|
| |
|
News Updates...
Results from our National
Disaster Rescue Summit
(above, Mandy Speers, a PasadoRescuer from New York,
and Careen Maloney, another rescuer who returned from a recent trip to
New Orleans, meet up again to share hugs, memories,
and ideas for "next time".) |
  |
|
 |
After extensive planning for the Pasado’s
Disaster Summit, on Saturday,
August 12th, both attendee and guest speaker participation was
spectacular! |
|
|
Above, Dr. Dana
Bridges DVM, Pasado's Advisory Board Member and Large Animal
Veterinarian. She will lead our large animal (horse, cow, donkey, etc.)
rescue team when encountering the next disaster. |
|
|
Post-Pasado’s Animal Rescue response to
Hurricane Katrina it became
abundantly clear that there were many lessons to be learned from this
experience and a tremendous need for further discussion As a result, in
the planning for the first Annual Pasado’s Disaster Summit, we knew that
it was necessary to have every realm of our disaster response
represented. |
|
The guest speakers depicted all aspects of
Pasado’s Katrina Rescue,
including Incident Command management, protocol makers and
sheltering organizations ~ where rescued animals were transported upon
leaving Raceland, LA. There were also speakers present to illustrate
“where” Pasado’s is going from here in disaster response, such as a
newly established relationship with the American Red Cross Snohomish
County Chapter (Pasado's home base). It is our hope that this will be a
model for creating human-animal rescue relationships in other counties
and states to assure no life is left behind.
|
|
|
Kim Sgro, Director of Special Projects
for Pasado's, spearheaded The Summit. Its success and the animals who
will be saved because of it in the future, is and will be due to her
passion.
The most important contributor to the
Summit, however, was “the
volunteer”. There were rescuers from coast-to-coast, WA State
Department of Emergency Management (DEM) reps, dog trainers, DART and
even shelter teams from regions as far as 6 hours away. Yet the
majority were Pasado’s Animal Rescue volunteers who responded to
Pasado’s Safe Havens’ call to help the animals and people of New
Orleans last fall. |
|
Despite the high terror alert, Pasado’s
Animal Rescuers even flew in from cities like Memphis, San Diego and New
York City. With so many experienced and cogitative individuals attending
the Summit, we had all the pieces of the puzzle to move forward in the
development process of puissant rescue protocol.
After 9 hours of deliberation, open format Q & A, and break out round
table discussions, problem points were defined and an entire After
Action Review [AAR] formulated. Read the entire summary
here. |
|
|
 |
|
|
As Pasado’s Safe Haven moves
forward in developing Disaster Response
Protocol and Training it is critical to recognize the importance of this
conference. The primary goal of the Disaster Summit was to create an
environment where complete, honest and open deliberation could be
achieved in order to development proficient plans for future response
efforts. Based on individual evaluations, not only was the Summit
successful in meeting this goal, but with this collaborative effort, it
is clear that we are working together as a team. With each other. For
the animals.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Helen
Keller
We thank you.
Our deepest thanks to:
Pam, Jacinda, Jennifer, Amber, Rita,
Sandy, Merilee, Mandy, Claire, Deborah, Karen, Michelle, Lani, and
Secrette for your time,
energy, love and support. Huge kudos to Field Roast Grain Meat Co.,
Essential Baking Company, Marlene’s Market, Odwalla Drinks, PCC,
Safeway, QFC and R.R. Donnelley for providing us with food, drink, and
supplies to help us work together in making Animal Rescue Disaster
Response Protocol even better!
Onward and Upward! (The Creation Of A Comprehensive Human-Animal
Rescue and Sheltering Program AND Where This FITS Into Disaster
Operations and Incident Command) - David Friedman American Red
Cross/Snohomish County Chapter Government Liaison; DAT Captai
|
|
 |
Did you rescue with us in Raceland,
Louisiana?
When we rescued during Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of volunteers signed
in at our triage barn in Raceland, Louisiana - we have their names, but
we may have missed a few. We need to find you! Please e-mail us
here so we have your
information to alert you - fast! |
|
Did you support PasadoRescue efforts
somehow during Katrina?
Did you donate airmiles? Meds? Fans or had a "connection" to help with
vital support? If so, please e-mail us
here and let us know who
you are and what you did to help. Hopefully, together, we can save lives
again. |
|
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE HAS IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL
VOLUNTEER RESCUERS IN FUTURE DISASTER EVENTS … READ ON.
This past week, PasadoRescuers met with animal rescue teams from across
the nation, in hopes of preparing for the "next time" a natural disaster
requires massive-scale help for animals.
It became apparent that NIMS (the National Incident Management System)
could be a ray of hope on the post-Katrina horizon. It began its
development by Homeland Security as a result of 9/11. This system offers
a strategic, organized “plan of attack” to protect and recover from
disaster. When utilized. Unfortunately, during last year’s hurricane
season, it became painfully obvious that there are incredible gaps of
awareness and understanding of this system by government and private
sectors alike.
WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW
Because of the witnessed dysfunctional response and continued recovery
process in the Gulf States, it will now be MANDATORY that all
organizations and individuals involved in disaster relief be
“credentialed”. What does this mean? It means that every individual (a
“single resource”) involved in disaster response, no matter the
organization they are affiliated with, will need to be card carrying,
certificate showing, Incident Command System (ICS) tested.
As Pasado’s continues to develop “preparedness” for local and national
animal rescue responses, there are several things we will need ALL of
our rescue volunteers to do in order to be prepared to help:
1. First of all, if it is important to you that you help the animals in
some sort of capacity in future (powers forbid) disaster responses,
please be sure to sign up immediately on our website rescuer’s list. See
below.
2. Secondly, know that you WILL NOT be able to assist in any process of
rescue or recovery unless you have been “credentialed”. For a volunteer
rescuer this means completing a series of on-line tests offered by
NIMS/FEMA. On-line testing typically produces certification in two to
three weeks. Expect each test to take 2 to 3 hours each - but DO THEM.
You will not be able to help us without them. With hurricane season upon
us, do this as soon as you possibly can. Go to the FEMA website
here and take these 3 tests:
IS-100: Introduction to Incident Command System
This course introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides
the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the
history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the
Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS
and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
IS-200: Basic Incident Command System
This course describes an Incident Command System (ICS) organization
appropriate to the complexity of an incident or event. It will prepare
first line supervisors, single resource leaders, lead dispatchers, field
supervisors, company officers and entry level positions (trainees) on
Incident Management Teams and other emergency personnel to use the ICS
to manage an incident or event.
IS-700: National Incident Management System (NIMS), and Introduction
On February 28, 2003, President Bush issued Homeland Security
Presidential Directive-5 (HSPD-5). This directive instructed the
Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National
Incident Management System (NIMS). The NIMS provides a consistent
nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and
nongovernmental organizations to in concert during domestic incidents.
This course explains the purpose, principles, key components, and
benefits of NIMS. It also contains "Planning Activity" screens giving
you an opportunity to practice some planning tasks.
Never wanting to see animals suffer, Pasado’s will continue to hope for
the best, but plan for the worst. We here at the sanctuary also ask that
you do the same at your home for your own furry friends. |
|
|
Didn't get a chance to rescue with us
last time? We need to know
who is willing to assist PasadoRescue "next time" - whether it's in time
of hurricane, flood, or earthquake. We have to be honest, however: if
you're not emotionally and physically strong, please don't apply. But you CAN
help from your home, in many ways. When the time comes, we post appeals
on our website, sometimes by the minute. There is plenty you can do
without witnessing the horror.
But if you regret not being able to
help "last time" and feel you have the stamina to assist in the future,
please let us know here.
Haven't seen our Katrina memories
webpages yet? Start here! |
|
|
"As some of you know, I was privileged
to help produce two documentaries on the post Katrina animal rescues in
New Orleans last Fall. They aired on Animal Planet. During that time I
met a number of amazing and dedicated (the real heart and soul kinda
way) staffers and volunteers who worked feverishly for weeks and months,
looking for trapped pets, pulling them to safety, and treating their
wounds. They were also relentless (and still are) in their efforts to
reunite pets with their owners, who, in many cases had lost everything
else. Among the masses I got to know a smaller group called Pasado's
Safe Haven, out of Washington State. They had fewer dollars but more
heart than any folks I'd ever seen. If you're looking for a little
pre-tax season place to donate, please visit www.pasadosafehaven.org
Thanks and Happy New Year!" Thank you Terese & "Lola-retta"! Your kind
words and loving support are OVERWHELMING! xo |
 |
|
