National Survey Finds States Unprepared for Pets in Disasters
DARIEN, Conn . — Friends of Animals (FoA) and Best Friends Animal Society urge state governments across the country to provide effective disaster planning for pets. A national survey conducted by Friends of Animals to evaluate emergency plans for pets found preparations to be woefully inadequate in most states.
Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals, stated: “Even as the 2006 hurricane season approaches, few states have come up with any specific plan to rescue and provide shelter for pets. Given the severe problems caused when pets were barred from transport and shelters during Hurricane Katrina, it is imperative that states focus on addressing pets in evacuation and sheltering plans.”
Adds Feral, “Each of the 50 states informed us about current state plans that address animals in disasters. Florida has considered the importance of safely bringing animals out of homes when disaster strikes and has a system in place. But 11 states, including Michigan and Kansas, have not even stated an interest in the matter of pet evacuation and sheltering. And a majority of states that purport to have plans, such as Alaska and Virginia, only briefly mention pets.”
A federal Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act has been introduced in Congress to compel states to act. The bill would make federal assistance dependent upon the state having a disaster plan that considers the needs of pets in transport and sheltering. The proposed legislation imposes no specific directives or criteria, leaving the details to state planners.
When it comes to the essential aspects of disaster planning, FoA urges state planners to follow the recommendations of the Best Friends Animals Society, a Utah-based sanctuary with experience accompanying units of the 82nd Airborne during the hurricane Katrina rescue effort. According to Francis Battista, a founder of Best Friends, “An effective plan must provide for evacuating pets with their families, as Florida does, all the way to their temporary shelter or evacuation city. Temporary human shelters should have companion shelters for housing their pets.”
Adds Battista, “In a major disaster such as Katrina, the need far exceeds the capacity of local animal agencies. There is no shortage of willing and capable volunteers, but an effective system of training, organizing and deployment is lacking. This was a source for much confusion following Katrina.”
To facilitate the development of plans, FoA has created “Animal Disaster Plans of U.S. States,” available online. It shows, in easy-to-read terms, the status of state preparations, complete with copies of all available plans. This database will assist and inform the media and advocates regarding mitigation, preparedness, rescue and recovery of animals. It will be updated as states address pets in evacuation and sheltering plans.
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10 Comments
On May 17, 2006, sandra croyle wrote:
We live in America and yet it can be as antiquated and cruel as we remember other countries being. Not preparing for pets to be evacuated after the last disaster is purely red neck mentality. You people ought to be left behind and the animals, who are helpless and can’t even express their fears and emotions ought to be rescued first. Poor things having a population of uncaring, inhumane human beings.
[Blog editors’ note: We hope to remind people that everyone needs help in emergencies. Dogs, cats, and other animals in homes rely completely on the community’s knowledge and preparation — just as less mobile humans do. Also, did you know that if you commit to a vegetarian diet, you are already helping? Climatologists cited global warming and rising Gulf temperatures as a serious factor in the strength of last year’s hurricanes. Getting your nutrients directly from plants, rather than indirectly through animals, means a lot less use of fossil fuels and less deforestation too. This adds up to less stress on the earth’s land and water, and less greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere. ]
On May 24, 2006, Stefani Kruczkiewicz wrote:
Our pets are part of our families and you would not leave a family member behind. To not rescue our pets in the event of an emergency is unthinkable. I, nor anyone that I know who is a pet owner, would not go anywhere without our precious animals. If they stay behind, so do we. We need to pass legislation that would protect our pets in the event of a disater and a mass evacuation. Hurricane season is fast approaching and we need to look out for the pets and all the animals. They count on us for protection and love always.
On May 28, 2006, Patrick wrote:
I think it is savage thing to do. I can’t take seeing these horable actions!!!
On May 31, 2006, valerie wrote:
i think it is horrible the way animals are treated i have 4 dogs and if they couldnt go niether would i or my husband how could anyone ask you to leave your furry kids behind i thank god for all the people in this world that are tring to change things for our animals i wish i could do something to help i love all animals they are great all they want is to be loved and taken care of
On June 12, 2006, judy neer wrote:
i think that animals have feelings too. it is cruel and people need to understand that. i have 3 cat’s and i love that so much. i spoil my baby’s so much. people really need to be locked up for that. it is so sad to hear about animal’s getting treated like that. i treat my cat’s the way i would want to get treated with alot of love.
On June 24, 2006, panasianbiz wrote:
I stumbled upon this site as I was doing some online research. After seeing all the tragedies that resulted from Hurricance Katrina, I hope that all towns and cities make emergency and evacuation plans for their animal residents as well as their human ones.
On June 26, 2006, Katherine Ryan wrote:
I think it’s terrible that this is the 21st century and we still can’t learn to live with all that inhabit this earth. To leave one’s pet behind is unthinkable and shouldn’t even be an issue in this day an age. It should be a priority and mandatory for every state to have an evacuation plan for animals. Why is it, unfortunately, the fate of an animal seems to lie in the hands of a uncaring human far too often. We choose to make them our pet’s so their fate IS in our hands and then we can’t do the right thing to ensure their well being. Something’s wrong with that picture. Pet owners and animal lovers need to step up to the plate and do what’s right for animals. They don’t deserve to be left to die or suffer anywhere when we can stop that.
On June 30, 2006, korina page - leicester wrote:
i am disgusted with the way animals are treated!!
they have their own lifes and you ruin them!!
I watched a video on what people do to animals and it is disgusting because they tie them up, kick them, throw them around, there are allsorts what they do to them what do animals do wrong to you people nothing at all it’s a disgrace and I want it sorting to make it better then it is!! pleaSE MAKE IT BETTER FOR THE ANIMALS i am a meat eater but i dont like the way the animals get treated! it would make it better for people and animals if you would sort tihings ot
thanks for reading and please get back to me
[Blog editor’s note: You can stop consuming
animal products, and reflect the peaceful
interactions you wish to see in a culture. “Sorting things out” starts with not breeding animals who are destined
for the slaughterhouse, or traded as commodities. As for deer, geese, wolves and other free-living animals, we assert they should be left alone. The challenge for humans is to control our own behavior, to halt commercial development, mining and intrusions into refuges, wilderness and other habitats that require preservation.]
On July 6, 2006, Matt DeLuca wrote:
Even after Hurricane Katrina, there STILL arent adequate enough plans in many States, to protect Animals in the event of a disaster.
This is inexcusable. And it is intolerable. The ignorance of the human animal never ceases to amaze.
What do we need? The ceiling to fall on our heads? A Tornado to take our sofa from one City to the next?
What will it take, if not the graphic images of the Animals suffering and dying after Katrina hit….what will it take for us brickheaded human animals, to snap out of our hibernation and say “You know what? We need to act. NOW.” ?
Animals are our family members just as much as any other family member is. Let’s get off of our lazy behinds and protect our family members (Four-legged or two legged)!
A disaster can strike anytime…and here we are…sitting…waiting……daring nature to leave us standing, shocked, with our pants down, once again.
On June 19, 2007, JOHN Amato wrote:
I just want to say that I would never leave my 2 cats if my wife and I had to evacuate our apartment. They are our family,and we love them very much. There should be a national law passed by Congress mandating that all shelters ,including schools,hotels,motels,Red Cross shelters,gymnasiums,and houses of worship,must take evacuees along with their pets,provided they are in secure carriers or on leashes.No pet should ever have to be left behind.Let’s learn from the mistakes made from Hurricane Katrina. I woyld rather stay behind and sink with the ship,if I could not bring my pets with me.