Emergency Preparation and Response
Over the past decade, Canada has experienced a marked increase in natural disasters and experts believe that even bigger and more devastating ones are possibly in store.
Through IFAW’s extensive experience in animal rescue and disaster relief efforts it has become better understood that the bond between people and their animals is so great that it becomes nearly impossible to separate the human rescue and the animal rescue effort during a disaster.
Does your city, town or province have a detailed animal response plan that includes evacuation and sheltering? When disaster strikes, are you prepared to cope with the animals in your community?
If not, IFAW Canada can help.
At IFAW Canada, we have experts that can assist you with incorporating effective animal rescue plans and response systems into your community.
We can help with:
- Developing personal, agency, community or provincial plans that address how animals will be evacuated and sheltered in an emergency situation
- Training in animal sheltering or animal rescue techniques
- Risk reduction programs including assistance in shelter design, site locations, flood control, and educational programs for evacuating with animals
- We can provide you with information on including pets when you are preparing your home for an emergency including a window decal to let emergency officials know you have pets inside .
Responding to Disasters:
IFAW’s Emergency Relief Team is there to help animals when disaster strikes.
- IFAW’s Emergency Relief Team can attend major disasters anywhere in Canada usually within 48 hours
- IFAW supports and works closely with local NGOs and government agencies in disaster responses
- IFAW’s Emergency Relief team members engage in hundreds of hours of specific training every year in preparation for disaster work. Responders are trained in large animal rescue, animal handling, sheltering, swift water rescue, ice rescue, high angle ropes, assessments, rope hauling systems, night operations rescue, and the Incident Command System
IFAW’s Emergency Relief Responders are well equipped with the most up to date equipment including:
36’ Communications Trailer
Satellite, VHF and HF radios and repeaters
Hand-held radios
Satellite phone
Scanner
Weather station
36’ Rescue trailer
Custom designed cargo area which can transport marine mammals or up to 50 crated animals in a temperature controlled environment
Satellite system and primary radio equipment
Housing for up to a dozen responders
If you have questions about our response capabilities or how we can help you with disaster preparation contact us at:
IFAW Canada
Suite 612 - 1 Nicholas Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7
Phone: (613) 241 8996
Phone: (888) 500 4329
Fax: (613) 241 0641
info-ca@ifaw.org
;)
IFAW sends out an assessment team to the severe flooding in New Brunswick in May 2008 Photo © IFAW
