Rapid Response demobilization is occurring today.
It is official, the authorization has been given for the Best Friends Rapid Response team to demobilize. Oakville residents were allowed back to their homes yesterday; which means they had their first opportunity to check on any animals left behind.
At an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) meeting today, Rapid Response Manager Rich Crook provided a spreadsheet containing details and photographs of the animals they had saved to the Mayor, a local church, and the incident management team. All of the region’s rescued animals have been transferred to a temporary shelter facility at the Lee County Fairgrounds run by the Burlington based
Animal Protection League (APL). Residents whose animals required saving are requested to go to the fairgrounds to retrieve their pets. Any animals not reclaimed must be placed with shelters, rescue organizations, or foster homes prior to Thursday, July 3, when the APL will be forced to vacate the premises.
Of course before demobilization, the Rapid Response team continued to save cats and even one dog from the flooded areas, in addition to leaving food and water for the animals on solid ground. Watch a
video of the Best Friends Rapid Response team rescuing three cats from a mostly submerged barn from earlier in the week.
Leaving on a good note, the Oakville Mayor and Sheriff are open to the idea of a TNR (trap, neuter, and return) program for the region’s feral cats. Future conversations are expected.
For more details on the day-to-day Rapid Response operations, see the
Day 7 entry from Laurel Anderson and
Day 8 entry from Rich Crook from the
Notes from the Field Blog, which chronicles the ongoing rescue effort from the front lines.
THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
1. Placements are needed for
all the rescued animals who have not been reclaimed. Anyone associated with a shelter or rescue that can accept one or more animals into their adoption program, or individuals who would be willing to foster displaced animals, are asked to contact Barb Bryant at the Lee County Fairgrounds through July 3rd at 319-835-3087. Thereafter, she may be reached at her home 319-524-5137. Note, all animals must be held for 14 days prior to any permanent rehoming, to allow time for the guardian to reclaim their pet.
2. 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.
3. Want to be ready to help animals during the next emergency? Prior to sending 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.
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FEMA ICS 100 Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
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FEMA ICS 200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents-
FEMA IS 700 National Incident Management System (NIMS): Introduction
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FEMA IS 800.B National Response Framework: An Introduction
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FEMA IS 10 Animals in a Disaster, Module A: Awareness and PreparednessAfter 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:
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Best Friends Animal Society Rapid Response Community•
Iowa Floods Special Feature•
United Animal Nations•
List of Iowa facilities offering animal sheltering services for those affected by the flood
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Kirkwood Community College, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has set up a temporary animal shelter for animals displaced by the floods.
Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff
Photo credit: taken by Molly Wald