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Disaster Response and National Efforts: Lessons from Katrina Kelly O’Meara and Peter J. Li Humane Society International

Disaster Response and National Efforts: Lessons from Katrina Kelly O’Meara and Peter J. Li Humane Society International Introduction Ours is a disaster-ridden world. Disasters come in different forms Disasters occur more frequently Increased human activities Environmental degradation

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Disaster Response and National Efforts: Lessons from Katrina Kelly O’Meara and Peter J. Li Humane Society International

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  1. Disaster Response and National Efforts: Lessons from KatrinaKelly O’Meara and Peter J. LiHumane Society International

  2. Introduction Ours is a disaster-ridden world. • Disasters come in different forms • Disasters occur more frequently • Increased human activities • Environmental degradation • Climate change • Disasters are more damaging • Intensity of disasters • More man-made structures impacted • Greater human emotional damages • Household pets are members of family

  3. Katrina and Animal Rescue Katrina: Sept. 2005

  4. Katrina Enormous Animal Suffering • 125,000 animals impacted • 45,000 distress calls answered by HSUS alone • Large number of animals left behind Biggest Animal Rescue in US History • HSUS, in the disaster areas within 48 hours • $25 million into rescue operations • $5.5 million into post-disaster recovery • Three temporary facilities • Assisted other groups into the disaster areas • Assisted shipment of animals out

  5. Katrina Biggest Animal Rescue in US History • HSUS, in the disaster areas within 48 hours • Assisted thousands of volunteers in the disaster areas • Set up a reunion center • Sent millions of dollars’ supplies • Scores of other groups from across the country • Local humane societies • Local SPCAs • Wildlife Animal Orphanage, Texas…

  6. Quick National Response Humane societies across the country • Experience of animal rescue • Experienced volunteer and experts Collaboration of rescue groups Government consent Media coverage Public support for animal rescue

  7. Accomplishments Well-organized rescue operation • More than 10,000 animals rescued • Over 2,500 animals reunited with families • A larger number of animals adopted across the country Public awareness to the need of disaster planning • Family disaster plan • Shelter disaster plan • Community disaster plan Creation of a National Animal Disaster Advisory Committee

  8. Accomplishments Passage of Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, 2006 • No pets to be left behind in evacuation • Governments require to assist animal rescue and evacuation

  9. Accomplishments Wayne Pacelle: When we fail to account for the needs of the animals, we really cannot have a successful disaster response. Katrina was a wakeup call.

  10. Lessons for China China is disaster-ridden. Sichuan earthquake: Chinese wake-up call? Importance of a nation-wide disaster response network • Each community ready to host • Each community ready to help Importance of policy change China needs a “no pets left behind” legislation China needs a rescue plan that include pets. Importance of public education • Family disaster planning • Responsible pet ownership

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