implementing the pet evacuation and transportation (pets) act of 2006 in radiological emergencies 1...
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Implementing the Pet Evacuation Implementing the Pet Evacuation and Transportation (PETS) Act of and Transportation (PETS) Act of 2006 in Radiological Emergencies2006 in Radiological Emergencies
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Gordon Cleveland
Veterinary Services (VS)
National Center for Animal Health
Emergency Management (NCAHEM)
Radiological Advisory Team for Environment,
Food, and Health
Jeleen Briscoe, VMD, DABVP
Veterinary Medical Officer/Avian Specialist
Animal Care Emergency Programs (ACEP)
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About the PETS Act• Evacuation attempts during Hurricane Katrina in
2005 indicated many people refused to evacuate without their household pets.
• At the urging of numerous animal welfare organizations, the PETS Act was signed into law October 2006.
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Snowball, Katrina, and the PETS Act
The dog was taken away from this little boy, and to watch his face was a singularly revealing and tragic experience. This legislation was born at that moment. --Rep Tom Lantos (D-CA)
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Hurricane Katrina and the PETS Act• Pre-Katrina recommendations: Leave pets with three
days of food and water.
• Post-Katrina recommendations: Do not leave your pets behind. Pets cannot survive on their own and, if they do, you may not be able to find them when you return.
• FEMA information for pet owners is located at http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/animals.shtm
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A Hurricane Katrina survivor reunites with her dog.
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The PETS Act . . . • Sets standards and provides funds for State and local
plans and responses.
• Requires local and State jurisdictions to submit disaster preparedness (evacuation) plans that take into account household pets and service animals.
• Pet evacuation and sheltering should be done in conjunction with human evacuation and sheltering.
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The PETS Act . . . (cont.)
• USDA APHIS provides for the safety and well-being of household pets by supporting Department of Homeland Security/FEMA in accordance with the Emergency Support Function (ESF) #11 annex of the National Response Framework.
• Under ESF #11 guidelines, USDA APHIS has been tasked to assist FEMA with implementing the PETS Act.
• USDA APHIS Animal Care Emergency Programs implements the PETS Act
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PETS Act and APHIS
• APHIS is establishing regional teams to respond to PETS Act issues. They will have two primary functions:
Assist States with planning and preparedness.
During a disaster, staff ESF #11 position at the unified Incident Command Post, and/or State desks, to provide technical assistance.
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Federal Responsibilities for Household Pets
• Integrated response between FEMA and various agencies will ensure the safety and health of household pets during emergency events.• FEMA – transportation• ESF #6 – mass evacuation and sheltering• ESF #8 – medical care• ESF #9 – search and rescue operations• ESF #11 – technical expertise, critical needs assessments, and ESF #11 – technical expertise, critical needs assessments, and
expediting needs requests (APHIS)expediting needs requests (APHIS)• ESF #13 – security (law enforcement and and local animal control) • ESF #14 – long-term care
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APHIS Emergency Operations Center
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APHIS Contacts:• Nationwide (Riverdale, MD) Dr. Allan Hogue
Dr. Jeleen Briscoe Dr. Anne McCann
• Western Region (Fort Collins, CO) Dr. Kevin Dennison • Eastern Region (Raleigh, NC) Dr. Jeanie Lin
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PETS Act Issues: What is a Pet?
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What is a Household Pet? (cont.)
FEMA’s policy:
• Domesticated animal such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, or turtles kept for companionship/pleasure (not commercial purposes) that can travel in commercial carriers and be housed in temporary facilities.
• Does not include reptiles (except turtles), amphibians, fish, insects/arachnids, farm animals, horses, and animals kept for racing purposes.
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Estimating the Pet Population
• Average household size is 2.5 people • 60 percent of households have one or more pets• 50 percent of households with pets have two pets• A survey may determine what proportion of the
households with pets will bring their pets with them to reception/ decontamination centers
Source: 2002 U. S. Pet Ownership and Demographic Source Book
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PETS Act Issues in Disasters
• Owners are expected to care for their pets when sheltered to the extent possible.
• Businesses, such as pet shops, kennels, and veterinary hospitals, are expected to have their own contingency plan in the event of a disaster or emergency.
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Federal Resources to Assist with Pet Care• USDA APHIS Animal Care
[email protected] • USDA APHIS Veterinary Medical Officers and Animal
Health Technicians Eastern Region (919) 855-7250 Western Region (970) 494-7400
• National Veterinary Response Teams (formerly VMAT) [email protected]
• National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps (NAHERC) during declared emergencies [email protected]
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State and Local Resources to Assist with Pet Care• Local veterinarians and veterinary technicians• County Animal Response/Rescue Teams• Volunteer animal care and rescue organizations*• State Reserve Veterinary Associations• National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural
Emergency Programs [email protected] • Emergency Management Assistance Compact veterinary
resources from member states
*Use caution to avoid unqualified volunteers
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Planning for Pet Evacuation and Sheltering
http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/pets.html
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Pets, Emergency Response, and Decontamination
• NRF Radiological Incident Annex 2008: “USDA provides support for assessment, control, and decontamination of contaminated animals, including companion animals, livestock, poultry, and wildlife.”
• Radiological Advisory Team for Environment, Food and Health
• NASAAEP Best Practices Working Group on Animal Decontamination
• Contingency plans for businesses
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Pets, Emergency Response, and Decontamination
• Contaminated pets can be easily decontaminated if the animal is not susceptible to the bioagent.
• Chemical contaminants can often be diluted sufficiently or removed through chemical neutralization.
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PETS Act and Radiological Events• Unlike biological or chemical contamination, the presence
and type of radiological contamination is easily determined.
• Radiological contaminants can be removed from animals with some difficulty: decontaminating a horse requires a thousand gallons of water (reference to be inserted).
• Externally decontaminated animals may still be in danger, and a threat to others, if radioisotopes have been ingested.
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PETS Act and Radiological Events (cont.)
• There are a number of drugs and procedures designed for human victims that are, or may be, useful in mitigating the effects of various radioisotopes ingested by contaminated animals.
• It is generally accepted that these mitigants should be administered in the same proportions as to humans based on body weight (Ansari A, CDC Radiation studies)
Potassium Iodide Radio-Iodine Blocker
Prevents the uptake of radioactive iodine by the
thyroid gland
Prussian Blue Decorporation Agent
Binds with cesium & thallium which are
eliminated in urine/stool
Bentonite Decorporation Agent
Binds with cesium & thallium which are
eliminated in urine/stool
Ca/Zn DTPA Chelator Removes plutonium, americium, & curium by elimination through stool
and urine
Bicarbonate of Soda/CaO3
Urinary Alkalization
Removes uranium through urination
Aluminum/Mg Phosphates
Alginates
Radio-Strontium Blocker
Prevents absorption of strontium through the gastrointestinal tract
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Recommended Radiation Therapies
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APHIS and the IAB: Potential Collaboration
• Radiological Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Issues in Pets and Other Animals: A DRAFT White Paper
• Identifies eight critical issues regarding pet decontamination
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APHIS and the IAB
• Identify and train APHIS personnel with expertise in animal care who will respond operationally and in technical assistance roles
• IAB: Strategic Planning, Health Medical and Responder Safety, Training and Exercises
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APHIS and the IAB
• What tools should be in the ToolBox: operational procedures and decision algorithms for APHIS responders
• IAB: Strategic Planning
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APHIS and the IAB
• Research and validation of operational procedures to ensure efficiency and efficacy
• Example: vacuum units vs washing of pets
• IAB: Science and Technology, Standards Coordination
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APHIS and the IAB
• Decontamination equipment and agents: access and mobilization• National Veterinary Stockpile
• IAB: Strategic Planning, Health Medical and Responder Safety,
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APHIS and the IAB
• Education and preparation of the public• Animal Care Legislative and Public Affairs
• IAB: Information Management and Communications
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APHIS and the IAB
• Management of large-scale animal facilities with specific needs: zoos and aquaria, biomedical research facilities, food animal operations
• IAB: Strategic Planning
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APHIS and the IAB
• Research on correct pharmaceuticals and dosages for decontamination of different species
• IAB: Strategic Planning, Science and Technology, Standards Coordination
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APHIS and the IAB• Planning and prioritization for
evacuation, rescue, and containment of pets, livestock, zoo animals, wildlife in effected zones• Recovery phase
• IAB: Strategic Planning, Health Medical and Responder Safety, Training and Exercises
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Questions and discussion
• Gordon [email protected]
Office (301) 734-8091
• Jeleen [email protected] (301)734-0685