Animal Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness for Livestock and Large and Small Animals
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI H5N1 Bird Flu)
The HPAI H5N1 Bird Flu is a highly contagious and often deadly respiratory disease in poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, and geese. It is often spread by wild birds and can infect and make other animals such as livestock and other mammals.
The current strain of HPAI H5N1 is present in several counties throughout the state and is affecting livestock is spreading across the country. Recently, the HPAI H5N1Bird Flu has been detected in humans, mostly personnel employed by dairies or commercial poultry operations, and in raw milk products, causing domestic pets to contract the disease.
CDFA is closely investigating, tracking, and monitoring the HPAI H5N1 Bird Flu in livestock throughout California.
For the latest updates, including recommended bio security for commercial livestock operations, please visit the CDFA’s Animal Health Branch H5N1, or the Avian Health Program website, or contact ahbfeedback@cdfa.ca.gov.
Overview
Cal OES is dedicated to supporting local governments, tribal nations, and the public in supporting animal response efforts. We coordinate closely with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the lead agency for California Emergency Support Function (CA ESF-11), and the CDFA California Animal Response Emergency Support (CARES) Unit. Animals and livestock are an important part of our society and must be considered in all phases of emergency management. This webpage serves as a hub for a variety of resources available that are related to animal preparedness and response; whether you own pets, a hobby farm, an equine facility, or are a commercial agricultural producer.
Animals in Disasters Working Group
California Department of Food and Agriculture and Cal OES co-lead a workgroup of identified stakeholders to address ongoing issues regarding animal evacuation, care, and shelter in disasters. The working group is multi-disciplinary and meets regularly to develop new or enhance existing resources related to large animals and livestock. such as policies, guidance, people, and equipment.Â
Goals of the Animals in Disasters Working Group:
- Identify, resolve, and provide statewide guidance on animal disaster issues for local governments.
- Continually reassess and identify critical issues that are animal-related for resolution.
Workgroup Roster
Meeting Agendas
California Animal Response Emergency Support (CARES)
The CARES Unit resides within the Emergency Preparedness and Response Section of the Animal Health Branch in the Animal Health and Food Safety Services Division of CDFA. The CARES Unit provides assistance to the California Emergency Support Function 11 Food and Agriculture. To meet animal disaster related responsibilities, CDFA leverages the CARES Unit to coordinate State agency response in support of local government and with the assistance of volunteer organizations. CARES is structured in accordance with the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS).
For more information visit the CARES Website at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/Animal_Health/eprs/cares/
California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET)
Legislation, passed in 2021, established the California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET) through the University of California, Davis (UCD) Veterinary Medical School. This legislation creates a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CDFA, Cal OES, and UCD to coordinate the CVET program’s activities with disaster response practices and deployment of CVET resources. Components of the MOU include the development of:
- Veterinary-specific operational scope.
- A veterinary resource management system for coordination, training, ordering, and deployment.
- A database for vetted and appropriately trained evacuation and care personnel.
- Training and certification programs for government and private sector stakeholders, and volunteer organizations for the evacuation, care, shelter, and reunification of animals.
Cal OES, CDFA, and the UCD CVET are proactive and responsive to the mandates of the MOU. All three partners are committed to addressing identified gaps, improving established procedures, and creating a unified approach to animal response in disasters throughout California.
Resources
Pet Preparedness & Evacuation
Animal Owner Resources
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
General Pet Care and Disaster Preparedness
American Veterinary Medical Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Pet Disaster Evacuation Plan
Pet Disaster Evacuation KitÂ
Pets and Mental Health (English)
Pets and Mental Health (Spanish)Â
CARES Pet First Aid Checklist (English)Â
CARES Pet First Aid Checklist (Spanish)
Best Practices for Allowing Pets on Public Transit
Center for Disease Control
Humane Society
Ready.gov
Prepare Your Pets for Disasters
Red Cross
Livestock and Large Animal Preparedness
American Veterinary Medical Association
Large Animals and Livestock in Disasters
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Disaster Preparedness: Livestock Owners
The Humane Society
Disaster preparedness for farm animals
Ready for Wildfire (CAL FIRE)
Wildland Fire Safety for Your Livestock and Pets
University of California, Davis, Western Institute for Food Safety and Security
When Disaster Strikes, What Will You Do?
University of California, Davis, Western Institute for Food Safety and Security
Flooding and Livestock, Preparing, Responding, Recovering
United States Department of Agriculture
Do YOU Have a Plan for Your Livestock Should Disaster Strike?
Disaster Resource Center
Local Emergency Management
Resource Request Process
CDFA Resource Request Page: When local resources are reasonably exhausted, or fully committed and additional resources are required, resource requests will follow the SEMS through a central coordination point/central point of ordering, which is the Operational Area (OA) Emergency Operations Center (EOC). To assist the OA in allocating resources, CARES has developed a resource catalog with a variety of volunteer and other pertinent resources located in one tool.
Shelter Guidance
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- Developing a Local All Disaster Animal Evacuation and Sheltering Plan – Regional Institute for Community Policing, Springfield, Illinois, Institute of Government & Public Affairs, University of Illinois
- Emergency Animal Sheltering Best Practices – The National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP)
- Pet and Animal Sheltering Capacity: Facility, Supply and Equipment Requirements – National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
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Carcass Management
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
Foreign and Domestic Animal Diseases, Carcass Management
California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA)
Emergency Animal Disposal Guidance
Emergency Animal Disease Regulatory Guidance for Disposal and Decontamination (Cal EPA and CDFA)
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Animal Disposal Following an Emergency – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
University of California Cooperative Extension
Livestock Carcass Management Fact Sheet
United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
Agriculture and Carcass Disposal
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
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Danielle Chapman
Senior Emergency Services Coordinator
Office: (916) 845-8153
Email: Danielle.Chapman@CalOES.ca.gov
Abigayle Tirapelle
Emergency Services Coordinator
Office: (916) 364-4562
Email:Â Abigayle.Tirapelle@CalOES.ca.gov