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| ©The HSUS |
| Residents should include pets in evacuation plans. |
The first human casualty of Hurricane Dean is a stark reminder of the dangers associated with caring for animals during disasters. A 62 year-old man died trying to rescue a cow from a rain swollen river on the island of St. Lucia.
As Hurricane Dean takes aim on the Yucatan Peninsula, The HSUS' Disaster Services team is getting ready for whatever Dean might have in store.
The latest forecasts indicate that Texas dodged a bullet. The State Emergency Operations Center opened at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 18 to prepare for the storm. The executive director of the Texas State Animal Response Team (TXSART) is working hand in hand with state officials to ensure that animals factor into the state's emergency management plans. The HSUS Southwest office and Disaster Services Department has been working with the TXSART since Katrina to assist in developing plans to aid animals in disasters.
Forecasters will soon know more about the path of the storm, but anyone living along the Western Gulf Coast is urged to prepare now for a possible evacuation order, and be ready to "shelter in place" for several days since critical infrastructure could be devastated by Hurricane Dean's strong winds and heavy rain.
Residents in the storm's path who evacuate need to bring their pets with them when they leave their homes.
Dr. Barry Kellogg, acting director of disaster services for The HSUS, has a message for residents of the Gulf Coast: "Everyone who is physically and financially able to protect their own lives, their animals and their property has an obligation to do exactly that. The role of the government is to protect vulnerable individuals, maintain public safety, and restore storm damaged infrastructure. It is not their responsibility to shelter every person or animal. So get ready now and be self sufficient in protecting your family, including pets."
At The HSUS' Maryland Operations Center, Kellogg and his colleagues are getting equipment and personnel ready to deploy. The team will be ready to leave immediately if the storm overwhelms the capability of local agencies and they ask for assistance. They have already alerted The HSUS' network of more than 500 trained volunteers to be ready to deploy if necessary.
The team will include veterinarians, animal rescuers and animal sheltering experts.
But for now, the emphasis is on preparedness.
"If everyone plans now to evacuate with their pets to pet friendly shelters, hotels or motels that open their doors to pets, and the homes of friends or relatives who welcome you and your pets, it won't be necessary to launch a massive animal search and rescue operation," said Kellogg.
Updated August 20, 2007.
