Shelter in the storm

[jelly8bean]

With Hurricane season in full swing I thought I would see what the board knows about shelters with pets. After Hurricane Katrina there were some changes made about shelter policy. Many people that did not evacuate were staying with their pets.. these were mostly older folks who didn't have the money or transport to go searching for hotels that would accept their animals. I know of one story (from someone there in the rescue effort) where an old man was found inside his house, dead -curled around his dog (also dead). Pitiful. After this disaster there were changes made to the laws to have shelters that also have facility for animals (separate in crates/cages to manage hygiene/feeding issues etc). I know that we have some in North Carolina for the coast..

http://www.newsobserver.com/weather/stories/story/1154663.html#MI_Comments_Link

[apollo]

I've read the article. Thank you for sharing this, it has opened my eyes to what would happen to my dog in case something like this ever happens. Connecticut does not have a pet friendly shelter like this, they do have animal shelters but none near me ( I don't think I would bring my dog there anyways ). I will have to find out more info from my state on why not when they could get grant money to make this possible.

[jelly8bean]

I believe that the law now requires that there be shelters...From a Florida site..

1. As of 2006, they're required - or no FEMA funds to help

According to the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) of 2006, state and local emergency preparedness operational plans must address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency IF they want to qualify for grant $$$ from FEMA. The Act gives FEMA authority to help communities develop pet-friendly shelter facilities and practical assistance for individuals with pets and service animals, and the animals themselves, following a major disaster. Some counties think just saying they will not have a pet-friendly shelter until later and offering names of a couple of motels miles away on their Web site that "used to" accept pets is "addressing the needs." That is incorrect. Actually, the PETS Act does away with all the excuses from county and city governments without pet-friendly disaster plans.

[Tombo]

With Hurricane season in full swing I thought I would see what the board knows about shelters with pets. After Hurricane Katrina there were some changes made about shelter policy. Many people that did not evacuate were staying with their pets.. these were mostly older folks who didn't have the money or transport to go searching for hotels that would accept their animals. I know of one story (from someone there in the rescue effort) where an old man was found inside his house, dead -curled around his dog (also dead). Pitiful. After this disaster there were changes made to the laws to have shelters that also have facility for animals (separate in crates/cages to manage hygiene/feeding issues etc). I know that we have some in North Carolina for the coast..

http://www.newsobserver.com/weather/stories/story/1154663.html#MI_Comments_Link

Thats horrible. I live in Ontario Canada, so i dont have to worry about hurricanes :) But i am upset that a bunch of animals died because of bad rescue efforts.

[Buddy11]

So thats how bad the EVAC is? I always thought that it was a little bit better.

[Dobysenior]

I've herd about this on the news. Very sad too hear this kind of stuff!

[jelly8bean]

In Katrina, the evacuation was good for those that would/could go. However, as with many larger cities there was also a large population of older folks and poorer folks who had no personal transportation and no money for hotels etc. And of course the one's who thought they could weather the storm anyway. In reality, all of these did weather the storm. What they couldn't weather was when the levi's broke and flooded the city. Those who had to go to the superdome and other shelters couldn't bring their pets, and many (especially the elderly who had no one else) refused to go. So laws have been changed, but I believe it is up to us to make sure that the laws are implemented effectively. It is easy for you and I to say, we will just pack the dog up and go on the road and find a hotel. But those less fortunate need our assistance to assure that these tragedies do not occur in the future. So check your local area to be sure that there is provision for pets!