11 cats already rescued from flooded homes in Iowa.

As expected the Best Friends Rapid Response team was able to complete searching through 50% of the houses in flooded Oakville, Iowa yesterday. Not surprisingly, their assistance was required and they successfully rescued 11 cats out of people’s homes, including a mother cat with her two kittens (read the story of their recovery and reunion in Rigby’s family makes a smart move). In addition to continuing to search door-to-door today, evacuated residents have been calling in with addresses for the team to check for stranded animals.

Flooded areas are submerged from four to seven feet and Best Friends Animal Care employee, Ethan Gurney noted, “The Iowa River is running right through the town.” Unlike New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, the water in Iowa is flowing rather than stagnant. In fact, the team traveled to some areas yesterday where the current was so strong, the boat’s motor was essential.

It is expected for them to move down stream to continue their search for animals.

For more details, see Rapid Response Manager Richard Crook’s blog entry from day two in Notes from the Field, which chronicles the ongoing rescue effort from the front lines.

THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

1. Help fund Best Friends’ effort to save companion animals trapped by the Iowa floodwaters with an online donation to the Best Friends Rescue Fund or phone in a contribution to 435-644-2001 ext. 4801.

2. Sponsor Andrew Prendeville’s race in Newton, Iowa. All funds donated from his race on Saturday, June 21 will be allocated to the Iowa flood rescue. To make a pledge, please go to the Racing Laps for Best Friends donation page. For more information, see the Racing Laps for Best Friends website and Driving for Donations in Iowa, June 21

3. Interested in helping? We have no call-out for deployment at this time; however, we are establishing a “ready” list.

Before we are able to send volunteers in to the field, they must complete some specific coursework, which is available through the FEMA website. At this time, only volunteers with proof that they hold the following FEMA courses will be placed on the “ready” list.

The first four are REQUIRED. The last one is PREFERRED.

- FEMA ICS 100 Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
- FEMA ICS 200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
- FEMA IS 700 National Incident Management System (NIMS): Introduction
- FEMA IS 800.B National Response Framework: An Introduction
- FEMA IS 10 Animals in a Disaster, Module A: Awareness and Preparedness

After you’ve taken the courses, please contact Ellen Gilmore at elleng@bestfriends.org to find out more about joining the Best Friends Rapid Response team.

For more information:
• Best Friends deploys rescue team to Iowa
• Best Friends Animal Society Rapid Response Community
• United Animal Nations
• List of Iowa facilities offering animal sheltering services for those affected by the flood
• Those who have left pets behind are asked to contact Animal Help at Best Friends by calling 435-644-2001 ext. 4789 or by e-mail, animalhelp@bestfriends.org, please be sure to include “Midwest Floods” in the subject line, animals not immediately claimed will be cared for by the Mediapolis Veterinary Clinic

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff
Photo credit: taken by Molly Wald featuring Ethan Gurney rescuing one of the cats.

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