Animal Reactions When Under Duress. Animals can be resistant in disasters that are annoying, but not frightening, such as blizzards and slow floods. During disasters that stimulate nervous reactions, such as flashflood, wildfire and tornadoes, owners and responders may see a behavioral pattern from their livestock that they are both unprepared and unable to handle.

This is one reason why emergency disaster management directors limit how much time owners can have to address livestock; it may imperil the residents. Moreover, emergency management systems often have pre–determined Incident Management Teams (IMTs) and volunteers who are trained, equipped and coordinated to move into disaster areas to deal with livestock evacuation. Often, this includes local stockmen associations, rodeo contractors, and animal control professionals. They operate in coordination and under the direction of the disaster management team. They are also trained in incident command system (ICS) protocols, specific disaster risks, and safety practices.

Access & Transportation Difficulties. Traditionally, livestock producers have the equipment, resources, experience and practice to move livestock under a variety of conditions. Newer rural residents may lack livestock movement equipment, or enough equipment to handle their livestock population. This often stems from an operational philosophy. Producers expect the need to move large animals between forage sites and then off site to a market on a regular basis. Many new residents are only concerned about getting the livestock to the premises. Often acquisitions are made gradually and sequentially with limited equipment. The result can be a bottleneck for evacuation purposes. Animal evacuation from a disaster area must occur in a coordinated manner under the direction of the incident command team to allow success without impeding handling of the disaster and while protecting public safety.

Equipment & Facility Design Risks. When stress and an emergency combine while moving livestock is when you will find every hole in the fence, every sharp edge on the equipment and every loose board on the trailer. Having properly designed and effectively maintained equipment and facilities are critical during disasters. Remember, you will be handling agitated livestock with an extremely limited time frame.

Losing Focus on the Disaster Event. The amount of stimuli and tension generated during disasters affect both humans and animals. Because people get so focused on 1 to 3 objectives they often fail to notice other perils developing around them. Emergency responders get better at avoiding this with experience and training. Usually they’re trained to follow response guidelines that remind them to take in and monitor all the other factors. Although it’s not desirable for livestock owners to face so many disasters that they also develop this broad of a focus, the key approach to enhance safety is teamwork; take help, and designate one person to keep watch for additional oncoming hazards.

Agricultural Health and Homeland Security Emergency Response Integration Plan 1.31.07 (USDA–APHIS) – Comprehensive guide of how APHIS responds to the entire range of agricultural health and homeland security emergencies.

Compendium of Veterinary STANDARD PRECAUTIONS for Zoonotic Disease Prevention in Veterinary Personnel 2008 (NASPHV)

Field Notes for Responders: 1 – page guides, with pictures & graphs, appropriate for orientation and quick reference.

First Responder's Guide To Animal Care (2006, rev 2008) – The best way to start is to volunteer with a local first responder group. If your area does not yet have a group, you may consider starting one yourself based on the guidelines found in this manual.

Emergency Response Resources Topics

NIOSH Interim Guidance on Health and Safety Hazards When Working with Displaced Domestic Animals 10.2005 – Only workers who have received proper training in animal restraint, handling, and care should work directly with displaced animals. Employers, response leaders, and volunteer coordinators should ensure that only trained, properly equipped workers are assigned to tasks involving direct animal handling and care. PDF Version (PDF 43 KB 5 pages).

Response Factsheet for First Responders

U.S. National Response Team (NRT) – The U.S. National Response Team (NRT) is an organization of 16 Federal departments and agencies (including USDA, USDHHS, FEMA, and DHS) responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness and response to oil and hazardous substance pollution incidents. The NRT Guides can be used multi–disciplinarily.

Decontamination – Describes decontamination methods and equipment, and identifies basic principles, standards and regulations for decontamination operations.

Disease Surveillance – Defines traditional and syndromic surveillance methods and explains how disease outbreaks are detected and investigated.

Emergency Response Credentialing 9.2008 (CalEMA) ppt

Introduction to Weapons of Mass Destruction: Awareness Level – online course (Johns Hopkins U) Provides a basic explanation of the chemical, biological, and radiological weapons that a terrorist organization will most likely use

Introduction to Weapons of Mass Destruction: Intermediate Level – online course (Johns Hopkins U) Provides a more complex explanation of chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism

Incident Management Team Development – Incident Management Team (IMT) development is designed to meet the needs of the IMT and provide opportunities for application of IMT skills at the appropriate level (Local IMT – local/regional incidents, Type 3 IMT – state/regional incidents).

• Type 3 IMTs: Team development – All Hazard IMT (O305) (6–day offering); field mentoring; ICS position–specific professional development
• Type 2 and 1 IMTs: Performance–based training regimen identified by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) in PMS 310–1, Wildland Fire Qualification Guide (PDF, 408 Kb)

FEMA EMI Independent Study Courses The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) offers self–paced courses designed for the general public and for people who are interested in or have emergency management responsibilities. There are many more available. All are offered free–of–charge:

• IS–10 Animals in Disaster, Module A: Awareness and Preparedness
• IS–11 Animals in Disaster, Module B: Community Planning
• IS–102 Deployment Basics for FEMA Response Partners
• IS–111 Livestock in Disasters
• IS–632 Introduction to Debris Operations in FEMA's Public Assistance Program

Isolation & Quarantine – Examines the concepts and history of isolation and quarantine, and explains when and how these restrictions are used in a public health context.

National Center for Biomedical Research & Training (NCRBT) Louisiana State University (LSU) Web–based training (WBT)

• AWR–___–W Preparing Communities for Agroterrorism: Awareness–Level
• AWR–___–W Prevention and Deterrence – An Overview for all Disciplines
• AWR–190–W Foundational Awareness of WMD/Terrorism
• AWR–191–W Introduction to NIMS/NRF
• AWR–192–W Effects of WMD/Terrorism Incidents on Mass Sheltering
• AWR–193–W Effects of WMD/Terrorism Incidents on Mass Feeding
• AWR–194–W Effects of WMD/Destruction/Terrorism Incidents on Bulk Distribution
• AWR–195–W Disaster Mental Health Considerations During a WMD/Terrorist Incident
• AWR–197–W eCDLS (eCore Disaster Life Support)
• GEN 1002 Sensitive But Unclassified For Official Use Only (FOUO)
• ID 0001 Facilitating Practical Exercises (Recorded)
• OR 001 Synchronous Learning Orientation

Personal Protective Equipment (U of MN/ CDC) – Explains the hierarchy of controls to manage hazards; describes various types of personal protective equipment (PPE), and outlines standards and programs for proper use.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Course

Strategies for Prevention of Bombing Injuries – online course (Johns Hopkins U) Describes how to use the Haddon Matrix to limit fatalities from explosions

Training & Exercise Integration / Training Operations (TEI/TO) – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Preparedness Directorate (NPD) National Integration Center (NIC), Training and Exercise Integration / Training Operations. TEI/TO serves the nation's first responder community, offering more than 125 courses to help build critical skills that responders need to function effectively in mass consequence events. TEI/TO primarily serves state, local, and tribal entities in 10 professional disciplines, but has expanded to serve private sector and citizens in recognition of their significant role in domestic preparedness.

Zoonoses – Describes the types and transmission of zoonotic diseases, identifies zoonoses of public health significance, and outlines general principles and procedures for surveillance and emergency preparedness.

Depopulation, Disposal, & Decontamination (3D) – Commercial Services 3.17.09 (USDA–APHIS)

Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (UC Davis)