Lamorinda DART Urges Wildfire Preparation for Pets (and People...)
In Northern California fire season started in February 2009. Pet owners must prepare themselves and their pets for fire emergencies. Last year Northern California had more than 1,000 wildfires raging at the same time. This year the draught is even worse. It is time to act. We will show you how.
Lafayette, CA, March 28, 2009 --(PR.com)-- “Through global warming, we have now fire season all year round. We used to have fire seasons only in the fall, but now the fire seasons start in February already...” Arnold Schwarzenegger (11/17/2008)
What can You do? Today is the best day to start preparing for a wildfire in your area. By implementing a simple 10-step program you can increase your chance of survival in case of a wildfire. For animal owners in the possible path of wildfires, the Lamorinda Disaster Animal Response Team for Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda offers the following tips for ensuring the well being of yourself, your companion animals and perhaps your community as well...
1. Defend Yourself
Create defensible space. CalFire and California law require that you have at least 100 feet of defensible space clearance around your homes. Make sure that fire engines can locate your home by having a clearly visible house number. Make sure that gates etc. are wide enough to allow fire engines on to your property.
2. Prepare an Emergency Kit
In addition to your human emergency supply have a pet emergency supply kit filled with at least a three-day supply of food, water and other supplies, such as medical records, owner’s documentation, cat litter and other necessary sanitary items and medication.
3. Have a Proxy
Make arrangements with a neighbor to have them look after your pets in case the emergency happens in your absence. Make sure they know where your Emergency Kit is and how to contact you.
4. Prepare to Escape
Identify at least two escape routes from your home. Make sure the gas tank in your car is at least half full. Practice loading kids and pets and valuables. Have a checklist.
5. Be Ready to Evacuate
Have secure pet carriers for each of your pets. Crate your animals before loading the car: they will try to escape. Securely fasten a current identification tag to your pet’s collar. Carry a photo of yourself with your pet for identification purposes.
6. Know Where You Are Going
Call hotels in a safe location and ask if you can bring your pets. Ask the manager if a no-pet policy can be lifted during the disaster. Let family members know where you plan to go. If directed to an evacuation shelter, ask for the location of the emergency animal shelter.
7. Do Not Procrastinate
Wildfires travel fast. Sometimes faster than traffic will allow. Do not wait until the last minute to evacuate and do not ever leave your animals behind. You will not be allowed to return home for any reason.
8. Leave A Message
Leave a note that you and your animals have left, where you are going and how to reach you. Place it in a visible place near the entrance of your home.
9. Be a Solution not a Problem
Take a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training. This will help you help yourself and your neighbors in a disaster.
10. Become Noah
Learn how to save all animals (human and otherwise). Join Lamorinda DART and learn how to set up an emergency animal shelter using the contents of the Ark provided by Contra Costa County Animal Services (their emergency response trailer).
A Wildfire Workshop for Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda will be held on April 29th from 7-9pm at the Orinda Library Auditorium (26 Orinda Way). Contact Jonathan Goodwin at CanyonFire@vfemail.net. to ensure a seat at the event—or if you have questions.
About Lamorinda DART
Lamorinda DART (Disaster Animal Response Team) represents a new and exciting response to issues surrounding animals in disasters in Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. Traditionally, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) take care of human animals only. After the passage of the PETS Act of 2006 (Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act) little has changed, even though the PETS Act requires that FEMA sponsored or subsidized entities (such as CERT) take domestic pets and their owners into account. In the absence of adequate animal disaster response many animals (and some of their owners) perish, even today.
Lamorinda DART (Disaster Animal Response Team) consists of Lamorinda CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) graduates from Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda, who have received additional animal sheltering and rescue training and are able to provide disaster response to all animals (human and others). As first responders Lamorinda DART members are in a unique position to save both human and animal lives and prevent unnecessary suffering when the next disaster happens.
Visit http://LamorindaDART.org to learn more.
About CERT
CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Serve your community by becoming a disaster first responder through CERT! Lamorinda CERT serves the communities of Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda (Lamorinda)
To learn more visit http://LamorindaCERT.org
Contact:
Frans Hoffman, Coordinator Lamorinda DART, phone (925) 878-1323, email: fhoffman@LamorindaCERT.org
Relevant links:
• Lamorinda CERT: http://www.LamorindaCERT.org
• Lamorinda DART: http://www.LamorindaDART.org
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What can You do? Today is the best day to start preparing for a wildfire in your area. By implementing a simple 10-step program you can increase your chance of survival in case of a wildfire. For animal owners in the possible path of wildfires, the Lamorinda Disaster Animal Response Team for Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda offers the following tips for ensuring the well being of yourself, your companion animals and perhaps your community as well...
1. Defend Yourself
Create defensible space. CalFire and California law require that you have at least 100 feet of defensible space clearance around your homes. Make sure that fire engines can locate your home by having a clearly visible house number. Make sure that gates etc. are wide enough to allow fire engines on to your property.
2. Prepare an Emergency Kit
In addition to your human emergency supply have a pet emergency supply kit filled with at least a three-day supply of food, water and other supplies, such as medical records, owner’s documentation, cat litter and other necessary sanitary items and medication.
3. Have a Proxy
Make arrangements with a neighbor to have them look after your pets in case the emergency happens in your absence. Make sure they know where your Emergency Kit is and how to contact you.
4. Prepare to Escape
Identify at least two escape routes from your home. Make sure the gas tank in your car is at least half full. Practice loading kids and pets and valuables. Have a checklist.
5. Be Ready to Evacuate
Have secure pet carriers for each of your pets. Crate your animals before loading the car: they will try to escape. Securely fasten a current identification tag to your pet’s collar. Carry a photo of yourself with your pet for identification purposes.
6. Know Where You Are Going
Call hotels in a safe location and ask if you can bring your pets. Ask the manager if a no-pet policy can be lifted during the disaster. Let family members know where you plan to go. If directed to an evacuation shelter, ask for the location of the emergency animal shelter.
7. Do Not Procrastinate
Wildfires travel fast. Sometimes faster than traffic will allow. Do not wait until the last minute to evacuate and do not ever leave your animals behind. You will not be allowed to return home for any reason.
8. Leave A Message
Leave a note that you and your animals have left, where you are going and how to reach you. Place it in a visible place near the entrance of your home.
9. Be a Solution not a Problem
Take a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training. This will help you help yourself and your neighbors in a disaster.
10. Become Noah
Learn how to save all animals (human and otherwise). Join Lamorinda DART and learn how to set up an emergency animal shelter using the contents of the Ark provided by Contra Costa County Animal Services (their emergency response trailer).
A Wildfire Workshop for Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda will be held on April 29th from 7-9pm at the Orinda Library Auditorium (26 Orinda Way). Contact Jonathan Goodwin at CanyonFire@vfemail.net. to ensure a seat at the event—or if you have questions.
About Lamorinda DART
Lamorinda DART (Disaster Animal Response Team) represents a new and exciting response to issues surrounding animals in disasters in Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. Traditionally, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) take care of human animals only. After the passage of the PETS Act of 2006 (Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act) little has changed, even though the PETS Act requires that FEMA sponsored or subsidized entities (such as CERT) take domestic pets and their owners into account. In the absence of adequate animal disaster response many animals (and some of their owners) perish, even today.
Lamorinda DART (Disaster Animal Response Team) consists of Lamorinda CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) graduates from Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda, who have received additional animal sheltering and rescue training and are able to provide disaster response to all animals (human and others). As first responders Lamorinda DART members are in a unique position to save both human and animal lives and prevent unnecessary suffering when the next disaster happens.
Visit http://LamorindaDART.org to learn more.
About CERT
CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Serve your community by becoming a disaster first responder through CERT! Lamorinda CERT serves the communities of Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda (Lamorinda)
To learn more visit http://LamorindaCERT.org
Contact:
Frans Hoffman, Coordinator Lamorinda DART, phone (925) 878-1323, email: fhoffman@LamorindaCERT.org
Relevant links:
• Lamorinda CERT: http://www.LamorindaCERT.org
• Lamorinda DART: http://www.LamorindaDART.org
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Contact
Lamorinda DART
Frans Hoffman
(925) 878-1323
http://LamorindaDART.org
Frans Hoffman
(925) 878-1323
http://LamorindaDART.org
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