The Best Friends Podcast Episode 145
We know that planning for the unknown can be a challenge. That’s why we’re excited to share one of our newest resources, our Emergency Preparedness Toolkit.
Geared towards individuals and organizations that focus on helping people and pets, such as animal shelters, rescues, boarding facilities, and veterinary clinics, the toolkit has everything you need to create a comprehensive emergency plan.
The effects of a changing climate are impacting larger parts of the country more often. The toolkit’s information, plan templates, assessments, task descriptions, and checklists will help you stay safe no matter what heads your way.
Click here to check out all the episodes from the podcast.
Resources from this episode- Best Friends network: Emergency preparedness toolkit
- Best Friends National Conference: Register for the 2023 conference in Houston, Texas
This week's guest
Sharon Hawa
As the senior strategist of emergency services, Sharon is responsible for enhancing Best Friends’ capacity and capability to respond to disasters throughout the country. Sharon has extensive knowledge of disaster planning and operations management; coordinating response efforts and training large workforces. Her knowledge and experience in the field of emergency management spans over 20 years.
Sharon started her career as a volunteer with the American Red Cross in New York City following the tragedies of 9/11/2001. She knew immediately that emergency management was the career path for her. She spent the next two decades in various roles at various agencies, planning for and responding to disasters both domestically and internationally, providing care to displaced individuals and often their four-legged family members.
As an avid animal lover and volunteer for several animal rescue groups near her home in Alexandria, Virginia, Sharon recognizes the gaps that exist in emergency planning for household pets and other animals. During the response for Hurricane Gustav in 2008, Sharon managed a mega-shelter in Alexandria, Louisiana, which at peak had more than 3,000 evacuees, as well as, several hundred animals in a co-located pet shelter facility. It was there that she decided that someday in her emergency management career, she would be able to combine her passion for emergency management with her passion for animal welfare.
Sharon and her partner, Max, are an avid outdoors people who enjoy hiking, camping, kayaking and rock scrambling/climbing adventures. They completed their first summit on Half Dome, an 8,839’ peak in California’s Yosemite National Park in September 2018 and have their eyes set on more. Sharon is rescued by her dog, Juno.
Episode Transcript