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Pet Co-Located Sheltering <br />March 17th, 2009 <br />Page 3 <br />Progress Since the Last Update and Future Actions <br />In December 2008 staff members from Animal Services, Emergency Services, the <br />Health Department and the Red Cross all met for awork-session and developed a set <br />of Standard Operating Guidelines for a future Orange County CAMET based on best <br />practices. These guidelines will form the basis for operating a co-located shelter as and <br />all training on the equipment and operations of the co-located facility will be based on <br />these guidelines. <br />Based on efforts to date, the following action steps are required to meet a start date of <br />December 1, 2010: <br />• Formal approval and participation of the. Orange County CAMET concept by all <br />relevant agencies <br />• Acquiring funds for the first CAMET ($20,000) <br />• Development of the training course for CAMET staff <br />• Designation of an Orange County government sub-unit to be responsible for <br />staffing the CAMET during a disaster with guidance, leadership and logistical <br />support from Animal Services and Emergency Services and supplemental <br />staffing by community volunteers <br />• Mobilization and training of staff and volunteers assigned to CAMETs <br />• Amulti-period exercise of the CAMET <br />To address acquisition of the CAMET, Emergency Services will again request project <br />funding in the 2009/2010 budget. In the meantime, another round of discussions is <br />beginning with the objective of obtaining formal approval of the concept and addition of <br />pet co-location to the Orange County Multi-Agency Emergency Shelter Plan. Once the <br />responsibility for staffing the CAMET during a disaster is assigned to sub-unit of Orange <br />County Government, the CAMET training will be developed and training can begin for <br />assigned staff and interested volunteers. After training has been completed the CAMET <br />members will be exercised and any problems will be fixed and co-location will be a <br />reality in Orange County. <br />If the equipment is not approved in the 2009/2010 budget, Emergency Services staff will <br />continue to seek alternative funding options as well as to secure the necessary <br />approvals from emergency sheltering partners. Fortunately, animals will continue to <br />receive humane emergency sheltering with the Animal Services staff at the Orange <br />County Animal Shelter until such time as the equipment is in place and training has <br />been provided to begin pet co-location. <br />