Disaster Response: Healthy Population Block 5 Exam

Types of disasters

1. natural

2. manmade

   1. accidental

   2. intentional

How do natural disasters multiply

1. earthquake

   1. gas lines break

   2. buildings fall releasing asbestos

2. tsunami

   1. power loss leading nuclear plant containment failure

3. flood

   1. wash large amounts of heavy metals from mines

Impacts of disasters

1. economic

2. sociologic

3. emotional

4. political

5. human and animal welfare

what is the trend of disasters as time continues

number of disasters are increasing but number of human fatalities are decreasing

What animals are affected by disasters?

1. pets

2. food production

3. transportation

4. education/exhibition

5. wildlife

What happened during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that was significant?

There was absolute chaos in human and animal sectors; knew how to rescue animals but had no organization

Post Katrina Regulations

• expanded infrastructure and role of FEMA as federal lead for coordinating response for all hazards

• revised national response framework which uses incident command system

• required state and local governments to develop, implement, and exercise emergency response plans and to be integrated with all federal evacuation activities

PETS Act 2006

provide rescue, care, shelter, and essential needs for individuals with household pets and service animals

Post Katrina Response for animals

• animal response team members

  • registered

  • training

  • exercises

  • appropriate identification

• only respond when team is deployed

• work within response infrastructure

Colorado Flood 2013

response for animals was much better and more organized

When and who does animal disaster response help

all species and all hazards

Animals related to disasters for animal disaster response

• animals as disasters

  • FED

  • bioterrorism

• animals in disasters

  • floods

  • power outages

General disaster response infrastucture

• local

  • county EMA

  • city EMA

• state

  • state EMA (coordinates)

• federal

  • FEMA (coordinates)

Animal disaster response infrastructure

• local

  • local or regional animal response team

    • many areas don’t have one

• state

  • dept of ag lead

  • some VMAs or vet schools lead

  • many states don’t have one

• federal

  • FEMA, focus is people

  • HHS Nat Vet response team (volunteer)

  • USDA NADPRP (training and funding)

• non government orgs

  • ASPCA, HSUS, AHA

  • deploy for large events if able

Ohio animal disaster response infrastructure

• no lead for companion animals

• ODA leads livestock response

  • no lead agency for livestock affected by natural disasters

Ohio Animal Health Emergency TAC

• 2006

• established regional animal response teams

• developed operational and safety guidelines

• most are inactive today

Phases for disaster response

1. mitigate

2. prepare

3. recover

4. responsd

Mitigation

• preemptive activities that reduce impacts of future disasters on animals, people, shelters, and communities

• typically have long-term sustained effect

• ex: building codes, insurance policies, vaccines

Preparedness

• creating plans to handle specific disasters, training, and conducting exercises or drills, and acquiring resources needed to respond

• ex: evacuation plans, identifying how supplies can be rapidly acquired if needed, MOU’s, educating community

• ex: creating evacuation kit, exercises, and drills

Response

• implementing disaster plan and adapting as necessary during event

• ex: search and rescue, triage, reunification efforts, set up shelter for displaced pets

Recovery

• returning to some degree of normalcy in period following disaster, period can last from days to years

• ex: restore vital services, repair damage, adoption events, disaster debrief

Incident Command System

• common organizational structure for multiple agencies to work within

• shared position titles and terminology

• clear chain of command and supervisory responsibilities

• resource typing

  • people skills are resources

• flexible so can expand and shrink as needed

• planning, coordination, documentation, communication

Incident Command System Major Management Functions

• incident commander

• operations section

• planning section

• logistics section

• finance/admin section

Incident Commander

• the boss

• develops objectives and manages all incident operations

Operations Section

• the doer

• directs people to carry out their specific tasks

Planning Section

• the thinker

• prepares plan, collects and documents information related to incident

Logistics Section

• the getter

• provides needed resources and services

Finance Section

• the payer

• prepares budget and manage finances

Animal Disaster Response Activities

• evacuation

• search and rescue

• triage

• transport

• decontamination

• medical care

• housing/shelter

• disease prevention

• safe food/water

• enrichment/exercise

• reunification

• adoption/transport

• cadaver managment

Roles for Veterinarians in animal disaster

• FAD surveillance

• emergency responder

• preparedness planner

• pet owner education

  • discuss ID, evacuation plans

• caring for search animals

• disaster victim

Sheltering options for animals

• shelter in place

• evacuation

Shelter in place

• keeping in home environments and remotely providing food, water, care

• remain until given all clear or orders to evacuate

• safe to stay or not safe to leave

  • active shooter, chemical spill, tornado, flood

• ex: horse in field, confine pets to an area of house

Preparing Pets for Shelter in Place

• at least 1 week of supplies (food, water, litter, meds)

• pet first aid kit

• toys, bedding

• leash, crate

• calming pheromones

• do not tie animal up in house

Evacuate Animals

• stay with owners

• in most cases take pets with you

• to existing, animal control or humane society (temporary shelter)

• set up temporary shelter

  • tents in field, empty warehouse

Preparing pets for evacuation

• evacuation (go) kit

  • medical records, ID info

  • extra collar/leash

  • carrier/crate

  • food, water, medicine, dishes, litter

  • list of important phone numbers including vet

  • current photo in case of separation

  • blanket for scooping up fearful pet

  • toys, bedding

  • trash bags, cleaner, and paper towels for clean up

• make sure pet is wearing collar and ID

  • permanent marker on belly/ear

  • braid ID into horse mane

Types of Temporary Shelters

• animals only

• co-located

  • set up near shelter for people so they can visit and assist in providing care

• co-habitated

  • pets stay with their people who provide all care

Co-location of shelters

• human shelter is next to animal shelter

• people can provide daily care for their animal and spend time with them

  • reduces stress for pets who’s owners can visit and provide care

  • people without pets may volunteer as well

  • also benefits overworked shelter staff

• great came should be taken as even typically docile animals can become aggressive under stress

Veterinary Practice Disaster Planning

• identify risks to your practice

  • power outage, hazards, spill, fire, flood, tornado

• know your facility

  • strengths and weaknesses

• implement prevention where possible

  • ex: fire

Planning for disaster in veterinary practice

• adequate insurance

  • have plan for family and encourage staff to plan for theirs

• plan multiple ways to communicate with multiple team members quickly

• continuity of services

Veterinary Disaster Triage

• different from veterinary ER triage

• includes assessment of

  • medical needs of patient

  • medical resources available

  • number of animals in need

• all receive comfort care

• all pets should receive first aid as needed despite owner’s ability to pay

Triage colors

1. black

   1. will likely die regardless of medical attention

   2. dead, dying, euthanasia

2. red

   1. will benefit significantly from intervention

   2. priority treatment

3. yellow

   1. minor or moderate illness or injury

   2. walking wounded, wait for care

4. green

   1. no apparent illness or injury

   2. move to housing

Needs for temporary shelters

• containment

  • kennels, runs, crates

• shelter from elements

• basic needs

  • food

  • fresh water and bowls

  • cleaning supplies

• identification system

  • kennel cards, paper collars

• medical

  • ability to triage

  • local vet/partners

• area to walk dogs safely

wants for temporary shelters

• medical

  • ability to practice medicine on site

  • medications

  • DVM/medical staff

• sheltering

  • individual housing

  • enrichment

  • outside access

• behavior

  • behavior team

  • modification programs

  • play groups

• staffing/human stuff

  • bathrooms wifi

  • A/C or heat (can be need depending on conditions)

Questions to think about when finding temporary shelter

• what type of shelter

• where to set it up

  • out of harms way

  • easy to reach and close enough to be convenient

  • services available

  • proximity to human shelter

• where to get needed supplies

• who will staff it

Location importance for temporary shelter

• planners should consider options in advance and secure MOUs

• consider number and species of animals expected

• large size with parking and utilities

  • county fairgrounds

  • empty warehouse

• smaller size

  • large tents or open air if needed

Questions to ask when preparing for animals

• how many

• what species

• separate areas (by species) for:

  • general population

  • infectious disease

  • maternity

  • monitoring of critical cases

• type of housing

  • group vs individual

  • ability to contain potentially dangerous animals

• play yards/exercise pens

  • in kennel enrichment

Decide what level of care will be provided

• how much and what level of care will you be able to provide on-site

• set up off-site relationships

  • availability, cost, transportation

Identification

• identify each animal at intake

• photograph each animal at intake

• some animals are owned and will be checked in by owners

• some are stray and description should be posted ASAP for reunification efforts

• important to facilitate future care and placement (reunification)

Records

• are legal documents

• need to be accessible, complete and legible

• allow continuity of care

• balance need for complete records with time to create them

• digital vs paper

• cage side vs centralized

Medical intake goals

• primary goal

  • animals are vaccinated, parasite concerns addressed, and animals are comfortable

• secondary goal

  • additional issues are identified and addressed with schedule for reassessment

• some will have already have been triaged

Zoonoses in shelter to watch for

• intestinal disease agents

  • campylobacter

  • salmonella

• dermatophytosis

• scabies

• leptospirosis

• rabies

• regional/species variations

Medical protocols

• create detailed protocols

  • easy for responding staff to follow

  • standard treatment lengths

  • specify recheck times

  • balance best choice with reality

• protocols should be easily accessible

  • intake stations

  • pharmacy area

  • treatment/exam area

Forms and Flow Sheets

• forms for intake exams

  • capture all necessary information

  • complete all required tasks

• flow sheets for specific situations

  • bite/scratches

  • sending animals off site

  • owner reunification

  • euthanasia

critical care board

• maintaining continuity of care for animals with critical needs

• ensures they are receiving priority for care and follow up, especially with changing medical staff

• updated and managed by medical staff primarily for medical staff

communication

is important between daily care personnel and medical team

pharmacy

• drugs

  • streamline based on written protocols

  • decide if keeping controlled substances

    • who DEA license will you use

    • must meet storage and record keeping requirements

• prescriptions

  • for infrequently used medications if local rx options are available

Preparing daily medications for animals

• who will be responsible for preparing and administering

• label tray with ID, medication and dose

• have second person check

• if administering in tasty treat, observe to ensure was eaten

Daily Rounds/Walkthrough

• individual or team should walk through and observe every animal to detect

  • illness

  • injury

  • issues with behavior or mental state

  • additional needs

    • larger cage

    • walked more frequently

    • quieter location or visual barrier

    • cage ID missing or damaged

Medical teams

• field triage teams

  • making decisions in field prior to arrival in shelter

• intake teams

  • initial assessment for infectious disease and general health

  • vx and deworming

• ongoing care teams

  • medications

  • rechecks

  • revaccinations

Behavior in sheltered animals

• animals will be stressed, fearful, and anxious

  • new environment

  • separation from familiar people

  • lack of routine

  • recent trauma

• expect behavior issues to present/develop

• fear, anxiety, stress

• boredom

• aggression towards people and/or animals

• destructive behaviors

• self destructive behaviors

Options for addressing behaviors

• non-pharmaceutical interventions

  • experienced handlers

  • relocation in shelter

  • visual privacy barriers/crates within housing

  • extra enrichment: consumables like bully sticks

• consider short term, quick onset psychoactive medications

  • improve animal’s quality of life

  • for responder safety

  • need veterinarian to prescribe