Emergency Response Planning

Animal and Plant Emergency Planning is the process of identifying the plants and animals that are important to the community, the risks to them from human-caused events or natural disasters, and developing a guide for preparing for emergencies, mitigating the potential detrimental effects, and reacting to and recovering from actual emergencies. 

Advance preparation is crucial in minimizing the physical, economic, and emotional damage that can result from a disaster or other emergency situation.  An emergency response plan (ERP) enables animal and plant owners or farmers, first responders, Tribal leaders, the USDA or other government departments, and all other stakeholders to determine in advance how they will work together in the event of an emergency.  ERPs can be integrated into the Tribe’s overall Emergency Management Plan and included in the emergency-preparedness exercises.  They benefit the Tribe by helping to increase human safety and reduce costs and loss.

As in Hurricane Katrina, people’s pets play a major role in their decision to move to safety in natural disasters. A 2007 Harvard study showed that 27% of people would not evacuate in the event of a hurricane because they did not have a place to take their pets or would not leave them.  Those that leave them behind in emergencies are the most likely to try to re-enter damaged areas in order to care for them.  ERPs for pets can reduce resources needed as a result.

Assistance is available through USET to develop an ERP to meet your Tribe’s needs. Animal and plant emergencies can vary greatly from species to species and in different locations. For example, these can include protecting commercially important crops and culturally or environmentally significant plants from invasive species, such as the emerald ash borer in New England, or diseases like citrus canker affecting Florida orchards.  Livestock plans may cover the prevention and quarantine of widespread animal disease or for animal care during natural disasters.  Species inventories may be part of the plan, as well.