# Presentation: 667097

## Disaster Preparedness for your Pet

- Braddock District Town Hall Meeting
- May 31, 2006

- (photo by Noah’s Wish)

**Notes:**
Show Slide 1 of Meeting Presentation topic, during Speaker opening:

Greetings!  My name is Melissa Klein, and I am the Chair of Pets ‘N’ Preparedness, a new initiative with the Fairfax Office of the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area.  I am a Fairfax County citizen who, just like you all I’m sure, was shocked into paying attention to this subject of Disaster Preparedness.  First, by 9/11 which hit in our home region, and then, by Hurricane Katrina, where lives of both people and pets were so tragically lost.  As a long-time animal advocate and pet owner, I decided to do what I could to prevent this from happening, here.

American Red Cross of NCA is working on regional and local level planning and preparedness for area-wide disaster with such agencies as the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management, the Police Dept., Animal Services, Fire and Rescue Dept. 

Go to Slide 2  

## What you will learn...

- “Preparing Pets for Disaster” ... can be a lifesaver for people and pets
- Pet ownership impact in disaster
- Tips on basic preparedness for pet(s)

**Notes:**
Show Slide 2:  What you will learn...

Tonight, we’re here to talk about animals. My presentation is specifically about pets in disaster.  I’m going to tell you about a new educational seminar for pet owners the Fairfax Office of the American Red Cross of the NCA is sponsoring.  It’s called Preparing Pets for Disaster.  Tonight, we also want to provide the non-pet owning citizens with information as to why it is important to us all, to address pets in our County and community disaster preparedness.  And, finally, I will give you some very “basic pet preparedness tips,” to whet your appetite to attend our full session of Preparing Pets for Disaster!

A May 2006 survey by Red Cross, the results just out, showed that many people do not prepare:  they either do not have enough time or do not think it is important. “The Red Cross will continue to provide disaster relief in communities large and small; however, it may take time for help to reach you...”

Go to Slide 3

## (Photo by Noah’s Wish)

**Notes:**
Show Slide 3 of photo of dog in water

You need to act now to increase your chances of being able to take care of yourself and your family, should you face disaster or emergency.  In an area-wide disaster, it is recommended that you expect to be doing this without outside help for 2 – 3 days, at the very minimum.  But, it could be longer.  And, there is also the chance of having to evacuate.  

The American Family now more often than not includes the feathered, finned, furry and/or four-legged!  So, pets are simply another key factor that pet owners need to include in family preparedness.  And, animals need to be addressed in our Fairfax County planning, rescue and sheltering capacity, in order for us to have a "safety net" against disaster that will work.  It doesn’t have to be a choice of people or pets, if we prepare, adequately.  Let no people or pets be left behind!

Go to visual of Speaker and ready slide 4

## Pets ‘N’ Preparedness,a program of the Fairfax Office of the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area

- Preparing Pets for Disaster
- Seminar...
**“****Guest experts” teach pet owners**
** ****to come up with  family emergency and**
**disaster plans for pets.**

**Notes:**
Show Speaker

Many of you might not know that the American Red Cross for some time now has a Pet First Aid Kit and gives classes on how to use it.  Red Cross is a human services agency and not an animal welfare one.  Red Cross has been extremely proactive in that they provide services for pet owners.  By doing so, American Red Cross has acknowledged the deep bond that people have with their companion animals.  Pet owners are now the majority of our population.  Red Cross has looked at these facts and is continually working to adapt programs and services to address the needs of the community.

Show Slide 4 of Program and Seminar

This is why I brought my idea to my local Fairfax Office Red Cross.  I saw the need for education outreach to help pet owners come up with preparedness plans including their pets, and to make a pet preparedness kit...From the time I made my first contact with Jesse Viles, the Community Outreach Coordinator, those Red Cross doors swung right open!  I hope that this progressive teamwork with the “animal experts” leads the way for this program to spread to other Red Cross offices across the area, and other Chapters, around the country.  I, personally, am also very grateful for this sponsorship of Pets ‘N’ Preparedness Program.       

The Fairfax Office Pets ‘N’ Preparedness Program has recently launched the "Preparing Pets for Disaster" seminar.  These free sessions gather guest experts from the area, to help pet owners come up with emergency and disaster response plans for their pets.  The workshops are scheduled, one per Fairfax County District, and open to the public, regardless of residency.  If we get a good response, we plan to do them each year, rotating them among the Districts.

Go to Slide 5

## Preparing Pets for Disaster Seminar...Can be a lifesaver for both people and pets

-  **Tuesday, November 14, 2006**
**7:30-9:15PM**
- Braddock District
- Kings Park Library Community Room
- Burke Lake Road
- Burke, VA 22015
- Sponsored by Fairfax Office of the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area

**Notes:**
Show Slide 5 of Preparing Pets for Disaster Braddock District Session

The Braddock District workshop is scheduled for November 14, back here at the Kings Park Library.  The flyer with the complete schedule of sessions for 2006 is on the table along with Red Cross and Noah’s Wish literature.  We hope we can fill this room!  So, please take one as you head out, tonight.  And, spread the word for us by passing along or posting our flyer.

Now, I would like to direct your attention to some facts about pet ownership:

Go to Slide 6

## Fairfax County Pet Facts: 

**1.1 - 1.2 million people & 434,000 households**
** **
**63% households with pets***
**    ****(=273,420 & 1 pet, minimum)**
**45% of 63%, with 2 pets***
**     ****(+123,039)**
**12%  of 63%, with 3 or more pets***
**    ****(+32,810)**
** ****Total of 429,269+ pets **
**(not including pet shop, breeder, strays, rescue group and shelter animals)**
- *American Pet Products Manufacturers Association/APPMA

**Notes:**
Show Slide 6 of  Fairfax County Facts re:  Pet Ownership 

Fairfax County Facts re:  Pet Ownership 

Population of 1.2 million (Fairfax County Census) 
*63% households pet ownership  
*Many with multiple pets 
*More households with pets than children

Source 2001 to 2025 estimates and forecasts, Fairfax County Department of Systems Management for Human Services.
*American Pet Products Manufacturers Association/APPMA ’06

Fairfax County has a population of approximately 1.2 million.  Pets are owned by 63% of American households, and this percentage tends to be higher in metropolitan areas.  This equates to 429,269+ pets in Fairfax Co., not including those with pet shops, breeders, rescue groups and shelters, or that are strays.  There are more households with pets than children.  Pets are now a member of the American Family, more often than not.

 Whether you are a pet owner or "animal lover," or not, these numbers of companion animals and other pet-related facts impact all of us and must be addressed, if we are to prepare effectively for emergency or disaster. 

Go to Slide 7 (optional pie chart of stats above version instead of or in addition to Slide 6)

## Slide 7

**Notes:**
Show Slide 7:  Optional usage instead of/in addition to Slide #6, if pie chart graphic is preferred.  Use explanation/text on previous slide, #6.

Go to Slide 8

## Pets in Preparedness and Evacuation Failure

**65% no plan to keep pets safe ****(05/06 Red Cross Survey)**
**20% fail to follow evacuation order due to not knowing where to take pets**
**36% attempted to rescue pets later**
**14-36% in mandatory evac period**
- Heath, Voeks and Glickman, 2000

**Notes:**
Show Slide 8:  Pets in Preparedness and Evacuation Failure

Pets in Preparedness and Evacuation Failure

65% no plan to keep pets safe (05/06 Red Cross Survey)
20% fail to follow evacuation order due to not knowing where to take pets
36% attempted to rescue pets later
14-36% during mandatory evacuation period

(Heath, Voeks and Glickman, 2000)

Out of a recent Red Cross study, 65% of pet owners canvassed have no plans on how to keep their pets safe.  Another study found that 20% of evacuation failure is attributed to people not knowing where to take their pets and not willing to leave them behind.  These results also showed that of those who do leave without their pets, approximately 36% return to evacuation areas.  14% of these break back into the Evacuation Zone before the "all clear," risking their lives.  

These factors further endanger these pet owners, the general public and disaster responders, who must then deal with these returning people and the abandoned pets.  These factors further burden the emergency response system.  So, society—government and non-profit emergency responders, and individuals, families, and communities--All need to deal with these pet-related facts and include animals in disaster planning and preparedness, accordingly. 

Go to Slide 9

## What would you do?

- (Photo by Noah’s Wish)

**Notes:**
Show Slide 9, What would you do?

Because of the hard lessons learned since 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, Fairfax County is working ever more proactively to prepare for "the worst."  As the odds show that "the worst" will actually come for some of us.  In critical times of disaster, it is reasonable to plan for and expect that the disaster services provided by our government infrastructure as well as humanitarian and animal welfare non-profits will be the "safety net" for citizens, including people with pets.  Of course, we can’t know what will happen and when.  We don’t know how many people will end up impacted and at risk, and over what geographic area.  But, it is “simple common sense” and important for us all to understand that the system can't ever “do it all” for anywhere near the 1.2 million people in Fairfax County, with or without their pets.  So, we as citizens must be proactive partners in the ongoing process of preparedness.

Go to Slide 10

## Are you and your pets ready for disaster?

**“****Good Ps” =**
- Planning
- Provisions
- Practice

**“****Bad P’s” =**
- Procrastination
- Panic
- Pain

**Notes:**
Show Slide 10, Are you and your pet ready...

Are you and your pets ready for disaster?...That really is a question you should be asking yourself, if you are a pet owner. 

Our Preparing Pets for Disaster workshop goal is for pet owners to come away from our sessions with "preparedness mentality and skills” regarding their pets.  The sessions cover topics that all boil down to what I call the good P’s of Planning, Provisions and Practice.  The information is out there.   We are simply making it much easier, bringing the information and the expertise to you.  This is to help you avoid what I refer to as the "Bad P's" of Procrastination, Panic, and Pain.  We would like to reach every pet owner in Fairfax County with this potentially lifesaving--for both people and pets--information. 

Go to Slide 11

## “Preparing Pets for Disaster” Guest Speakers

**County Animal Services Representative**
**Red Cross Certified Pet First Aid Instructor**
**Noah’s Wish Disaster Responders for pets**
**County Fire and Rescue expert**

**Notes:**
Show Slide 11, Preparing Pets for Disaster Guest Speakers

Though the Red Cross works to serve all citizens including pet owners, they are not “animal experts.”  We couldn’t do this program without the help of our volunteer guest expert speakers.  The speakers’ panel at our workshop has a broad range of experience and expertise.  Included are a Fairfax County Animal Services Representative, a Red Cross Certified Pet First Aid Instructor, a non-profit sector Specialist in Disaster Response for pets, which has been Noah’s Wish, and a County Fire and Rescue Dept. expert.

Noah's Wish is a non-profit organization with the sole focus on dealing with pets in disasters.  They give training around the country to disaster responders re dealing with pets.  And, they send teams of responders to all types of disasters, all over the world.  These would include flooding, hurricanes and tornedos, earthquakes, fires, mud slides, building collapses, etc.  Noah’s Wish also has educational materials to help you prepare your pets for disaster at their web site with links to other sources, like the Red Cross, Humane Society of the United States, etc.  

Go to Slide 12

## Basic supplies prep for pets 

- Make Pet Preparedness Kit
**    **(content detail in seminar)
- Pet First Aid Kit
-    (Take Class?)
- Update perishable contents

**Notes:**
Show Slide 12, Basic supplies prep for pets

Basic supplies prep for pets

Make Pet Preparedness Kit
    (content detail in seminar)

Pet First Aid Kit
   (Take Class?)
Update perishables

You’ll get much more detail in our session.   But, in the case of the family sheltering in place with pets, you will need basic supplies for his or her survival and comfort.

Go to Slide 13

## What would you do if this was your home?

- (Photo by Noah’s Wish)

**Notes:**
Show Slide 13 photo of demolished house

What would you do if this were your home?  It could happen to you.  It happened to many other people and their pets...In our Preparing Pets for Disaster session, we cover how to have the best chance of both you and your pets surviving rapid onset emergencies, that require immediate evacuation.  Fire is the most common and deadly rapid onset emergency.  The Red Cross of the NCA responds to an average of 2 cases of fire per day.

Go to Slide 14

## Simple Disaster Evacuation Planning for Pets

**Two basic questions you must answer:**
**How am I going to safely and securely transport my animals during a disaster?**
**Where am I going to keep my animals while I am evacuated?**
**Noah’s Wish  **_[www.noahswish.org](http://www.noahswish.org/)_

- (Photo by Noah’s Wish)

**Notes:**
Show Slide 14:  Simple Disaster Evacuation planning for Pets  

Simple Disaster Evacuation Planning for Pets
Two basic questions you need to answer:
How am I going to safely and securely   
   transport my animals during a disaster?
Where am I going to keep my animals 
   while I am evacuated?

Noah’s Wish website www.noahswish.org

Preparing you and your family for a disaster in advance is key.  Do not wait until the disaster arrives to plan and implement.  Have your pet preparedness kit ready and handy.  With the key pet-related supplies for your type and #’s of pets.
Have a predetermined location to take your pets.

Go to Slide 15

## Community Preparedness: We can do it together!

**Fairfax County Animal Services**
**Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Expert**
**AND YOU!**

**Notes:**
Show Slide 15:  Community Preparedness...Together

I hope you come away with why we all need to act now to include pets in emergency and disaster planning, that pet owners will have picked up some important basic tips.  We hope we will see you again on November 14th  back here, for our “Preparing Pets for Disaster” workshop.  Thank you for your attention and good night.

The End