Revised:  05/22/2008

	Hurricane Relief

Animal Relief Efforts in Gulf Coast Hurricane Aftermath
Assistance and Disaster Information

     TRENTON, NJ (September 15, 2005) - The New Jersey AEWG (Animal Emergency Working Group) is supporting the Gulf Coast Hurricane relief efforts with possible future deployments to the Gulf region and with possible future needs in New Jersey. There are a number of ways to help out.

      First and foremost - do not self-deploy and do not send down donated goods. People and donated goods that go down on their own without authorization only add to the disaster confusion. In addition, only certain authorized deployments are recognized by the New Jersey Office of Employee Relations. Remember, the early stages of disasters are the times with the most uncertainty. Situations can change on a moment's notice. The NJAEWG will keep you updated on the status of developing situations and specific requests. If you have not sent your information, please let the NJAEWG  know your availability in the coming months. Thank you in advance for your support of the Gulf Coast Hurricane disaster relief.

     1. To assist by deploying to the Gulf Region for a 10-14 day assignment: From time to time NJAEWG receives formal EMAC (Emergency Management Assistance Compact) requests from our State Office of Emergency Management for veterinarians and other animal care providers to deploy for a 10-14 day assignment in the Gulf region. The assignments might be for animal triage and veterinary care, animal disposal, etc. Because this is a disaster, your skills, abilities and expertise might be called upon in many different ways. In addition, the nature of EMAC requests is fluid. The requests go out to all fifty states, and disaster needs/priorities change, so there is the chance that an EMAC request will be filled by another state or be cancelled at any time. With all of this in mind, individuals accepting an assignment need to be flexible. If things change the NJAEWG will hold your information and ask for your availability in the future. Note: Responders that were previously deployed are living in tent cities or other areas. The tent cities provide a cot and three meals a day. The beginning deployments are usually a “hardship” assignment, where a number of the basic necessities may be lacking (such as AC, lack of abundance (if any) of running water, no refrigeration, questionable electricity, etc.). Responders are subject to a stressful, chaotic situations with hot and humid conditions. However, the challenges can be very rewarding. At this time, there are no EMAC requests for veterinarians and other animal care providers. If you wish to be considered for possible future deployments and you have not sent your information, please fill out and submit Form #1.

     2. To assist in New Jersey, utilizing your facility: The NJAEWG is compiling a list of available housing in existing licensed animal facilities for animals imported into the state. In addition, the NJAEWG is compiling a list of veterinarians who are willing to provide basic animal medical care to families who evacuated from the Gulf region with little money to spare, and are now residing in New Jersey with their pets. Veterinarians may also be needed to provide assistance at shelters importing animals in need of care from the affected areas. If you are interested in providing any of these services, please fill out and submit Form #2 for existing housing spaces and Form #4 to provide basic medical care services, so the NJAEWG can offer these services.

      3. To assist in identifying animals entering the State of New Jersey from the affected areas: In addition to the above, the NJAEWG is hearing about a contingent of pets without owners that might be brought into New Jersey and other states. Although self-deployment to the affected areas is discouraged, animals may already have been imported into the state. These animals must be identified and provided adequate medical care to prevent unnecessary illness and provide the best chance of reuniting them with their owners in the future. Please fill out and submit Form #3.

     5. To assist with supplies: At this time there are no requests for donations, however, circumstances might change in the future. To be prepared for a formal request, the NJAEWG would like to know what is available. If you have animal supplies that could be utilized, either in-state or out-of-state, please fill out and submit Form #4.

       6. For everyone willing to respond now and in the future: It is important to understand the situation, as well as the structure that will be utilized in disasters. If you haven't done so already, please go to FEMA's website at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp and take the following courses:

• IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command System I-100
• IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS) an Introduction

• IS-10 Animals in Disaster - Module A: Awareness and Preparedness
• IS-11 Animals in Disaster - Module B: Community Planning
• IS-111 Livestock in Disaster