Summary: Alabama's Emergency Management Agency coordinates the Emergency Operations Plan, which contains Emergency Support Function (ESF) #11 on Agriculture and Natural Resources. According to that ESF, "[t]he primary purpose of this ESF is to identify animal and agriculture needs in the aftermath of a disaster or emergency. This includes coordinating industry responses to emergencies and providing subject matter experts in all areas of agriculture. Providing necessary leadership and resources for sheltering of animals during times of disasters is another primary responsibility of this ESF, to include coordination with industry stakeholders and organizations that can provide support."
Alabama's Emergency Management Agency (http://www.ema.alabama.gov/) is the coordinating agency for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. In the state's Emergency Operations Plan, Emergency Support Function (ESF) #11 concerns Agriculture and Natural Resources. The following excerpts from the EOP concern animals and disaster preparedness:
Emergency Support Function Annex for ESF # 6 (Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing and Human Services) to the State of Alabama Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) (pages 127-128 of the pdf):
(3) Household Pets and Service Animals: ESF #6 ensures coordination of mass care services to provide for the safety and well-being of household pets and service animals during evacuations and sheltering. ESF #8 and ESF #11 - Agriculture and Natural Resources will ensure support to ESF #6 through an integrated response. ESF #11, under ESF #6, coordinates support services for household pets and service animals during disasters. When requested, ESF #6 will collaborate with ESF #8 and ESF #11 to ensure coordination of support to household pets and service animals. The emergency response community recognizes the varying and special requirements of individuals that require and utilize service animals and is committed to ensuring that the physical and mental health needs of these individuals are appropriately addressed and that the individuals and service animals remain together to the maximum extent possible during evacuation, transport, sheltering, or the delivery of other services and in accordance with the requirements of the ADA.
Emergency Support Function Annex for ESF # 11 (Agriculture and Natural Resources) to the State of Alabama Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) (page 172 of the pdf):
The primary purpose of this ESF is to identify animal and agriculture needs in the aftermath of a disaster or emergency. This includes coordinating industry responses to emergencies and providing subject matter experts in all areas of agriculture. Providing necessary leadership and resources for sheltering of animals during times of disasters is another primary responsibility of this ESF, to include coordination with industry stakeholders and organizations that can provide support. Secondary purposes include the coordination of monitoring of food and water supplies for contamination after catastrophic events, terrorist attacks, or Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Incidents.