NASAAEP BEST PRACTICE WORKING GROUPS
Our Mission is to Protect the Entire Family
The National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP) with funding from USDA Animal Care convened a series of working groups (2010-2014). These groups were charged with identifying Best Practices for various aspects of the emergency response for animals. Below are the documents that are the result of their work.
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In 2022 there are plans to update guidance from these working groups.
LEARN MORE ABOUT:
>>Emergency Animal Decontamination Best Practices
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>>Animal Evacuation and Transportation
>>Emergency Animal Sheltering Best Practices
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>>Disaster Veterinary Care: Best Practices
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>>Community Engagement and Outreach Best Practices
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>>Planning and Resource Management Best Practices
>>Equine Evacuation and Transportation Best Practice
>>Animal Search and Rescue Best Practice
>>Animal Incident Command and Coordination Best Practice
>>Zoological Best Practices Working Group
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Emergency Animal Decontamination Best Practices
This document provides an overview of the challenges, options, and resources involved in the development and implementation of emergency contamination plans for various animals.
Animal Evacuation and Transportation
Animal Evacuation and Transportation Best Practices
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The document contains guidance for the transportation and evacuation of pet birds, reptiles, pocket pets, poultry, and oiled wildlife.
Emergency Animal Sheltering Best Practices
Animal professionals and animal protection advocates have an important role to play in the disaster
preparedness and response activities in their communities regarding animals. Working under the
direction of emergency management officials as part of an integrated system, they may be asked to
prepare their communities for, or respond to, disasters that affect animals. Part of the task may be to
plan for, and operate, an emergency animal shelter.
Disaster Veterinary Care: Best Practices
The purpose of the NASAAEP Disaster Veterinary Medical Care Best Practice Working Group is to provide guidance to veterinarians and veterinary professionals regarding the immediate veterinary medical care of animals affected by a disaster. During such an event, veterinary disaster responders may also be tasked with providing information on preventive medicine, public health, zoonotic disease control and ongoing emergency care while animals continue to be impacted by the disaster. As in any disaster, a plan that mobilizes local resources and expertise as quickly as possible can save the lives of people and animals.
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Community Engagement and Outreach Best Practices
This document guides any agency, organization, or individual responsible for – or interested in – supporting pets during emergencies and disasters on best practices for engaging with the whole community. This document discusses how to develop appropriate messaging content in an animal emergency, why message delivery can be just as important as its content, how messaging can be delivered and by whom, and who should be the recipients and why.
Planning and Resource Management Best Practices
This document provides a “roadmap” to assist those responsible for animal emergency management in their jurisdictions to locate and identify essential information and provide links to more detailed references.
Equine Evacuation and Transportation Best Practice
According to the American Horse Council’s survey, there are approximately seven million horses in the United States (AVMA, 2018). Horses serve many purposes in society, ranging from working horses on ranches and in law enforcement, racing, breeding, show/competition, and pleasure riding/companionship. This document focuses on non-commercial horses, for which the owners may feel a deep attachment. The Evacuation and Transportation Best Practices Working Group was tasked by the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP) to develop this document.
Animal Search and Rescue Best Practice
Animal search and rescue (ASAR) can be included within the overall incident command structure and follow best practices from the Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS). It should be integrated and coordinated with other operational functions at all levels and in all types of incidents.
Animal Incident Command and Coordination Best Practice
The evolution of disaster response over the last decade was the catalyst for revising animal emergency management practices. The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal Care funded a cooperative agreement with the University of Kentucky.
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This agreement was to collaborate with the National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP), the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and other key stakeholders to update, consolidate, and create animal emergency management best practices.
Zoological Best Practices Working Group
The mission of the Zoological Best Practices Working Group is to promote a culture of all hazards contingency planning and preparedness for the managed wildlife community. To that end, the group will research, prepare, review and disseminate documents to assist facilities in drafting their own contingency plans. The Working Group will encourage facilities to work with first responders, local emergency management and other stakeholders to draft useful plans that are integrated into their jurisdictional emergency management infrastructure.
NASAAEP Sponsors and Vendors
Animal Disaster Management – Steve Glassey
Animal Emergency Management Fundamentals online course