Good livestock evacuation plans are no accident
The following is an excerpt from the California Farm Bureau Federation, Issue Date: 9/6/2006 , By Kate Campbell, Assistant Editor
The wildfires that ravaged San Diego County in 2003 dramatically illustrate the need to plan ahead for the evacuation of animals during emergency situations. The fire killed 16 people, several of whom were horse owners attempting to save their animals. Major disasters, like the wildfire that struck the Domenigonis’ ranch (San Diego County), hit the state with heart-sinking regularity. The impacts of these catastrophic events aren’t just on people and their communities. The state is home to more than 5.4 million head of cattle, 700,000 head of horses, 670,000 sheep, 350,000 pigs and millions of chickens, turkeys and other fowl.
These numbers represent commercial livestock and don’t include the millions of domestic pets and other commercial species like goats, llama and emu that also live here. California Farm Bureau Federation also has gone on record in support of comprehensive planning for livestock during emergencies. In a letter supporting Assembly Bill 450 (Yee, D-San Francisco), which has been approved by the Legislature and awaits the governor’s signature, Farm Bureau said, “The floods of 1997 and again in 2005 highlighted the importance of having plans to deal with evacuations of livestock.”
AB 450 requires the state Office of Emergency Services to incorporate the existing California Animal Response Emergency System (CARES) program into the state’s overall disaster plans. Previously the CARES plan was used as a reference for OES, but was not included as an integral part of the state’s disaster response planning. Noelle Cremers, CFBF natural resources and commodities director, told state legislators, “No livestock managers want to leave their animals to drown or be burned alive and they will put themselves in harm’s way to prevent this. Putting formal plans in place at the state and county level to help with orderly livestock evacuations and sheltering during emergencies will save lives–both human and animal.”
To view the complete article go to: http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm?ID=663&ck=8757150DECBD89B0F5442CA3DB4D0E0E
