Animal Evacuation

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

Coming up:
Bylaws will be developed.

Future training will include human and animal first aid.

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.

Partnering with 4H !

Sponsored by the Amador Fire Safe Council, the Animal Disaster and Evacuation Project is a year-round project for 4H youth aged 14 and above. Interested youth candidates should contact Cathy Koos Breazeal, project leader and AFSC Executive Director, to set up an interview.

You will work directly with trained adult volunteers who are members of the Amador Disaster and Evacuation Group (AADE). This group is sanctioned by Amador Animal Control and OES. AADE is activated for duty by Animal Control and will assist with moving small pets, livestock and horses into sheltering locations during emergencies such as wildland fires or flooding.

The successful project candidate shall be willing to take direction from AADE adult mentors and act in accordance with Incident Command systems (more information on ICS can be found at http://training.fema.gov/is/crslist.asp ). The project member should be comfortable around a wide variety of animals and be willing to learn to take vitals such as temperature and pulse. Project members will train monthly with the adult members of the group and should have independently available transportation.

For more information call Cathy at 295-6200 or 295-5811.