Damage and volunteer needs to still be determined

Following a successful evacuation of the region Sunday night, Hurricane Gustav hit landfall this morning in Louisiana, striking west of New Orleans. While a powerful category three storm, it did not damage the area as officials had feared. Levees thus far have managed to hold back the floodwaters.

Best Friends Rapid Response Manager, Rich Crook, along with convergent volunteers and shelter staff spent the night at the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter where he noted, “There were some intense moments with a lot of gusting wind,” but stated that this was not a worst case scenario.

People boarding evacuation buses yesterday were required to have pets confined in carriers. Those without were refused entry, so Best Friends’ dispersal of free pet crates yesterday for evacuees was very well received.

“We had our first batch of carriers snapped up in about an hour and a half,” said Crook. “And later we were able to get more carriers and these too were gone in less than an hour.”

Marti Lombardi, Best Friends volunteer Rapid Response National Coordinator, commented that Frankie Prouty, a convergent volunteer, noted a local woman who had not planned to evacuate because she was unable to find a place for her and her animals. However, Lombardi noted, “When she saw Frankie with the crates she took two – and was elated because it gives her more options of control.”

Crook and Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter animal control officers had to wait for winds to decrease to less than 50 miles per hour prior to leaving to assess damage, begin search and rescue, and follow up on reports of animals left behind.

“Our main obligation early on will be to work within Jefferson Parish,” Crook said. “We’ll be at the East Bank Shelter in East Jefferson—ready with pet food, medical supplies, and crates. Our people are well trained and fully certified in water rescue, and we’re determined to get out there as soon as the weather allows.”

“Our Rapid Response qualified team members are still on standby, but that there is no immediate call for volunteers from Best Friends,” noted Ellen Gilmore, Best Friends Volunteer Project Coordinator. “In 24 hours we will know more as the storm passes through and emergency operations agencies assess what is needed.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. You can help fund Best Friends’ efforts to help continue to save companion animals in emergency situations with an online donation to the Best Friends Rescue Fund.

2. Many states and organizations, including Best Friends, require volunteers to be qualified prior to deployment. If you wish to be ready to help animals in emergencies such as this, volunteers must first complete specific coursework, which is available through the FEMA website. At this time, only volunteers with proof that they have taken the following five FEMA courses will be placed on the “ready” list:

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

Additional volunteer requirements can be found in the Rapid Response community resources, in the “Requirements for Volunteers” folder.

After you have completed the necessary requirements, please contact Ellen Gilmore at elleng@bestfriends.org for more information on joining the Best Friends Rapid Response team.

For more information:
• Best Friends Animal Society Rapid Response Community
• See Emergency.Louisiana.gov for the area’s latest information, including the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) evacuation details
• Riding the Storm Out, blog by Best Friends Network Louisiana community and Ambassador Team Leader, Patty Meehan
• Hurricane Gustav, Best Friends on the Scene in New Orleans

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends staff
Photo credit: provided courtesy of Patty Hegwood of pre-storm preparations at Jefferson Feed.