Below is a great example of a temporary shelter being set up.
The Christian County DART/CERT was started as a
direct result of efforts of members of the Christian County
Humane Society. It is now recognized by the CERT National coordination
center, and is now listed on their website.
Every year, hurricanes, tornadoes, hazardous-materials
incidents, floods, earthquakes and other disasters threaten the animals
who are so important to our lives. Members of The HSUS National Disaster Animal Response Team (NDART™)
learn how to prepare their families, help their community be better
prepared and rescue and shelter animals when a disaster or crisis
happens in their community or across the country.
For example, the tornado that swept across Christian County in the spring of 2006 left a path of destruction affecting both animals and their owners.
Our animals depend on us; take the time to have a disaster plan, a disaster supply kit, and an evacuation plan for your family and your animals. For more information on how to do this, visit Disaster Preparedness for Pets, for Horses, and for Livestock. Locally, veterinarians and "pet friendly" businesses have copies of an excellent brochure from the Humane Society of the United States on preparedness. It is also available for download from their website.
If it's not safe for you, it's not safe for them! If you evacuate, take your animals with you. Refute incorrect messages, particularly any that advise people to leave their companion animals behind.
The Christian County DART is working with local emergency management, as well as local organizations that might be able to help people with animals during a disaster. Any disaster plan that does not include animals will not work for people. Helping people with their animals will provide an extra margin of safety for their fire and rescue personnel. The DART-CERT is working to set up animal-friendly preparedness, evacuation, and sheltering options in our community.
Pictured at left are local team members (mouse over for names)
For local emergency assistance with animal rescue or sheltering,
call (270) 887-4678.
Currently the DART team is working on getting more members and get them trained to respond to future disasters. The first part of 2008 saw two members of the DART team attend Basic Search and Rescue Training at Lake Barkley State Park. The training was a little cold and rainy but we learned a lot of useful information besides making contacts with the 4 Rivers Dog Search and Rescue team out of Paducah. Making contacts with other animal groups also helps us enlarge our resource list and get helpful ideas in organizing our own group.
If you are interested in joining our group, please sign up with a local CERT team. All volunteers need CERT training first. For other questions please call, Capt. Kathy Hayes (Home 886-1960).
