**Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare**

# "Lessons Learned" from Hurricanes Katrina & Rita, 2005

These *Lessons Learned* are the result of U.S. Public Health Service
Commission Corps veterinarians' involvement in efforts to rescue
laboratory animals following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in September
2005. CAPT William Stokes and CAPT Axel Wolff each served as PHS
Veterinary Team Leaders and experienced first hand the challenges facing
recovery teams after the flooding of New Orleans. An attempt has been
made to extrapolate from these lessons and provide general information
for institutions that hold PHS Animal Welfare Assurances to consider as
they prepare for disasters that might impact animals and PHS-supported
research activities.

**NOTE:** The following information is based on lessons learned; and
does not represent policy or regulatory requirements.

 

**[Planning]{.underline}**

1.  It is beneficial for Institutional Officials (IOs) and Animal
    Program Directors (APDs) to obtain phone numbers (work, home and
    cellular) for IOs and APDs of other institutions in the region that
    may be able to help in the event of a disaster. Ideally, contingency
    plans for support and assistance that may be necessary from other
    institutions should be established. Other institutions may be able
    to help with pre-disaster animal evacuations, temporary sheltering
    of animals, post-disaster rescue, temporary space for investigators,
    etc.

2.  Institutions should identify official points-of-contact such as the
    State Veterinary Officer, the USDA Veterinary Services office, the
    USDA Animal Care Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO), the State Public
    Health Veterinarian, and other potential sources of information and
    contacts for local and state Emergency Operations Centers. A State
    Animal Rescue and Incident Command (IC) Post, under the direction of
    the State Veterinarian, is likely to be established in the event of
    a regional disaster, which can help coordinate local, state, and
    federal assistance that might be needed.

3.  IOs and APDs should maintain information concerning the location of
    animals in facilities, location of door keys, and the location and
    nature of any chemical, radiation, and biological hazards in
    accordance with all applicable regulations (See \"Laboratory
    Security and Emergency Response Guidance for Laboratories Working
    with Select Agents":
    <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5119a1.htm>). The
    information should be kept in a secure location, separate from the
    facility, so that it is accessible even if the facility is not, and
    can be provided to rescue teams if necessary.

4.  IOs, APDs and other key officials should consider providing contact
    information (e.g., telephone or text-message numbers, e-mail
    addresses) to local emergency response services and to the State
    Veterinary Office.

## Response and Recovery

1.  If personnel must evacuate a facility, animals that remain should be
    provided with sufficient food (as appropriate for the species) and
    water to last for at least a week or more. If evacuating due to
    storm or flood, animals that remain should be moved to an elevation
    in hardened buildings, above that of the worst expected
    flooding/storm surge level if possible. It is helpful to rescue
    teams if animals that represent irreplaceable resources or are
    highly valuable (e.g., certain transgenic animals) are labeled
    \"attempt to save\", so that during recovery, personnel will know
    how to best prioritize their efforts. Appropriate instructions
    should be available for staff personnel and /or rescue teams,
    regarding those animals that should be humanely euthanatized if they
    are unable to be rescued or transported to another location.

2.  Post-disaster, APDs and IOs should coordinate with the State
    Veterinary Office / Animal Response Incident Command and/or USDA
    Animal Care, a plan and timeframe for recovering animals that
    remained in facilities, (if facilities cannot be immediately
    restored to provide appropriate environmental conditions). State
    Emergency Operations Centers and State Animal Rescue and Incident
    Command (IC) Posts may be helpful in gaining early access to
    facilities to assess and care for animals left behind. The State IC
    Post can obtain necessary clearances to get through security
    checkpoints, and request security as appropriate. Recovery teams
    will need to know the location of animals, room keys, cages that are
    locked, and the location of hazardous materials. Instructions should
    be provided for rescuers on safely approaching potentially
    biohazardous animals remaining in facilities.

> 3\. It is essential that IOs communicate accurate information to the
> IC Post, USDA Animal Care, and OLAW. Although institutions are not
> required to contact OLAW with specific recovery information or needs,
> if contacted with information or requests, OLAW will make every effort
> to provide coordination or assistance as feasible. Institutions are
> required to promptly report animal harm or deaths as a result of
> natural disasters,
> (<http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-05-034.html>).
> If necessary, OLAW will provide a flexible time frame for such
> reporting.

**Revised: 3/21/06**