Animal Issues Committees
Animal
Issues Committees (AICs) are the first step towards addressing emergency management issues related to animals in your communities.
This is the PLANNING body which should have diverse representation.
Some members of the committee
may include your Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC), local animal shelter/animal control director, and Extension agent
- anyone with an interest in animal issues planning for the local community. These do not have to be the "boots on the
ground" people; remember, this is the planning group.
Appendix 4 to Annex N is the state
template for setting up the AIC Plan. It provides more detail on who could be asked to join the committee, what tasks could
be considered, and an overall framework for actually writing the plan.
Appendix 4 to Annex N - Animal Issues Committee Plan
Animal Issues Committee Guidance Document
Community Animal Response Plans
Community
Animal Response Plans (CARPs) detail how your community will address different animal issues situations in a step-by-step
manner. The CARP should not be confused with the AIC Plan mentioned above. The AIC plan addresses how to form the committee.
The Committee then writes, or updates, the CARP(s).
The Texas Animal Health Commission, with focus
group assistance from TXSART partners and other subject matter experts, is working on guidance documents to assist with the
writing of CARPs based on functional areas. Currently, the Sheltering Function is available. The Evacuation guidance document
is in draft stage and Carcass Disposal is next for development. We will post the additional documents as they become available
and/or are identified,
Guide to the Development of the Shelter Function of the CARP
Community Animal Response Teams
Community Animal Response Teams (CARTs) are the way for the AIC to put their plan into action and harness
volunteer power to do it. There are many ways this can be accomplished, but TXSART is working on adapting the best examples
in the country to our unique needs in Texas. We have been compiling a list of communities to test the CART training plan in
once it is ready for release. Stay tuned to this section for announcements regarding the training.