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msar-riders - [MSAR] Equine Evacuation / Recent FEMA guideline to require certified animalhandlers at disasters

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  • From: "Jorene Downs" <Jorene@CEOates.com>
  • To: "Mounted search and rescue" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [MSAR] Equine Evacuation / Recent FEMA guideline to require certified animalhandlers at disasters
  • Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 14:46:00 -0700

From: "IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>
Our county (Montgomery, PA) is taking a different approach. The mounted SAR
unit in training (SE PA SAR) is being tasked with providing animal handling
expertise to local police, fire, EMA and EMS personnel who are well versed
in people rescue and extrication. A plan to pre-survey and pre-stock
various parklands and open spaces as shelters with portable fencing and
water tanks has been proposed for the horse population. This keeps the
large numbers of horses in the same groups they are hauled in with and
easier to control, identify, and prevent disease transmission.

Organizations tasked with this kind of emergency / disaster response often have a countywide response area, or may respond regionally to provide equine evacuation. Holding facilities pre-arranged in different parts of the county usually include places like fairgrounds, large local barns, livestock auction yards with lots of pens, large animal vet facilities, etc., that have existing stalls and pens. Locally there may be a few sources identified for providing portable stalls and pens as needed. Other parts of the pre-planning normally include forms for documentation and processes to mark / identify each evacuated equine, local equine vets on tap to respond as needed, holding facility security, processes to release livestock to owners, local sources identified for bulk feed and potentially bulk water, daily care and maintenance at the facility, etc. Some plan in advance to identify various routes and patterns for evacuation grids, and even do a field survey and mark where there is known livestock so the response is more efficient.

The pre-plan, including the method for disaster management to contact the organization to activate, should be on file with the operational area in their emergency operations plan. The pre-plan should also be reviewed and kept current.

The organizations normally have a very visible ID - a vest is good because it is blatant - for the authorized responders, and requirements are documented specific to responders and equipment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jorene Downs
www.ceoates.com/msar






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