Success StoryAnimal Disaster Response to 2017 Hurricanes---The Importance of Disaster Exercises



Animal Disaster Response to 2017 Hurricanes---The Importance of Disaster Exercises

Author: Roberta Dwyer

Planning Unit: Animal and Food Sciences

Major Program: Disaster Preparedness

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

At the 2017 National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs Conference, animal disaster experts from Extension, government, private sectors, and industry met in Gulfport, MS. There was no shortage of topics to discuss. During 2017, the US experienced 17 separate billion dollar disasters related to weather events. A lecture and workshop was held during the meeting about the lessons learned from Multi-Jurisdictional Animal Coordination Exercise (MARCE) 2017 and the ensuing real-world disasters of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Resources had to be requested from a multitude of areas. Animals were evacuated across state lines (states waived certificates of veterinary inspection; some states allowed temporary veterinary licensure for responding veterinary assistance); emergency animal shelters were opened; non-governmental organizations responded for animal evacuation and rescue and delivery of animal food. Many federal and state representatives in attendance commented that the MARCE 2017 in July helped prepare them to respond to the three hurricanes that hit the US within the next two months.