Emergency Notification service for pets

In his blog Alerts & Notifications, Rick Wimberly has a short post about a company called Pets Guardian:

There’s a new emergency notification service for pets. Well, it’s not for notifying pets, but for notifications regarding pets when an emergency occurs…

Here’s how it works. If, say, emergency medical technicians respond to a call and residents are taken away, the EMTs will have a number to call to activate the notification system. It will then call friends or family pre-designated by the pet owners, instructing them to come get the pets. Signs would be posted around the house, providing the number and instruction to responders.

Or, if a subscriber wants, it can receive a daily check-in from Pets Guardian to confirm that the pet is OK.

Oregon Provides Animal Response Trailers to Counties

http://mobile.westernfarmerstockman.com/main.aspx?ascxid=cmsNewsStory&rmid=0&rascxid=&args=&rargs=9&dt=634097915104343750&lid=a8yebu2d9qxnz7lo&adms=634097915102468750Xf042850756&cmsSid=38267&cmsScid=9

A $52,000 Homeland Security grant has given Oregon an opportunity to be better prepared for taking care of livestock in natural disasters.

Four enclosed cargo trailers owned by the Oregon Department of Agriculture are supplied to counties throughout the state as part of a plan to rescue animals facing dangers due to disasters, such as floods.


Each trailer comes with a set of tools to help emergency responders.


"When natural disasters affect pets and livestock, it puts an additional burden on emergency response teams to find a way to take care of those animals," explains Don Hansen, ODA state veterinarian. "We've been working hard with emergency managers in the counties to develop plans that include what to do about companion animals and livestock should disasters strike Oregon."


A key part of the plan is the trailer fleet, designed to carry cages and watering and feeding tools. During a disaster, the trailers can be mobilized to the site and provide a portable corral and other equipment to hold livestock.


"We have pretty much everything you would need to set up a short term animal shelter," says Hansen.


"Having the ability to handle animals during disasters has been a major challenge. These trailers will save uncounted hours in getting needed shelter to a given location during an emergency situation."


Securing the federal grant was a joint effort on the part of ODA and Oregon Emergency Management. It is one of the latest pieces in an overall plan that considers the well-being of livestock in a disaster.


Each Oregon county has developed specific emergency response plans as part of an overall statewide effort led by ODA.


"We've aimed at uniformity around the state, but it would be naïve to think that one plan could be developed to fit every scenario in every county," says Hansen. "Each county has developed its own plan for evacuation to address its own capabilities and limitations."

FEMA News Release on Preparing Pets for Disasters

Today FEMA put out a news release on how pet owners can get their pets ready for disasters, especially since hurricane season is coming soon. You can read more at http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=51293

WASHINGTON - With less than a month until the beginning of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges Americans to ensure their families, homes and businesses are prepared for the risks associated with hurricanes, tropical storms and other emergencies. Individuals and families are encouraged to have a family communications plan, put together an emergency kit and include their pets in their planning efforts. FEMA recognizes Saturday, May 8, 2010 as National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day.

"As hurricane season approaches, FEMA is coordinating with state and local officials to ensure that all communities along the coast are prepared to respond. But we can only be as prepared as the public, and so it's important that everyone take steps now to help keep their family safe in the event of a hurricane or other emergency. This includes their pets," said FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino.

FEMA encourages pet owners to take the following steps:

Be informed: Know what emergencies happen in your community and how those events could impact your pet;

Prepare: Put together pet emergency kit specific to your pets needs; and

Plan: Develop a plan for what you will do with your pets in the event of an emergency. To learn more about the steps pet owners can take to prepare your pets for a disaster.

To learn what you can do to prepare your family and your pets, visit www.Ready.gov.

To view a message from FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF9qcLyHQzo

EMERGENCY WARMING CENTERS WILL BE OPEN THIS WEEKENDPORTLAND, Ore.

For the third year, the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross will open emergency warming centers for Portland's homeless community when severe weather strikes.EMERGENCY WARMING CENTERS OPEN THIS WEEKEND:
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Sunday, Dec. 6
9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Portland Foursquare Church
1303 SE AnkenyThe Red Cross anticipates being activated about 15 times this winter and serving up to 300 people each night.What Makes Warming Centers Different:Red Cross emergency warming centers differ from other homeless shelters in several ways:
Singles, couples and families are all welcome.

Guests can come and go as they please throughout the night.

Pets are welcome as long as there is a kennel available. While the centers will provide mats and blankets for guests, as well as hot drinks they differ from traditional Red Cross shelters in that beds, food, clothing and financial support will not be available.

Activation Requirements:The City of Portland will alert the Oregon Trail Chapter when they have confirmed that weather conditions meet the requirements of emergency warming center activation.

Notification should occur by 2 p.m. on the day in question.Under DRY conditions:
A single night at 22 degrees Fahrenheit or below
Three consecutive nights at 25 degrees Fahrenheit or below
32 degrees Fahrenheit or below and sustained wind of 15 mphUnder WET conditions:
32 degrees Fahrenheit or below, with 1 inch forecast accumulation of precipitation
32 degrees Fahrenheit or below, with sustained winds of 15 mph
1 inch of snow on the ground over most of PortlandWarming Center Locations:When activated, emergency warming centers MAY be located at:
Lents Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 8835 SE Woodstock Blvd
Portland Foursquare Church, 1303 SE AnkenyExpected hours of operation will be 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.More Information:To find out if the Red Cross emergency warming centers are operating:

Call 211Info (2-1-1 from a land line or 503-222-5555)
Call the Red Cross Info Line at 503-528-5990

Visit www.oregonredcross.orgTo volunteer, visit www.oregonredcross.org/EWCvolunteer. Orientations are currently scheduled for:Tuesday, Dec. 84-6 p.m.Oregon Trail Chapter3131 N. Vancouver Ave.

Winter Weather Tips from NOAA

Exposure to cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia, and become life-threatening. Infants and the elderly are the most susceptible. When a winter storm approaches, stay inside, or seek shelter if caught outdoors.

Other tips to follow to better protect you and others:

When using an alternate heat from a fireplace, wood stove or space heater, be sure to use fire safeguards and properly ventilate. Close off unneeded rooms in the building. Stuff towels or rags in cracks and under doors.

Cover windows at night to minimize loss of heat through the windows.
Eat and drink sufficient amounts of water. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Fluids prevent dehydration.

Wear layers of loose fitting, lightweight and warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating and perspiration and subsequent chill.

Make sure pets have plenty of food, water and proper shelter from the elements.

If caught outdoors:

Find shelter immediately.
Try to stay dry, and cover all exposed body parts.
In no shelter is available, build a lean-to, windbreak, or a snow cave to protect yourself from the wind
Build a fire for heat and to attract attention for rescue.
Place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.
Melt snow for drinking water.
Avoid eating snow, as this will lower your body temperature.

If traveling:

This best way to avoid becoming stranded or stuck during a winter storm is to avoid travel during the storm.
Stay informed on the current weather, forecasts and warnings.
Obtain the latest warnings and forecasts from your NOAA Weather Radio, The National Weather Service website [ http://weather.gov ], or your favorite media news source.
If you must travel, let someone else ( who is not traveling ) know of your travel plans.
Weatherize your vehicle now, before rough winter weather arrives. Make sure your vehicle safety set includes: adequate tires, chains, tow rope, sand or cat litter for traction, shovel, tool kit, windshield scraper and brush, battery cables, first aid kit, flashlight and extra batteries, a blanket or sleeping bag, extra clothes, waterproof matches, high-calorie snacks and an empty can to melt snow for drinking water.

If you become stranded while traveling:

STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE, and do not panic.
If with other people, take turns sleeping.
Run the motor every hour for about 10 minutes to maintain warmth, but keep window open a bit to prevent buildup of carbon monoxide.
Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked by snow.
Keep a brightly colored cloth tied to the antenna, in order for others to find your car.
Exercise periodically by vigorously moving arms, legs, toes and fingers.

In the Mountains and higher Terrain:
Avalanches become a possibility during the winter, especially below steep slopes. Avalanches occasionally come down across roads, with little or no warning. Caution is advised when travelling along avalanche prone roads, especially after heavy snow has fallen or during periods of rapid snowmelt.

Roads which appear clear in the wintertime may actually be coated with a thin layer of ice, commonly called black ice. This nearly invisible ice layer can cause you to rapidly lose control of your vehicle. Black ice is most common during the nighttime hours into very early morning. If you detect black ice, reduce your speed!


Cold and its Effects on You:
Wind Chill: this is not the actual temperature, but rather how wind and cold combined feel on exposed skin. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, thus lowering your body temperature. Animals are also affected by wind chill, but cars, plants and other objects are not.


Frostbite: this is damage to body tissue due to exposure to extreme cold. A wind chill of -20 degrees Fahrenheit will cause frostbite in just 30 minutes. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ears and even the tip of your nose. If symptons are detected, get medical help immediately. If you must wait for help, slowly re-warm the affected areas. If the person is also showing signs of hypothermia, warm the body core before the extremities.

Hypothermia: this is a condition brought on when the body temperatures drops to less than 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It can kill. For those who survive, there are likely to be lasting kidney, liver and pancreas problems. Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. Take the person's temperature, and if it is below 95F, seek medical care immediately.


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Remember, in times of severe weather, you can get all these vital NOAA/National Weather Service messages via NOAA Weather Radio, your favorite local media, or through NOAA's National Weather Service websites.

For questions about local Severe Weather Preparedness, contact your local NOAA National Weather Service Office:

Make a Plan for your Pets

September is National Preparedness Month, which is a great time to get your family and your family pet ready. This year, Oregon Emergency Management is focusing on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness from negative to positive.

Just because you plan ahead to be able to take care of yourself during a disaster doesn't mean you are thinking negatively. On the contrary, preparedness is a very positive step. For you pet's sake, preparing means getting an animal emergency supply kit and developing a pet-care buddy system.

Your pet kit should include the basics such as food, water, leash, collar, medicines, bedding, sanitary items, first aid kit, treats and toys. A good place to keep the kit is inside your pet carrier.

At www.ready.gov or by calling (800) BEREADY, pet owners can receive free emergency preparedness information. In addition, an instructional video is available at www.ready.gov/america/about/instructional.html that demonstrates how to make a plan for your pets.

Excerpt from draft of new FEMA guidelines for handling pets in emergency operations

The following is a brief introduction to - A Guide for State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Governments.  The guide is very long and is currently only in draft form. It will be posted on the FEMA.gov website when it is in its final version.

DRAFT - Incorporating Household Pets and Service Animals Considerations into Emergency Operations Plans - DRAFT

Today, more than 60 percent of American households own a pet, an increase from 56 percent in 1988. Nearly half of pet owners consider their animals to be members of the family. The power of the relationship between people and their pets or service animals is readily apparent during disaster evacuations. Prior to the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, storm evacuees refused to leave their residences because first responders would not allow their pets to evacuate with them. This endangered or cost the lives of both the owners and their pets; as a result of this situation, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act was enacted by Congress in 2006. This legislation was designed to ensure that governments plan for the evacuation, rescue, sheltering, and essential needs of household pets and service animals in the wake of a disaster.

Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 302 is designed to provide guidance for incorporating Household Pets and Service Animals Plans (HPSAPs) into State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local emergency operations plans (EOPs). Each HPSAP should comply with the PETS Act, which contains the following provisions:

·        It requires that local emergency preparedness operational plans take into account the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency.

·        It requires the provision of essential assistance (e.g., rescue, care, shelter, and basic needs) to individuals with household pets and service animals, and to their animals, following a disaster.

In support of the PETS Act, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued Disaster Assistance Policy (DAP) 9523.19 entitled, “Eligible Costs Related to Pet Evacuations and Sheltering.” This policy guides the reimbursement process for governments seeking public assistance for pet-related emergency activities. According to DAP 9523.19, governments that receive evacuees from areas declared a major disaster or emergency may seek reimbursement for eligible pet rescue, sheltering, and evacuation-support costs. Governments outside the designated disaster area may seek reimbursement under mutual aid protocols through the affected and supported states. For more detail, please refer directly to DAP 9523.19, which can be found on FEMA’s Public Assistance Web page.

This CPG not only reflects the requirements of the PETS Act of 2006, but it also incorporates National Incident Management System (NIMS) and National Response Framework (NRF) concepts and recommendations from the 2005 Nationwide Plan Review (NPR) as part of a larger planning modernization effort.

Introduction

Based on human and pet population estimates from 2007, there were 82 million cats living with humans in this country. Three out of ten people reading this guide will own a cat. Combine this statistic with the number of domestic dogs, 72 million, gives us an estimated number of 154 million dogs and cats in the nation. In the same year, the human population of the United States was estimated to be 301 million. There is almost one pet for every two people. This fact alone is staggering; and, considering that dog and cat owners spent $23.2 million on veterinary expenditures last year, it’s safe to say that pet welfare is an important aspect of daily life.

Historical incidents have shown that citizens may refuse to evacuate from a disaster area when first responders will not provide for the care of their household pets. These pet owners may choose to shelter in place with their animals and manage the consequences of a disaster alone. Depending on the severity of destruction, rescue workers may not reach such individuals for days or weeks. Human life and safety would clearly be in jeopardy during such situations. Considering these facts, ensuring animal welfare by incorporating household pet and service animal considerations into emergency operational plans is vital to protecting human life and safety.