort throughout the year in other ways also. What is easily recognized is the quickness to assist one another in the various common tasks. In this manner, it is not necessary for some elitist or a few non-team players to come into a County and try to take over the ESE-17 function. Too often, a few individuals show up and try to tell the Emergency Services Division how to run the local animal relief effort. They get the publicity and travel to the next County to do the same. That is why it is so important for the local animal groups in each County to get together and organize as a Coalition and incorporate as a 501(C) (3) not-for-profit organization. Actually, the evolution of the animal disaster relief effort in Florida will result in numerous County Coalitions over the next ten years. As the effort continues each Coalition will provide support for each other. Here in Manatee County, we are also able to act as a "Host Community" if a disaster strikes another area in Florida.

We feel it is foolhardy and selfish not be prepared in case of a disaster. No other emergency support function sits around and waits for outside donations to occur after the disaster strikes. That simply is poor pre-planning and represents a disorganized confusion of "keystone cops." In Manatee County, we feel by pooling our resource and utilizing the Incident Command System in both table top and mock exercises throughout the year and knowing what resources are readily available and actually needed, we are better able to function in an actual disaster. As we continue to train together, we can truly work at the various tasks utilizing each other's strengths. Naturally, we are excited about the efforts thus far. We have established the MASH unit on County property at the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto. It is also the location where we train and practice rescue, receiving, examining, triage, care, containment, and rehabilitation effort. The concept we utilize for the containment of any animals once the initial treatment has been preformed centers around our team approach of the various member groups within the Coalition. Specifically, The Cattleman's Association will take all the cattle to their member ranches, the horses will go to the Myakka River Riders ranches, the Llama to the Llama ranches, etc. In addition the Cattleman's Assoc. and the Myakka River Riders will utilize their stock and horse trailers to transport all kinds of animals to safe locations. As we work and train together it becomes a lot easier to function, rather than waiting for handouts. It is a lot like getting rid of the welfare system, always depending on someone else to support you.

One of the other important aspect we are aware of is that the team members that want to participate are not discouraged because they do not have all the necessary personal equipment. We recognize that not every one that has the same level on interest in participating, and may not consider the disaster effort as their number one place to spend their available money, but strongly believes in the concept. That is where the 501(C)(3) not for Profit Corporation comes in handy. Emergency team equipment can be obtained through donations. There is nothing wrong, as some may think, about donating items for emergency team equipment.

It is also interesting to note that there are still those few individuals that are anti-the development of the light bulb or the airplane, but progress is here to stay. It was exciting to hear newly elected President Bush encourage local communities to develop initiative on their own and not depend on just being on the receiving end. Thank you President Bush. Fortunately, as a coalition, all working and training together, we are not in competition with each other, but in concert with each other, aware of the needs of each other, and trying to assist each other for the betterment of all. As we obtain the team equipment, it certainly does not sit idle if one of the coalition members needs it for their respective function. The fact is the individual coalition members are seeking to obtain team equipment for all of our training needs and for other team member emergencies through out the year. We are able to train using the actual team equipment that we will use during any emergency. It is also an opportunity to physically observe and know what works and what doesn't. It sounds like an excellent plan to me: local groups working and training together. It is also most noticeable that many more opportunities are becoming available for not for profit organizations to obtain grants. The fact that we are all working in concert together rather than competing for the resources is a real good thing and something we are all proud of. The supporting groups that are helping us certainly are applauding our effort to utilize the local skills and working together. Consider the opportunities that could exist in your community by organizing all local animal groups to train and work in concert with each other. The Coalition concept provides this cooperative effort.

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