AnimalEvac

History:
Approximately 50 concerned citizens met with Animal Control
and AFSC to express their willingness to volunteer to evacuate
large and small animal during a natural disaster.

Conversations were held during the fall and winter of 2008 and
we began the search for a successful mentor. North Valley
Animal Disaster Group in Butte County was selected because
they successfully evacuated about 3000 animals during the
Butte fires in the summer of 2008. One of our members was
certified as a disaster service worker.

April 2009 saw our first official meeting. Approximately 20
Amador County citizens have voluneered to be disaster
workers focusing on animal evacuation.

The Amador Fire Safe Council agreed to manage the group.
The development of this group is funded by the community
wildfire protection plans currently under development.

The process:
Current minimal training requirements: ICS 100, horse
handling/ trailering workshop, livestock handling/trailering
workshop.

Each trained member will wear a navy blue t-shirt and ball cap
with logo and the words "Animal Rescue" in reflectorized
letters on the back. They will carry a photo ID.

Members will be required to own safety equipment.

Members will be expected to own a "Go Bag" equipped with
personal items to support the volunteer for several days away
from home.

A phone tree has been developed.

A shelter plan was devised. Animals will be relocated to the
County Fairgrounds or Howard Park. Other suitable places will
be arraged as necessary.

A password-protected list of members is available here.

Coming up:
Bylaws will be developed.

Future training will include human and animal first aid.
system.

Members to encouraged to consider ham radio licensing to
increase our communication abilities.

Funding:
There is NO on-going funding source - just willing, caring
volunteers who want to save the animals in the case of fire or
other natural disaster.