The evolution of disaster animal response in Contra Costa County has resulted in rapid expansion of membership and additional involvement at the county and local level by multiple groups. The result of this rapid expansion requires that DART evolve as well.
As DART coordinator, I want to inform you of some changes which will affect DART in Contra Costa.
DART’s Mission
The search for how to best respond to animals in a disaster began some years ago with the PEP initiative (Pet Emergency Preparedness) which emphasized the need to include animals in family disaster planning. This evolved from planning for disasters to the training and development of teams to shelter and care for animals in disasters, i.e. DART.
DART’s primary mission has always been to set up and run animal shelters for evacuees and rescued animals in the event of a disaster here in Contra Costa County. The training has been geared toward the particular needs and skills required for sheltering. The goals continue to be to keep animals safe, as healthy as possible and return them to their owners after a disaster.
DART continues to hold search and rescue (behind the lines) as outside its mandate.
A number of individuals have joined DART wanting to become more involved with animals in their own communities. The new CERT supplemental modules on animal response are an attempt to mesh the mission of rescuing people with that of rescuing animals in disasters, as well as promoting pet emergency preparedness in the community.
There has developed some confusion regarding the relationship between DART and CERT volunteers and the role of each in disaster preparedness and response involving animals. In other words, “Whose DART?” or put another way, “Who is DART?”
DART is now CART
To clarify the answer to the question “Who is DART?”, we are announcing that DART no longer exists under the name of DART; but will become Contra Costa CART (County Animal Response Team) whose primary mission is setting up and running animal shelters in a disaster. CoCoCART will be under the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County Animal Services. Annual trainings will continue at Animal Services in Martinez.
DART members who have completed previous DART trainings, attended the drill, submitted their FEMA qualifications and are in good standing with Animal Services will be added to the list of CoCoCART responders. Qualified members not wishing to be included on this list should contact us at
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and you will be removed from the CoCoCART responder list.
To DART members who have not yet submitted their FEMA certificates, CART will continue to maintain a list of everyone who has completed the training and drill and if, at a future date, you wish to be added to the CoCoCART responder list, please send a copy of your FEMA certificates (IS 100, 200, and 700) to
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.
Role of CERT
Groups or individuals who wish to focus on their own communities in the area of pet emergency preparedness or having animals included in their local CERT or community disaster preparedness events should continue to contact their local CERT leadership to find out if there are CERT-sponsored animal activities in their area.
Training and activities related to animals in disasters at the local level remain under the jurisdiction of CERT.
Looking ahead
As DART coordinator, I appreciate all the support you in the community have given us. We encourage all of you to join us as we move forward with CART. We will continue to inform our membership via e-newletters of upcoming CoCoCART events and trainings etc.
We hope that the CERT community will continue to grow and expand its membership and that the CERT leadership will carefully review the new CERT animal response modules. (These can be found online at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/training_mat.shtm) While some of the material (e.g. animal rescue) may be outside the scope of some local CERT jurisdictions, information on emergency preparedness for animal owners and safety issues involving animals which CERT graduates may encounter in performing their broader CERT response functions may prove useful. There is still much to do and plenty of work for all.
Please note
In view of these recent changes, we will be invalidating all DART badges. In the coming weeks, CART will issue new badges to its qualified responders (those who have completed their DART training and FEMA requirements and are in good standing with Animal Services) and who wish to be included as a CART responder.
Again, a reminder not to use your DART badges for any future activities. DART leadership is informing the appropriate authorities of these changes.
The time has come to formalize and expand the leadership structure of DART, now CART, the Contra Costa County Animal Response Team.
I am pleased to report that a steering committee is being formed which will take over the day-to-day running of CoCoCART on behalf of Animal Services.
Yours respectfully,
Frans Hoffman, DART Coordinator
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