Disaster Planning

Summary: This chapter of laws deals with the holding and care of animals that are rescued from a disaster area. The animals that are rescued are kept for a certain amount of time depending on what type of disaster are they are taken from. During the holding period, the animal shelter is responsible for caring for the animal and making all necessary veterinarian decisions. Any violations relating to this chapter of laws may be enforced by the State Board of Agriculture.

Summary: The Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) is an all hazards plan developed to address the natural and man-caused hazards that threaten Massachusetts. The CEMP and ESF Annexes describes the system that will be used in Massachusetts to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from an emergency or disaster. It also identifies and assigns specific areas of responsibility for coordinating resources to support the response to an emergency or disaster. The Massachusetts Emergency Support Function 11 (MAESF-11) Agriculture, Animals and Natural Resources provides a framework for coordination and cooperation across state agencies and other organizations regarding the control and support of animal sheltering, search, rescue, recovery, and reunification needs and activities before, during, and after a disaster, or emergency.

Summary: The Georgia Emergency Operations Plan contains several references to pets during state disasters. Specifically, Emergency Support Function (ESF) #11 considers the need to plan for the "safety and well-being of household pets" and the coordination of "animal evacuation assistance."

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."

Summary: Louisiana's Emergency Operations Plan addresses pets and service animals in several places. The parish office of homeland security and emergency preparedness must make an EOP that includes "temporary sheltering of service animals and household pets in times of emergency or disaster." Additionally, under Emergency Support Function (ESF) #6, the "Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF) will provide for the safety and well-being of household pets and service animals during evacuations and sheltering." Finally, under ESF #11, the plan "outlines how LDAF will initiate a state response to an emergency or disaster affecting agriculture, food, household pets . . ." and indicates that "the LDAF Emergency Programs Director will work with animal planning authorities in each parish to arrange for the humane evacuation, transport, and temporary sheltering of service animals and household pets that need assistance."

Summary: In Virginia, the State Department of Emergency Management must develop an emergency response plan to address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals in the event of a disaster (subsection (B)(18)).

Summary: The Texas Division of Emergency Management is directed to assist political subdivisions in developing plans for the humane evacuation, transport, and temporary sheltering of service animals and household pets in a disaster.

Summary: The Tennessee Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act applies to registered volunteer health practitioners who provide health services for a host entity during an emergency. Volunteer health practitioners are not liable for their acts or omissions in providing health services. Health services means treatment, care, advice, guidance, or provision of supplies related to the health or death of an animal or to animal populations.

Summary: In Oregon, the Office of Emergency Management must prepare a written animal emergency operations plan that provides for the evacuation, transport and temporary sheltering of companion and service animals during a major disaster or an emergency. The office shall consider various factors, including allowing owners and their companion animals to be evacuated together, establishing evacuation shelters for animals in close proximity to human shelters, and establishing an identification system so that owners can locate their animals.