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Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 left thousands of dogs and cats to wander the streets of New Orleans, hungry and alone. Many families evacuated wtihout their pets because emergency shelters would not allow them to bring their dog or cat. Told they would be able to return in a day or two, they didn't know that their pets would starve or suffer until the storm abated. Trained personnel found many pets in crates or locked in bathrooms, waiting to be rescued. Days later, many died.

Animal Response Teams Expanded

Much was learned from this disaster about human and animal needs in an evacuation. County animal response teams developed around the country, inspired by the loss of life in Katrina. In New Jersey, fo example, the Camden County Animal Response Team (CART) was developed under the auspices of the Camden County Office of Emergency Management in 2006. CART was honored by the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey as Hero to Animals in 2007 for developing a model team. Notably, CART members participate in Citizen Emergency Response Training (CERT) so that they can safely accompany professional first responders in a true emergency. CART continues to recruit and train new volunteers and educate its county residents through its own community events and county publicity. Similar entities throughout the 50 states can be found through a simple Google search for "animal response team".

Government Handles Emergencies

It's paramount that the public understand that emergencies are managed by government entities that are first responding to human needs. For pet owners, it's crucial to remember these initial steps, as recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Administration, before a hurricane or other event:

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