Protecting Your Animals in a Disaster

In today’s world, we all worry about the threat of a natural or man-made disaster. Animals are especially vulnerable when a disaster strikes because they must rely on us for help. In 1998, Hurricane Floyd claimed the lives of millions of animals in North Carolina, and thousands more were separated from their owners.

Many of these animals could have been saved by a coordinated response plan. From this tragedy, the State Animal Response Team (SART) concept was born. In 2004, Pennsylvania adopted this concept to address its animal-related disaster response needs.

Any Animal, Any Disaster, Anywhere
The Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team (PASART) was created through a private-public partnership to serve as a unifying network of organizations, businesses, federal and state government agencies, and individuals that supports the prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery for emergencies affecting animals.
Because disaster response needs to happen at a local level, PASART builds County Animal Response Teams (CARTs) across the state. County coordinators will be selected to lead the development of county teams consisting of volunteers who will respond to emergencies at the local level. Join your county’s state animal response team at www.pasart.org , or if one is not created yet, help us get a CART started in your county.

Goals of PASART
• To facilitate a rapid, coordinated, and effective response to any emergency affecting animals;
• To decrease the health and safety threat to humans and animals;
• To minimize the economic impact of emergencies affecting animals; and
• To prevent or decrease the spread of disease during emergencies affecting animals.

Donations
• Donations are tax deductible. SART is a private,
501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and all donations are tax deductible. Our tax identification number is 20-2042482.
• Please visit our website, www.pasart.org, for a complete list of items which we currently need and where to drop off donations.
• Cash donations to purchase needed equipment and materials are also graciously welcome.
• During times of disaster, SART is in need of help from people who own specialized equipment and are willing to donate their time and services. In this case, please visit our website to determine what is needed and who to contact to volunteer!

THE NUMBER ONE REASON PEOPLE REFUSE TO EVACUATE
THEIR HOMES DURING AN EMERGENCY IS BECAUSE THEY
DON’T WANT TO LEAVE A PET BEHIND

How You Can Help
1. Volunteer! Visit our website, www.pasart.org to find out how to become a SART volunteer or complete the attached Volunteer Roster Form. We need people with all types of skills, expertise, and resources. Our website also includes a calendar of events for free training opportunities so when a disaster strikes, you are trained and ready to go.
2. Donate! Preparing for a disaster and responding to one is expensive and requires a lot of resources and equipment. Plus, PASART helps all animals. This requires us to be ready for any kind of disaster event and depending on the animals involved; it may even require special equipment. Contribute financially to support PASART’s training and response efforts.
3. Prepare your home, business, or farm before an emergency occurs by creating disaster preparedness kits and emergency plans for your family, pets, and other animals.

Tips for Protecting Your Animals in a Disaster
1. Keep a “Pet Emergency Kit” ready. The kit should include: a few days worth of medication, your pet’s medical and vaccination records, a leash, collar, identification, water, food, toys, and bedding.
2. Make sure that your animals have some form of permanent identification such as a microchip, brand, tattoo, etc.
3. Purchase a pet carrier and label it with emergency contact information.
4. Store water and feed for emergencies.
5. Create a contingency plan for animals including horses, live stock, etc., in an emergency situation that addresses transportation, water and feed resources, and areas for confinement if needed.

Need More Information? Donations can be mailed to:

Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team
905 W. Governor Road, Suite 320
Hershey, PA 17033
Phone: 1-888-550-7862; Fax: (717) 533-4761
Email: pasart@pavma.org;