The following is from Bret Marsh, State Veterinarian.
Preparedness for disasters involving animals has been a top priority of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health for decades. In May 1995, Indiana became the first state in the nation to recognize a veterinary response network as part of the state's official emergency management plan. That network is comprised of private practitioners and registered veterinary technicians who are willing to respond to meet the needs of animals and their owners during a disaster.
This November, BOAH and Purdue Extension are hosting S-CAP (Strengthening Community Animal/Agro Security Planning) training sessions. This one-day training course is being offered for free and will be repeated on six days across the state to provide the greatest opportunity for participation. These training sessions are for anyone who would be involved in local response for animals, in natural disasters or animal health emergencies.
This training will help local responders to identify animal and agricultural entities and risks within the county and make plans to deal with those in a disaster. S-CAP requires the team effort of everyone involved including the Emergency Management Agency, Extension, law enforcement, veterinary community, commodity groups and volunteers. This training will bring teams together to develop individual county plans for the animal and agricultural risks in counties around the state of Indiana.
This training is open to veterinarians, Extension educators, local emergency managers, animal shelter personnel, and anyone interested in planning for animals affected by disasters. Veterinarians who are part of ASERT/MRC are highly encouraged to attend.
While the classes are free, preregistration is required. To enroll go online: www./bit.ly/2dnb6OP. Classes start at 9 a.m. with a working lunch provided.
Dates of classes are:
• Nov. 9, Public Safety Academy of Northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne;
• Nov. 15, LaPorte County Fairgrounds, LaPorte;
• Nov. 16, Boone County Fairgrounds, Lebanon;
• Nov. 18, Lynnville Community Center/Fire Department, Lynnville;
• Nov. 22, Madison County Emergency Management Agency office, Anderson; and
• Nov. 29, Jackson County Learning Center, Seymour.
These classes are made possible by a medical reserve corps grant to BOAH. In early 2017, the classes will be followed by table-top exercises to test how local plans would address animal needs in an emergency.