Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act From Wikipedia, the - - PDF document

Stafford Act History: Goal: 403 (a)(3)(J)- Household Pet Shelters Shelters shall be provided for disaster victims with service animals and pets. This is also in conjunction with the PETS Act Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act) Mandates that FEMA's preparedness plans "take into account the needs of individuals with pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency." 2006 President- Executive Order: Improving Assistance for Disaster Victims Directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to lead an interagency task force with the mission of improving the promptness and efficiency with which disaster victims obtain access to eligible Federal disaster assistance. 2007 Disaster Assistance Improvement Plan (DAIP) Outlines a coordinated, actionable strategy to implement a single, consolidated system that will get Federal assistance to disaster victims more quickly and efficiently. 2008 DAIP became available for disaster assistance programs administered at the Federal level. 2014 Full implementation, to include all disaster assistance programs at all levels of State, local and non-government agencies.

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Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) was a bi-partisan initiative in the United States House of Representatives to require states seeking Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance to accommodate pets and service animals in their plans for evacuating residents facing disasters.lll Introduced by Congressmen Tom Lantos (D-California) and Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut) on September 22, 2005, the bill passed the House of Representatives on May 22, 2006 by a margin of349 to 29P1 Technically an amendment to the Stafford Act, it was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 6, 2006. l3l The bill is now Public Law 109-308)41

Background

The bill was initiated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when the abandonment of many thousands of pets and other animals brought the matter of animal welfare to national attention.CS1 The bill's primary proposer, Tom Lantos, indicated that a press picture of a child being separated from his dog was the bill's catalyst; "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.

"[6] On the congressional record for the bill, he explained more fully:

"The scene from New Orleans of a 9-year-old little boy crying because he was not allowed to take his little white dog Snowball was too much to bear. Personally, I know I wouldn't have been able to leave my little white dog Masko to a fate of almost certain death. As I watched the images of the heartbreaking choices the gulf residents had to make, I was moved to find a way to prevent this from ever happening again. n[?J

The Hurricane Katrina animals

Stories of abandoned pets after Katrina filled the media.l&l The issue raised questions of class concern, as animal welfare activist noted in the Washington Post that some hotels who took in evacuees allowed customers to bring their pets, but those forced to rely on public assistance had no options. l9l One particular case that garnered widespread attention was that of "Snowball", a small white dog made famous by Associated Press reporter Mary Foster's coverage of the evacuation of the New Orleans Louisiana Superdome.llO] The authorities who assisted evacuees onto buses refused to allow pets to board. Foster reported that "Pets were not allowed on the bus, and when a police officer confiscated a little boy's dog, the child cried until he vomited. 'Snowball, snowball,' he cried."[lll The story of "Snowball" became a centerpiece in fundraising appeals by welfare organizations and various ad- hoc websites were created by people soliciting funds to help locate Snowball and reunite him with the boy. [lll On September 6, 2005 USA Today reported that Terry Conger, a veterinarian and information officer for the Incident Command Center that coordinated animal rescue efforts in Louisiana, said state veterinary officers had confirmed that Snowball is safe in a Louisiana shelter and that his owner had been located in Texas.

[l3J

However, it appears the veterinarian officials were mistaken. On September 10, 2005 the Lexington Herald- Leader quoted Dr. Conger as saying that original reports of Snowball's recovery were inaccurate and that "the chances of finding it [Snowball] and returning it to its owner are next to nil".

[citation needed]

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program

Program Overview

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program provides funds to states, territories, Indian tribal governments, communities, and universities for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster event. Funding these plans and projects reduces overall risks to the population and structures, while also reducing reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations. PDM grants are to be awarded on a competitive basis and without reference to state allocations, quotas, or other formula-based allocation of funds.

National Ranking Factors

FEMA will provide additional ranking points for all eligible mitigation planning and project subapplications on the basis of predetermined, objective, quantitative factors to calculate a final National Ranking Score for each

• subapplication. Applicant management cost subapplications will not be scored, but will be awarded based on

planning and project subapplications awarded for each Applicant. The 2011 National Ranking factors are available in the FEMA library.

National Evaluation Panel Factors

Panels composed of representatives from FEMA, State, Territories, local governments, Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, and other Federal agencies will peer evaluate project and planning subapplications

• n the basis of

qualitative factors. The 2011 National Evaluation Panel Planning Factors and the 2011 National Evaluation Panel Project Factors are available in the FEMA library. The factors remain unchanged from FY 2010.

Partnership with the HUD Sustainable Housing and Communities Initiative

FEMA continues to partner with HUD regarding the principles set forth in the HUD Sustainable Housing and Communities initiative and will utilize information from the PDM project and planning subapplications to guide future opportunities for program collaboration. FEMA supports the HUD program goals for strategic local approaches to sustainable development by combining hazard mitigation objectives with the community development objectives. The community development objectives support regional planning efforts that integrate housing and transportation decisions, and increase state, regional, and local capacity to incorporate livability, sustainability, and social equity values into land use plans, zoning and infrastructure investments. Therefore, FEMA will note sustainability principles that are included in the PDM planning and project subapplications.

• The subapplicant has identified sustainable principles in their planning/project application.
• The subapplicant has identified how the proposed activity relates to the HUD Sustainable Housing and

Community initiative.

• The subapplicant has described how the HUD Sustainable Housing and Community initiative relates to

the proposed activity.

If

you would like to learn more about the HUD Sustainable Housing and Communities initiative please visit http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/program offices/sustainable housing communities.

Stafford Act Household Pet Shelter Protocols are established to provide access to all facilities used as emergency shelters during FEMA's disaster assistance registration process and to provide assistance with replacement of personal documents, such as identification and proof

• f
• wnership. Before opening a facility to be used as a shelter, provisions must be

established for food, water, power, sanitation, communications, basic first aid services, and modifications for

• accessibility. Additionally, a management structure must be established. In the event of

a hurricane, federal assistance is available for shelter operations only after the hurricane makes landfall. Emergency assistance authorized under section 403 of the Stafford Act, including emergency shelters, is available to all residents from declared counties, including those within a CBRA or OP A zone. · In addition to traditional shelters, specific types of emergency sheltering provided include medical support shelters, functional needs shelters or units, household pet shelters, and shelters for use in major or catastrophic disasters. · Medical Support Shelters. In coordination with the medical community, medical support shelters are typically run by local and/or tribal governments to accommodate those with functional disabilities and medical needs beyond the typical capability of traditional shelters. Every effort is made to allow caregivers to also stay in the medical support shelter. ·Functional Needs Shelters. Functional needs shelters supports (1) individuals with physical, cognitive, sensory, behavioral disabilities or other conditions that impacts their level of functioning and (2) individuals who have chronic medical or health conditions that require functional or medical support, but not at the level of care provided under the Medical Support Shelters. These shelters provide functional and/or medical support to the extent possible so that people can be accommodated in the least restrictive environment. · Household Pet Shelters. Per section 403 (a)(3)(J), shelters shall be provided for disaster victims with service animals and pets. This is also in conjunction with the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act ("PETS Act"), which mandates that FEMA's preparedness plans "take into account the needs of individuals with pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency." · Shelters for Use in Major or Catastrophic Disasters. Large venue facilities are used as congregate centers in response to a significantly large or catastrophic event that has displaced large numbers of individuals from their primary residences. These shelters include cruise ships, tents, vacant buildings, military barracks, dormitories, pre-fabricated structures, campgrounds, stadiums, and convention centers. These facilities may receive federal assistance, or may be operated under FEMA's direction, upon request by a State, given certain conditions. Exerpt from the disaster housing section from FEMA. On August 29, 2006, the President issued the Executive Order: Improving Assistance for Disaster Victims, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to lead an interagency task force with the mission of improving the promptness and efficiency with which disaster victims obtain access to eligible Federal disaster assistance. The Executive Order required the Task Force to develop and, by March 1, 2007, deliver a Disaster Assistance Improvement Plan (DAIP) outlining a coordinated, actionable strategy to implement a single, consolidated system that will get Federal assistance to disaster victims more quickly and efficiently. This solution became available December 31, 2008 for disaster assistance programs administered at the Federal level. Full implementation, to include all disaster assistance programs at all levels of State, local and non-government agencies, will occur by 2014.

Opposition

While the bill received wide support, it did have opponents. Two Representatives from the State of Georgia who opposed, Lynn Westmoreland-(R) and Charlie Norwood-(R), announced through spokesmen concerns that the law would unfairly impose federal control over state governance and negatively impact resources from other areas of emergency planning necessary to protect human lives. [6l

References

1.

A Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act House of

Representatives website. September 2005. Accessed August 30, 2007. 2.

A Shays, Christopher. Animal Welfare: Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act House of

Representatives website. Accessed August 30, 2007. 3.

A President Bush Signs H.R. 3858, the "Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of2006" White House

(press release). Accessed September 10, 2007. 4.

A H.R.3858 Library of

• Congress. Accessed August 30, 2007.

5.

A Nolen, R. Scott. October 15, 2005. Katrina's other victims. The Journal of

the American Veterinary Association (JA VMA). Accessed August 30, 2005. 6.

A a b Kemper, Bob. May 23, 2006. Pet-loving Georgians call bill a disaster. Atlanta Journal Constitution.

(Reprinted at the House ofRepresentatives site of Congressman Lynn A. Westmoreland). Accessed August 30, 2007. 7.

A Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of2006 Section 51. United States House of

Representatives. September 20,2006. Accessed August 31,2007. 8.

A see, for example, More and more abandoned pets in New Orleans rescued and Katrina's stranded pets spur

massive aid effort. 9.

A Dawn, Karen. September 10, 2005. Best friends need shelter, too Washington Post. Accessed August 30, 2007.

• 10. A Snowball, Snowball, the little dog who broke the nation's heart! September 7, 2005. PR Leap Business News.

Accessed August 30, 2007.

• 11. A Foster, Mary. September 1, 2005. Superdome Evacuations Enter Second Day Associated Press. Accessed

August 30,2007.

• 12. A See, for example, Snowball Fund.
• 13. A Manning, Anita. September 6, 2005. Rescuers scramble to reach animals left in dire straits. USA Today.

Accessed August 30, 2007.

Preface

Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 provides Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidance on the fundamentals of planning and developing emergency operations plans (BOP). CPG 101 shows that BOPs are connected to planning efforts in the areas of prevention, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. Version 2.0 of this Guide expands on these fundamentals and encourages emergency and homeland security managers to engage the whole community in addressing all risks that might impact their jurisdictions. While CPG 101 maintains its link to previous guidance, it also reflects the reality of the current

• perational planning.environment. This Guide integrates key concepts from national preparedness

policies and doctrines, as well as lessons learned from disasters, major incidents, national assessments, and grant programs. CPG 101 provides methods for planners to:

• Conduct community-based planning that engages the whole community by using a planning process

that represents the actual population in the community and involves community leaders and the private sector in the planning process

• Ensure plans are developed through an analysis of

risk

• Identify operational assumptions and resource demands
• Prioritize plans and planning efforts to support their seamless transition from development to

execution for any threat or hazard

• Integrate and synchronize efforts across all levels of government.

CPG 101 incorporates the following concepts from operational planning research and day-to-day experience:

• The process of

planning is just as important as the resulting document.

• Plans are not scripts followed to the letter, but are flexible and adaptable to the actual situation.
• Effective plans convey the goals and objectives of

the intended operation and the actions needed to achieve them. Successful operations occur when organizations know their roles, understand how they fit into the overall plan, and are able to execute the plan. This Guide is part of a series of CPGs published by FEMA. CPG 101 discusses the steps used to produce an EOP, possible plan structures, and components of a basic plan and its annexes. CPGs provide detailed information about planning considerations for specific functions, hazards, and threats. CPG 101 is the foundation for state, territorial, tribal, and local emergency planning in the United States. Planners in other disciplines, organizations, and the private sector, as well as other levels of government, may fmd this Guide useful in the development of their EOPs.

I am pleased to announce the release of Version 2.0 of Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101:

Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans.

Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 provides guidance for developing emergency operations

• plans. It promotes a common understanding of

the fundamentals of risk-informed planning and decision making to help planners examine a hazard or threat and produce integrated, coordinated, and synchronized plans. The goal of CPG 101 is to assist in making the planning process routine across all phases of emergency management and for all homeland security mission areas. This Guide helps planners at all levels of government in their efforts to develop and maintain viable, all-hazards, all-threats emergency plans. Based on input from state, territorial, tribal, and local officials from across the United States, this update

• fCPG 101 expands on the fundamentals contained in the first version. With this edition, greater

emphasis is placed on representing and engaging the whole community-to include those with access and functional needs, children, and those with household pets and service animals. Residents and all sectors of the community have a critical role and shared responsibility to take appropriate actions to protect themselves, their families and organizations, and their properties. Planning that engages and includes the whole community serves as the focal point for building a collaborative and resilient community. CPG 101 is the foundation for state, territorial, tribal, and local emergency planning in the United States. Planners in other disciplines, organizations, and the private sector, as well as other levels of government, may fmd this Guide useful in the development of their emergency operations plans. While CPG 101 maintains its link to previous guidance, it also reflects the reality of the current operational planning

• environment. This Guide integrates key concepts from national preparedness policies and doctrines, as

well as lessons learned from disasters, major incidents, national assessments, and grant programs.

• W. Craig Fugate

Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency