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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-069Q EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTION (ESF) #17 ANIMAL PROTECTION PRIMARY AGENCY: Department of Emergency Services/Animal Control Division SUPPORT AGENCIES: Agricultural Extension Service City of Fellsmere Police Department City of Sebastian Police Department City of Vero Beach Police Department Indian River County Environmental Health Indian River County Sheriffs Office Town of Indian River Shores Department of Public Safety Veterinary Community I. INTRODUCTION A. Purpose The purpose of this ESF is to provide support in three specific areas: • Providing guidance and instruction to the animal control authority in directing and coordinating emergency response activities necessary to the community's efforts. • Managing mutual aid personnel and resources at the staging area and in the county Emergency Operations Center (EOC), if required. • Managing donated goods and unaffiliated volunteers in the county, as required. • Responding to the impacts of a disaster on Indian River County's natural resources, agricultural, livestock, and small pets needs before, during and following a significant natural or technological disaster. • ESF #17 will provide resources for safety, live protection, environmental protection and restoration of natural resources, coordination among all levels of government, and mitigation from future events. • ESF #17 will provide overall management, coordination and prioritization of county-wide natural resources and agricultural Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#17-1 services and assets to support pet and livestock animal needs in the event of a major emergency or disaster. These activities are accomplished by utilizing personnel from many local animal control agencies, qualified persons from other counties, and other organizations as necessary. B. Scope Animal related services under this plan are categorized in the functional procedures with agency responsibilities being assigned. The scope of this procedure is to: • Define the organizational structure and staffing requirements of the response teams. • Define the notification/activation process of the response teams. • Define the concept of operations. • Define the communications procedures and equipment used in the support of this plan. • Specify the logistical support requirements of the response teams. • Describe administrative and general task requirements of the response team members. Task activities performed by the response teams will be integrated into the County's Emergency Support Function (ESF) protocol as described in the Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, where applicable. • Ensure that the preparation of the County will be adequate to deal with, reduce vulnerability to, and recover from emergencies and disasters that may effect public peace, health, and safety. 11. POLICIES A. Direction and control of Indian River County emergency management operations rests with the Director of Emergency Management, or his designee, subject only to the direction and control of the Board of County Commissioners. B. All assigned personnel will receive a briefing prior to entry into an impacted area. Briefings will be conducted by liaison persons assigned to this task. C. No agency or person(s)shall enter into contracts or incur financial obligations for Indian River County without prior approval from the Director of Emergency Management or his designee. Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#17-2 III. SITUATION A. Disaster Condition Animal issues are generally classified as a lesser priority during an emergency or disaster event; this is caused by the public's perception that most animals can fend for themselves. Animals injured or displaced from their habitats can lead to additional injury and hunger. During major and catastrophic emergency events, Indian River County may require specific assistance in management of the critical functions identified in ESF#17. The identification, training, and exercising of such teams prior to an event is required to ensure standardized operating practices and continuity of operations. Based on disaster summaries from other counties, it is anticipated that volunteer service organizations and mutual aid units will automatically go to impacted areas following emergencies;therefore, a rapid arrival and establishment of predetermined actions is necessary to assist in managing these resources. B. Planning Assumptions 1. During major and catastrophic emergency events, Indian River County may require specific assistance in management of the critical functions. 2. A large scale disaster will impact agricultural and natural resources in Indian River County. 3. The impact of a significant crop loss or agricultural impact would be significate for Indian River County's economy. 4. The large number of homeless/injured pets and livestock could become a public health problem. 5. Triage and treatment of sick and injured animals would have to be accomplished by veterinarians at designated shelters and prive offices. 6. Sheltered animals will need to be re-united with their owners after the disaster. 7. Impacts to Indian River County's natural resources could delay a full recovery process. 8. The identification, training, and exercising of such teams prior to an event is required to ensure standardized operating practices and continuity of operations. 9. Based on disaster summaries from other counties, it is anticipated that volunteer service organizations and mutual aid units will automatically go to impacted areas following emergencies; therefore, a rapid arrival and establishment of predetermined actions is necessary to assist in managing these resources. Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#17-3 IV. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS A. General Animal related services under this ESF are two fold and can be divided into the following sections: 1. Coordinating response to injured animals and the relocation of free roaming animals to safe enclosures. 2. Coordinating animal sheltering, medical needs, and the return of animals to their rightful owners B. Organization The Indian River County Department of Emergency Services,Animal Control Division is a co-primary agency. As such, they will primarily be responsible for the capture, care and transporting of sick, injured or displaced animals to safe shelter. The Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, also a co-primary agency, will be tasked with sheltering, care and reuniting of sick, injured or displaced animals. C. Notification The IRCDEM will provide notification for each ESF's primary agency. A representative from the primary agency will in turn notify each support agency and/or volunteer agency, as required. D. Response Actions 1. Initial Actions a. An inventory of available vehicles, personnel and materials will be verified and provided to ESF#5 (Information and Planning). b. Each ESF#17 agency will establish communications with their appropriate field personnel to ensure that they are ready for a timely response. C. Each co-primary agency will establish staffing patterns to ensure 24-hour operations, if required. d. Coordinate with ESF #14 (Public Information) to encourage animal owners to take actions to ensure the safety of their animals, in addition to their own safety. 2. Continuing Actions Field personnel will be dispatched to care for sick, injured and displaced animals and will relocate same to safe shelter. Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#17-4 3. Recovery Actions a. All requests for resources will be coordinated with ESF #7 (Resource Support)and ESF#15 (Volunteers and Donations). b. Displaced animals will be attempted to be reunited with their owners. V. RESPONSIBILITIES A. Primary Agency: 1. Indian River County Department of Emergency Services, Animal Control Division has the responsibility for the following: • Coordinating with the support agencies in directing animal care and control issues; • Notifying all support agencies assigned to this ESF upon activation of the EOC; • Coordinating all support agency actions in missions assigned to this ESF; • Coordinating requests for assistance and additional resources necessary during the performance of the mission by the appropriate agency; • Serving as the Disaster Animal Relief Coordinator (DARC) to the EOC, as required, for the activities and responsibilities tasked to the agencies identified in this ESF. The DARC will provide guidance and instruction to response activities; • Facilitating or coordinating the transportation of injured, free roaming, or nuisance animals to the appropriate facility (i.e., Humane Society, veterinary clinics, etc.). • Coordinating the removal and disposal of dead animals with the appropriate agency (i.e., Environmental Health, Road & Bridge, etc.); • Coordinating with ESF#14 (Public Information)for the release of public information regarding animals and related health issues; • Enforcing animal control regulations; Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#17-5 • Exercising discretionary authority to euthanize injured, sick, or diseased animals whose condition is such that its continued existence would be inhumane; and • Investigating animal cruelty and neglect complaints. • Will coordinate with Environmental Health the quarantine and disposition of any animal suspected of being rabid. 2. The Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, serving as the co-primary agency has the primary responsibility for the following: • Providing humane care and handling of animals at emergency animal shelters as well as treatment/euthanasia assistance stations; • Assisting various agencies and/or individuals with the coordination of additional equipment and resources for animals that are victims of an emergency or disaster; • Housing quarantined animals for observation; and • Coordinating staff (volunteers and/or paid). B. Support Agencies 1. Indian River County Agricultural Extension Service - Will provide manpower and equipment to support ESF #17 activities. 2. City of Fellsmere Police Department - Will report any animal related issues. 3. City of Sebastian Police Department - Will report any animal related issues. 4. City of Vero Beach Police Department-Will report any animal related issues. Their animal control component will assist in ESF#17 support as necessary. 5. Indian River County Environmental Health - Will coordinate animal issues that affect the interest of public health (including the investigation of suspected rabid animals). 6. Indian River County Sheriff's Office - Will report any animal related issues. Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#17-6 7. Town of Indian River Shores Department of Public Safety-Will report any animal related issues. 8. Various members of the Veterinary community - Will coordinate available services and veterinary volunteers who will assist during the recovery phase. V1. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ESF#17 will utilize personnel and resources from its primary and support agencies to respond to mission assignments related to emergencies. Additional resources available at other ESFs may be coordinated and mobilized to support ESF #17 missions. When requests begin to exceed the County's ESFs capability to respond, additional resources (i.e., state teams, federal agencies, contractual agreements, and mutual aid agreements) will be mobilized. Mutual aid agreements have been established for all contiguous counties as well as the existence of the Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement. During a significant event these agreements may be activated. The decision to activate these agreements will be made by the Emergency Management Director, or his designee. All personnel and resources mobilized by ESF#17 will remain under the direction and control of the ESF, unless otherwise notified. Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex I - Page ESF#17-7