Animal Care Emergency Programs
Animal safety and well-being during disasters is key to the safety and well-being of people. During Hurricane Katrina, some pet owners remained in harm’s way because there were no good options to evacuate with their pets. Soon after, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) took on this human lifesaving mission. Animal Care provides technical expertise to FEMA in this effort.
USDA has also historically maintained awareness of its regulated community when disasters strike. These regulated animals include those in zoos and research with special transportation and biosecurity needs. Working together as part of a national community, we protect our animal resources and safeguard the American public by bringing together emergency management and animal agriculture expertise.
Helpful Links
- USDA Publications, Forms & Guidance Documents
- Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act
- Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA)
- Ensuring the Safety and Well-Being of Household Pets During a Disaster
- Pet Disaster Preparedness (American Red Cross)
- Disaster Preparedness (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Disasters and Grants (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Protect your Pets in an Emergency (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- National Veterinary Response Team (NVRT)
- Ready.gov/pets (FEMA)
- Emergency Planning for Household Pets and Service Animals (FEMA)
- National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP)