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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Don’t Forget Animals During an Emergency

08.30.06

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT

 

Tara Kreider

 

SART

 

919-604-1452 cell

 

tkreider@sartusa.org

 

Don’t Forget Animals During an Emergency

 

Hurricane Preparedness Tips for Animal Safety

 

 

Raleigh, NC — (August 30, 2006) — A year after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, thousands of victims are still recovering and rebuilding their lives. The threat of Ernesto, the season’s first hurricane, is wreaking havoc on Florida and has the rest of the east coast bracing for another potential disaster.

 

Proactive, effective response and recovery during animal emergencies will not only save lives—it will ensure health, safety and continuity of the agribusiness industry. This industry supplies our economy with the dairy, meat, poultry and pharmaceuticals we use every day.

 

State Animal Response Teams (SART) recommends the following basic tips to prepare you and your animals for a weather emergency:

During inclement weather, remember to prepare for both companion animals and livestock. Making preparations for animals prior to weather emergencies will significantly reduce the chances of injury and loss of animal life and undoubtedly assist with recovery efforts following any disaster.

 

Make arrangements for yourself—Have flashlights and extra batteries, a portable, battery-operated radio with extra batteries, first aid kit and manual, emergency food and water, non-electric can opener, insurance information, essential medicines, cash and credit cards, and sturdy shoes.

 

Take protective measures--Contact your local Emergency Management agency for the latest information on sheltering and evacuation routes (consider doing this ahead of time in case there are weather-based communication issues). You may also contact your local County Animal Response Team (CART) for information on their emergency preparedness plan.

 

Make arrangements for pets-- Be sure you have a large pet crate and appropriate bedding, food, water, health records for proof of vaccinations, medications, leashes, photograph of owner and pet, and ID tag for your companion animals (dogs, cats, etc.).

 

Make arrangements for your livestock and horses-- Have a generator, ample fuel, water, feed and reliable transportation to support your animals’ needs.

 

States with SARTs include North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, Mississippi and Maryland.

 

For more information on animal disaster preparedness in any of these states, please visit www.sartusa.org or call 1-888-989-SART.

 


ABOUT SART: State Animal Response Teams (SART) are interagency state organizations dedicated to preparing, planning, responding and recovering during animal emergencies in the United States. SART is a public private partnership, joining government agencies with the private concerns around the common goal of animal issues during disasters. SART programs train participants to facilitate a safe, environmentally sound and efficient response to animal emergencies on the local, county, state and federal level. The teams are organized under the auspices of state and local emergency management utilizing the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS).

 

For more information, visit www.sartusa.org or call 1-888-989-SART.

 

 

 

 

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