Emergency Preparedness Volunteer Information
Via an ad in the Baltimore City Paper, I recently connected with a woman named Alexis Mitchell who is the coordinator for a volunteer program which I’m planning on getting involved with here in Baltimore. Over the past few years, I’ve worked in several professional capacities involving animal care, and volunteering with a group dedicated to handling animal crises and emergency response seems like a natural fit.
Ms. Mitchell gave me permission to re-publish important information for other people in the Baltimore area who might be interested in this opportunity. This information is digested from several email interactions and websites, and you should contact her directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information at the email address, baltimorecart@gmail.com.
Relevant Background Links
From the MDCART page:
What is a County Animal Response Team (CART) program?
A County Animal Response Team program is a network of animal and animal-agricultural resources that are available for planning, prevention, protection, mobilization, response, and recovery related to emergency incidents within their community.
Online FEMA Lessons
In order to take part in the Baltimore CART volunteer program, you also have to meet certain training requirements, which include a web-based FEMA educational program, and CPR/First Aid classes. Ms. Mitchell writes:
In the meantime, please begin taking the recommended and required training courses. First Aid and CPR training is required (while animal first aid is recommended). Listed below are the very helpful prerequisite FEMA online courses (the first four are mandatory) that will provide you with the emergency preparedness and response knowledge necessary for deployment (they can be found on the FEMA Independent Study web site):
- Introduction to Incident Command (IS-100)
- National Incident Management System, an Introduction (IS-700)
- Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (ICS-200)
- National Response Framework (IS-800.B)
- Livestock in Disasters (IS-111)
- Animals in Disaster: Module A (IS-10)
- Animals in Disaster: Module B (IS-11)
- Introduction to Hazardous Materials (IS-5)
CPR courses may also be taken at your local Red Cross branch. The website for the Maryland Red Cross is right here. Information about classes may be found on that website.
Initial Volunteer Gathering: January 2009
Ms. Mitchell informs me that the initial gathering for BCART volunteers will occur in early 2009, on either January 24th or 31st, depending on what the board decides, and is likely to take place at the Federal Hill / Downtown BARCS location (Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter), which is fairly accessible by public transit. Additionally, she writes:
In the mean time, please continue to work on the BCART pre-requisites as they provide background knowledge of what we will be reviewing. If you have not been able to complete them, no worries, as it is not necessary until we are actually in the midst of a disaster. During a disaster, those who have completed the pre-requisite training courses will have the opportunity to be out in the field and more hands on; those who have not will perform behind the scenes work in a more administrative capacity. Please make sure to bring copies of training completion certificates to the meeting for verification.
Ms. Mitchell assures me that the FEMA online classes are “very easy.” From what I gather, upon completion of the online courses, you get a certificate sent to you in the mail - although maybe it’s a download (Haven’t actually taken the courses yet…), but will post about it when I do.
Curious as to how someone gets involved with this line of work as a professional path, I asked Ms. Mitchell for a little bit of background:
I got this based on all my volunteer work. I am a volunteer with BARCS and the HSUS National Disaster Animal Response Team. As a result, I was asked to create an animal emergency preparedness tool kit for a component of the Department of Homeland Security while working at my old consulting job. So I received this through animal control and BARCS. It’s looking good because they want to create another contract for me to work on the overall animal emergency plan for Baltimore City!
So it sounds like this program is in good hands, and I’m looking forward to becoming a part of it. I will continue to chronicle my experiences in this area over the coming months. Thanks to Alexis Mitchell for assisting with content for this post. Again, contact her directly if you’re interested in becoming part of the Baltimore City Animal Response Team Volunteer Program: baltimorecart@gmail.com.
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