Summary:
The Georgia Emergency Operations Plan contains several references to pets during state disasters. Specifically, Emergency Support Function (ESF) #11 considers the need to plan for the "safety and well-being of household pets" and the coordination of "animal evacuation assistance."
Documents:
Georgia ESF 11 Agriculture and Natural Resources Annex.pdf (237.28 KB)
The Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency can be found at https://gema.georgia.gov/what-we-do/planning
ESF #11 Agriculture and Natural Resources
Pages 8 - 9 of ESF #11
Providing for the Safety and Well Being of Animals Including Companion Animals
The GDA assumes primary oversight of emergency or disaster operations pertaining to the safety and well-being of animals including companion animals. In support of this essential function, ESF-11 performs the following functions:
- Coordinates with ESF-6 Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Temporary Housing, & Human Assistance to identify potential pet-friendly shelters, animal shelters, or animal confinement areas in proximity to congregate shelters.
- In conjunction with Georgia VOAD and county agricultural emergency coordinators, develop, maintains, and regularly updates a list of Georgia animal emergency shelters and confinement areas for dogs, cats, and horses.
- Manages and coordinates evacuation of animals from risk areas and provides technical assistance to prevent animal injury and disease dissemination.
- Manages and tracks the sheltering of pets and their owners in pet-friendly shelters and coordinates the care of animals in animal shelters or confinement areas in proximity to congregate shelters.
- Coordinates the animal medical services needed in animal shelters and confinement areas with the GVMA, GVMRC, AVMA, VMAT, the UGA-CVM, and the University of Georgia - College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, FVVTP, and NARSC.
- Organizes triage and follow-up medical care with supporting agencies, the GVMA, GVMRC, AVMA, VMAT, UGA-CVM, the FVVTP, and NARSC.
- Coordinates with ESF-6 Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Temporary Housing, & Human Assistance, ESF-15 External Affairs, and NARSC during sheltering operations for pets and animals on the location and current capacity of shelters and the availability of support resources.
- Coordinates with ESF-9 Search and Rescue, ESF-1 Transportation, Georgia Animal Control Association, and NARSC to facilitate animal rescue and transport to shelters.
- Organizes and publicizes lost and found data to achieve animal/owner reunion in conjunction with Georgia VOAD and ESF-11 partners.
- Provides consultation and coordinates response with ESF-6 Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Temporary Housing, & Human Assistance and ESF-8 Public Health and Medical Services regarding animal and plant issues which may impact public health.
- Utilizes VMAT, GVMA, GVMRC, and NARSC assistance and takes reasonable measures to provide veterinary treatment and humane care of animals during evacuation, sheltering, or re-entry operations.
- Assists support agencies with long term maintenance, placement, or disposition of animals which cannot be returned to their normal habitat, or which have been separated from their owners.