Florida Animal Disaster Plan: Phase 1
Phase One
Phase one is the planning period, involving the
formation of a county animal relief committee and the
development of a county plan with a chain of
command. Phase one begins well in advance of the
hurricane season. During this period, zones and sub-
zones within the county must be determined based
on:
- Communications
- Topography
- Human population
- Animal population
An estimation of animal populations in zones and
sub-zones should be accomplished in phase one. Dog,
cat, livestock, and threatened or endangered species
populations must be assessed.
To determine the dog population for a specific
zone or sub-zone, find the number of households in
the area and multiply this number by 38.2% x 1.51.
To determine the cat population, find the number of
households in the area and multiply this number by
30.5% x 1.97.
Phase one also consists of identifying the effects
of hurricanes and other natural disasters. A chain of
command that coordinates with existing governmental
agencies should be developed.
- Establish duties or responsibilities for all available
animal organizations within zones and sub-zones.
- Develop an organizational flow chart.
- Prioritize duties and responsibilities.
- Maintain control of public relations and media.
- Centralize command.
- Obtain security for pertinent areas.
- Establish living arrangements and schedule for
workers.
Establish duties and responsibilities for:
Supply coordinator
- Secure acquisition and storage
- Prioritize incoming requests and supply demands.
- Establish and maintain appropriate paperwork
and data to assist in improving handling of
supplies for future situations.
Disaster animal relief director
- Vehicles to get personnel into affected areas
- Identification for vehicles and personnel
- Supplies and able personnel available to handle
emergency situations on scene
- Ability to transport to emergency triage or to
holding facilities
- Centralized holding stations, preferably close to
affected areas
- Documentation and identification of each animal
treated, held, or euthanized
- Criteria for evacuation and possible holding areas,
where necessary, by zone-sub-zones
- Prearrangement with contingent back up plan for
disposal of carcasses
- Identification before disposal
- Expedition for public health reasons
- Determining capability and responsibility of
county health department to dispose of dead
animals
Communications coordinator
- Centralize data command
- Coordinate incoming information for dispatch and
assimilation into network
- Report pertinent information to command for
staff meetings and media
- This document is Fact Sheet DH 32, Florida
Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida<
Gainesville, FL 32611. Publication date: June 1993.