Taking Care of Pets & Livestock in a Disaster
By Sen Speroff and Rachael Brake
John Rueter, Assistant Team Leader, Radio Lead & team member, presented information he received at a workshop put on by the very experienced Sacramento CERT Animal Response Team. The takeaway was that the complex responsibility of animal rescues and establishing an animal shelter during a disaster are not tasks for spontaneous amateur volunteers, nor for our local Skyline Ridge NET to take on. Your pets and livestock will be your responsibility. Have a ready plan for your animals in case of a sudden emergency evacuation or a prolonged stay-in-place situation caused by a disaster. Ideally, take your pets with you.
Have an Evacuation Plan
Many shelters and hotels will not allow pets inside, so plan where you will take your pet before a disaster. Develop a buddy system with friends or neighbors who could care for your pets if you are unable. Have your pet micro-chipped and keep contact info up-to-date.
Have a Go Bag for Each Pet
This should include collar with ID, leash, harness, carrier, a recent photo with you and your pet, 2-week supply of food, water, and medication, health records, vaccinations, feeding and care instructions, and clean up supplies.
Keep Informed
Stay informed of current conditions. Sign up for Public Alerts at https://www.publicalerts.org/. Always bring pets indoors or to a secure location at the first sign of a storm or disaster.
Large Animal Considerations
Be prepared. Maintain wildfire defensible space around pastures and barns. Plan before an emergency occurs. Do not wait for an evacuation order to evacuate large animals; evacuate early. Ensure all animals have some form of identification such as writing contact information on your large animals with non-toxic spray paint or shaving your phone number into the hair, or braiding contact information into the mane. Have a transportation plan. Identify evacuation routes. Network & collaborate with other large animal owners for a facility that can accommodate evacuated large animals. Have a contingency plan such as a neighbor to help if unable to get to your property. Store important documents digitally. If you cannot evacuate, turn them loose. Take off nylon halters which may melt.
Online Resources
Pet Disaster Kit Checklist (https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/disaster-prep-pet-emergency-checklist.pdf)
Prepare Your Pets for Disasters (https://www.ready.gov/pets)
Pet and Large Animal Evacuation ( https://www.rsf-fire.org/disaster-preparedness/pet-and-large-animal-evacuation/)
Evacuating Large Animals ( https://firesafemarin.org/prepare-yourself/evacuation-guide/evacuating-large-animals/)
Evacuating pets & large animals (https://idahofirewise.org/evacuation/evacuating-pets-large-animals/)
Affiliated Team Membership
If you’re not interested in doing the full NET training, we welcome local expertise to join us as “Affiliated” team members. We would welcome your aid and experience in a disaster and we’d love for you to attend our meetings. One position that doesn’t require any physical work would be that of an Amateur Radio Operator for Skyline Ridge NET. AROs are vital in an emergency, especially with the limitations of two-way radios in our steep, vegetated terrain. For further details log onto www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/31667 or contact Rachael Brake.
Become Involved
NET members are trained to save lives and property until professional responders can arrive. These volunteers are specially trained to help others without putting themselves in harm’s way. Learn more about becoming a NET member at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/31667. You can attend a meeting or two to learn about our current team. We meet at 7pm the first Tuesday of the month, currently in-person at the Skyline Grange.
Contact Us
NETS are here to support the community. Questions? Email Skyline Ridge NET at [email protected] or contact Rachael Brake, Team Leader, at 503.621.3423.
RR 0422
John Rueter, Assistant Team Leader, Radio Lead & team member, presented information he received at a workshop put on by the very experienced Sacramento CERT Animal Response Team. The takeaway was that the complex responsibility of animal rescues and establishing an animal shelter during a disaster are not tasks for spontaneous amateur volunteers, nor for our local Skyline Ridge NET to take on. Your pets and livestock will be your responsibility. Have a ready plan for your animals in case of a sudden emergency evacuation or a prolonged stay-in-place situation caused by a disaster. Ideally, take your pets with you.
Have an Evacuation Plan
Many shelters and hotels will not allow pets inside, so plan where you will take your pet before a disaster. Develop a buddy system with friends or neighbors who could care for your pets if you are unable. Have your pet micro-chipped and keep contact info up-to-date.
Have a Go Bag for Each Pet
This should include collar with ID, leash, harness, carrier, a recent photo with you and your pet, 2-week supply of food, water, and medication, health records, vaccinations, feeding and care instructions, and clean up supplies.
Keep Informed
Stay informed of current conditions. Sign up for Public Alerts at https://www.publicalerts.org/. Always bring pets indoors or to a secure location at the first sign of a storm or disaster.
Large Animal Considerations
Be prepared. Maintain wildfire defensible space around pastures and barns. Plan before an emergency occurs. Do not wait for an evacuation order to evacuate large animals; evacuate early. Ensure all animals have some form of identification such as writing contact information on your large animals with non-toxic spray paint or shaving your phone number into the hair, or braiding contact information into the mane. Have a transportation plan. Identify evacuation routes. Network & collaborate with other large animal owners for a facility that can accommodate evacuated large animals. Have a contingency plan such as a neighbor to help if unable to get to your property. Store important documents digitally. If you cannot evacuate, turn them loose. Take off nylon halters which may melt.
Online Resources
Pet Disaster Kit Checklist (https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/disaster-prep-pet-emergency-checklist.pdf)
Prepare Your Pets for Disasters (https://www.ready.gov/pets)
Pet and Large Animal Evacuation ( https://www.rsf-fire.org/disaster-preparedness/pet-and-large-animal-evacuation/)
Evacuating Large Animals ( https://firesafemarin.org/prepare-yourself/evacuation-guide/evacuating-large-animals/)
Evacuating pets & large animals (https://idahofirewise.org/evacuation/evacuating-pets-large-animals/)
Affiliated Team Membership
If you’re not interested in doing the full NET training, we welcome local expertise to join us as “Affiliated” team members. We would welcome your aid and experience in a disaster and we’d love for you to attend our meetings. One position that doesn’t require any physical work would be that of an Amateur Radio Operator for Skyline Ridge NET. AROs are vital in an emergency, especially with the limitations of two-way radios in our steep, vegetated terrain. For further details log onto www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/31667 or contact Rachael Brake.
Become Involved
NET members are trained to save lives and property until professional responders can arrive. These volunteers are specially trained to help others without putting themselves in harm’s way. Learn more about becoming a NET member at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/31667. You can attend a meeting or two to learn about our current team. We meet at 7pm the first Tuesday of the month, currently in-person at the Skyline Grange.
Contact Us
NETS are here to support the community. Questions? Email Skyline Ridge NET at [email protected] or contact Rachael Brake, Team Leader, at 503.621.3423.
RR 0422