Animal Shelter Disaster Preparedness Checklist

• We have identified who leads during an emergency.
• We have identified a backup leader.
• Staff know who has authority to activate emergency procedures.
• Staff know who can make decisions about changing or closing normal operations.
• We have identified who can make evacuation decisions.
• Animal-care responsibilities are assigned.
• Facility/system responsibilities are assigned.
• Communications responsibilities are assigned.
• Transportation responsibilities are assigned where applicable.
• Veterinary/medical responsibilities are identified where applicable.

• 911 and local emergency-service information are easy to find.
• Local emergency-management contact information is recorded where appropriate.
• Fire department information is available.
• Law-enforcement contact information is available.
• Animal-control contact information is available where applicable.
• Veterinary/emergency veterinary contacts are recorded.
• Utility contacts are recorded.
• Important facility-service contacts are recorded.
• Receiving shelter/rescue contacts are recorded.
• Transportation contacts are recorded where needed.
• Critical supplier contacts are available.
• Emergency contacts are available somewhere other than one employee's phone.

• We have identified the weather hazards most relevant to our location.
• We have considered flooding or rising water.
• We have considered fire and smoke.
• We have considered power failure.
• We have considered HVAC failure.
• We have considered water/sewer failure.
• We have considered structural/building problems.
• We have considered communications/IT outages.
• We have considered staffing shortages.
• We have considered supply disruptions.
• We have considered infectious-disease/biosecurity emergencies.
• We have considered animal escape/containment failure.
• We have considered sudden mass intake or capacity problems.
• We have considered security threats or violence.

• Emergency exits are known and accessible.
• Staff know where people should assemble after evacuation.
• A severe-weather/tornado safe area is identified where relevant.
• A shelter-in-place area is identified.
• Staff know when to call 911.
• Staff know not to delay life-safety actions to protect property or complete routine animal-care tasks.
• Plans consider visitors and volunteers who may be present.
• Staff accountability after evacuation has been considered.

• We have identified where animals can safely remain during shelter-in-place conditions.
• We know the approximate capacity of those areas.
• We have considered species separation.
• We have considered animals requiring isolation.
• Food and water can reach those areas.
• Sanitation can continue.
• Temperature and ventilation needs have been considered.
• Staff can safely access animals.
• Backup lighting/power needs have been considered.
• We know what conditions would make sheltering in place unsafe.

• We know who can order an evacuation.
• We have identified a primary receiving destination.
• We have considered at least one alternative if the primary destination cannot accept animals.
• We know what species the destination can accept.
• Capacity has been discussed rather than assumed.
• Destination contact information is recorded.
• A primary evacuation route has been considered.
• Alternate routes have been considered.
• Loading areas are identified.
• Animals can be identified during movement.
• Medical information and medications can travel with animals.
• We have considered how to account for animals leaving the facility.

• Available vehicles are identified.
• Qualified/appropriate drivers are identified.
• Vehicle capacity is understood.
• Crates/carriers are available or sources are known.
• Species-specific transportation needs have been considered.
• Fuel availability has been considered.
• Loading procedures have been discussed.
• Transportation partners are identified where needed.
• We have considered what happens if shelter vehicles are unavailable.

• Animals can be individually identified.
• Kennel/cage identification can remain associated with animals.
• Medical information can travel with animals.
• Medication needs can be tracked.
• Destination or foster placement can be recorded.
• Transfers can be documented.
• Animals remaining on site can be accounted for.
• New animals arriving during the emergency can be recorded.
• Staff can determine where each relocated animal went.

Power

• We know what happens to essential animal-care operations during a power failure.
• Generator availability/status is documented.
• If a generator exists, responsible operators are identified.
• Fuel needs have been considered.
• Essential electrical loads/circuits are understood where appropriate.

HVAC

• We know how animal areas will be protected during HVAC failure.
• Alternate areas or mitigation options have been considered.

Water

• Emergency drinking-water needs have been considered.
• An alternate water source is identified where practical.

Sewer & Sanitation

• We have considered how cleaning and waste management continue if normal systems fail.

Communications & IT

• We have considered phone failure.
• We have considered internet failure.
• We have considered shelter-software outage.
• Important information is available outside the normal online system.

Cold Storage

• Temperature-sensitive medications, vaccines, food or supplies have been considered where applicable.

• Essential feeding can continue.
• Drinking water can be provided.
• Required medications can continue.
• Veterinary needs have been considered.
• Sanitation can continue.
• Isolation/biosecurity needs have been considered.
• Temperature-sensitive animals have been considered.
• Animals with medical or mobility needs are identified.
• Neonatal or other specialized-care animals are considered where applicable.
• Species-specific needs are included.
• We know which animal-care functions cannot safely stop.

• Animal food reserves have been considered.
• Potable water reserves or alternate sources have been considered.
• Essential medications are considered.
• Cleaning and sanitation supplies are available.
• PPE needs are considered.
• Crates/carriers are available or sources are identified.
• Leashes/restraint equipment are available as appropriate.
• Bedding/litter needs are considered.
• Fuel needs are considered.
• Veterinary supplies are considered where applicable.
• Alternate suppliers are identified for critical items.

• Minimum essential staffing has been considered.
• Backup personnel are identified.
• A staff notification/call-down method exists.
• We have considered employees being unable to reach the facility.
• Overnight staffing needs have been considered.
• Staff relief and fatigue have been considered.
• Essential responsibilities can be reassigned if someone is unavailable.
• Staff know whom to contact if they cannot report.

• We have considered whether population reduction could help before a forecast emergency.
• Existing foster contacts can be reached quickly.
• Rescue/placement partners are identified.
• Transfer options have been considered.
• Emergency foster messaging can be prepared quickly.
• Local-media/community outreach options are known.
• Animals placed in foster can be tracked.
• Medical/behavioral information can accompany foster animals.
• We have considered when emergency foster would NOT be appropriate.

• Nearby shelter/rescue partners are identified.
• Veterinary partners are identified.
• Transportation partners are identified where applicable.
• Receiving organizations are identified.
• Important suppliers are identified.
• We know how each partner would be contacted.
• We understand what assistance partners may realistically provide.
• We have not assumed informal relationships guarantee emergency capacity.

• Staff emergency-notification methods are established.
• Backup communication methods are considered.
• Foster/volunteer communications are considered.
• Public closure/service-change messaging can be issued.
• Emergency foster messaging can be issued where appropriate.
• Someone is assigned to public communications.
• Someone is assigned to partner/responders communications.
• We have considered communications when internet service is unavailable.

• Critical emergency contacts are available offline.
• Leadership information is available offline.
• Evacuation destinations are available offline.
• Critical-system information is available offline.
• Important emergency procedures are available offline.
• Staff know where printed/offline emergency information is kept.
• The offline/printed information is updated when the plan changes.

• Staff know where to record important incident information.
• Major condition changes can be documented.
• Important decisions can be documented.
• Animal movement can be documented.
• Partner activations can be documented.
• Significant operational changes can be documented.
• Follow-up needs can be captured.

• Facility inspection after an incident has been considered.
• Animal health reassessment has been considered.
• Utility restoration can be confirmed.
• Sanitation and cleanup responsibilities are considered.
• Supply replacement is considered.
• Returning relocated animals is considered.
• Reopening decisions have assigned authority.
• Outstanding work can be tracked.
• Staff welfare after a significant incident is considered.

• We have a way to review significant incidents or exercises.
• We ask what worked.
• We ask what did not work.
• Missing information can be identified.
• Needed plan changes can be recorded.
• Follow-up work can be assigned.
• Lessons learned are incorporated into the emergency plan.

• Staff know an emergency plan exists.
• Staff know where to find it.
• Emergency roles have been reviewed with the people assigned to them.
• Contact information is periodically verified.
• Receiving destinations are periodically reviewed.
• Emergency supplies are checked.
• Generator/system readiness is reviewed where applicable.
• Evacuation procedures are discussed or practiced where appropriate.
• The plan is reviewed after major staffing or facility changes.
• The plan is reviewed after exercises or actual emergencies.