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Animal Care Emergency Programs

Animal Care Emergency Programs envisions a nation working together to protect the public through ensuring the safety and well-being of animals during disasters. Supporting animal safety and well-being during disasters is a significant factor in ensuring the safety and well-being of people.

Animal Care's Emergency Programs

• Provides national leadership on the safety and well-being of pets during disasters  
• Promotes effective planning at the local, state, tribal and national level.  
• Delivers training in the management of pets during disasters.  
• Mobilizes highly trained Animal Care personnel to provide technical assistance, resource management, and response
  

Background
After Hurricane Katrina, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act and the Post-Katrina Emergency Response Act (PKEMRA) in response to public outcry about the safety and well-being of pet animals during disasters.

Roles and Responsibilities
In 2008, the National Response Framework (NRF) redefined Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) and added responsibilities for pets under the Federal ESF system. USDA-APHIS and other federal agencies provide assistance for emergency planning and response. While Federal statutes mandate that the Federal Emergency Response Agency (FEMA) has overall authority to support pet issues, additional Federal agencies, including USDA APHIS, have supporting roles defined under the NRF. FEMA and USDA APHIS look to AC to provide technical expertise in the management of pets in disasters.

• About Animal Care Emergency Programs
• Animal Welfare Act Contingency Plan Final Rule

Training 

• Introduction to Animal Emergency Management
• Incident Command System (ICS) and Related Training
• Other training
• Working groups

Outreach Resources for Inspectors

• Outreach materials
• Outreach guidance

Cooperative Agreements

Plans   

• Avian Influenza (AI) surveillance plan
• ACEP continuity of operations plan (COOP)
  
• Household Pet Emergency Response Plan
• ACEP Mobilization Guide  

Partners/Resources    

• About Partners / Resources
• National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)
• National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps (NAHERC)
• National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP)
• National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC)
• Household Pet Support Task Force (HPSTF)
• Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT)
• National Veterinary Response Teams (NVRT)
• Other Resources