alabama_emergency_operations_plan.pdf (7.59 MB)
Alabama's Emergency Management Agency (http://www.ema.alabama.gov/) is the coordinating agency for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. In the state's Emergency Operations Plan, there are several references to animasls:
Household Pets and Service Animals: ESF #6 ensures coordination of mass care services to provide for the safety and well-being of household pets and service animals during evacuations and sheltering. ESF #8 and ESF #11 – Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries will ensure support to ESF #6 through an integrated response. ESF #11, in coordination with ESF #6, coordinates support services for household pets and service animals during disasters. When requested, ESF #6 will collaborate with ESF #8 and ESF #11 to ensure coordination of support to household pets and service animals. The emergency response community recognizes the varying and special requirements of individuals that require and utilize service animals and is committed to ensuring that the physical and mental health needs of these individuals are appropriately addressed and that the individuals and service animals remain together to the maximum extent possible during the evacuation, transport, sheltering, or the delivery of other services and by the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (page 107).
The Agriculture Emergency Programs Section, through ESF #11, is responsible for ensuring that Alabama agriculture is as secure as possible. This section also manages the Alabama State Agriculture Response Team (SART), which collectively coordinates and manages agriculture emergencies for the department through State employees, private sector employees, and volunteers throughout the State. SART works closely with other agencies to develop plans and protocols that allow for agriculture emergency response to occur, such as developing State disaster animal shelters coordinating with ESF #6 ensures coordination of mass care services to provide for the safety and well-being of household pets and service animals during evacuations and sheltering. ESF #8 and ESF 11 will ensure support to ESF #6 through an integrated response. ESF #11, under ESF #6, coordinates support services for household pets and service animals during disasters. When requested, ESF #6 will collaborate with ESF #8 and ESF #11 to ensure coordination of support to household pets and service animals. The emergency response community recognizes the varying and special requirements of individuals that require and utilize service animals and is committed to ensuring that the physical and mental health needs of these individuals are appropriately addressed and that the individuals and service animals remain together to the maximum extent possible during the evacuation, transport, sheltering, or the delivery of other services and per the requirements of the ADA (pages 111-112).
ESF 6 - Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing, and Human Services supports State, local, and tribal governments, and voluntary agency efforts to address the mass care, emergency assistance, housing, and human services needs of individuals and/or households impacted by disasters, and emergencies (pages 104-114).
ESF 11 - Agriculture and Natural Resources - The primary purpose of this ESF is to identify animal and agriculture needs in the aftermath of a disaster or emergency. This includes coordinating industry responses to emergencies and providing subject matter experts in all areas of agriculture. Providing necessary leadership and resources for sheltering animals during times of disasters is another primary responsibility of this ESF, including coordination with industry stakeholders and organizations that can provide support (pages 145 - 149).