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       ***HURRICANE ALERT***          

 

     

Laws were not in place to help evacuate house hold pets and service animals during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The lack of accommodations in these circumstances caused pet owners to stay back and weather the storm at home, for fear of what would become of their beloved animals. After so many stayed behind, federal lawmakers passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, so when disaster strikes, we can ALL have an emergency plan. With the fast approaching Hurricane Florence, we wanted to make sure our neighbors, friends and family knew that all members of their family will be cared for at designated emergency shelters!

If you are evacuating to a hotel/motel and they say they DO NOT  accept pets,

don't get ugly, simply state that it's against the law.

FEMA established this right after Hurricane Katrina! The Pets Evacuation and Hurricane Standards  Act (PETS) is a bi-partisan initiative in the US house of Representatives to require states seeking Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance to accommodate pets and service animals in their plans for evacuating residents.

Please share this post so all pet lovers know about this law!

 

At this moment Saint Mary’s County Government is undecided if any shelters will need to be opened. However, if they do, most likely the local high schools will be opened first. If you do have a pet or service animal, animal control will take them to the fair grounds to be cared for during the storm.

Please call #301-475-4200 ex:2124 for more information.

H.R.3858 - Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 109th Congress (2005-2006)

Bill summaries are authored by CRS.

Public Law No: 109-308 (10/06/2006)

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on August 4, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to require the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that state and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency.

Authorizes the Director to: (1) study and develop plans that take into account the needs of individuals with pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency; and (2) make financial contributions, on the basis of programs or projects approved by the Director, to the states and local authorities for animal emergency preparedness purposes, including the procurement, construction, leasing, or renovating of emergency shelter facilities and materials that will accommodate people with pets and service animals.

Authorizes federal agencies to provide, as assistance essential to meeting threats to life and property resulting from a major disaster, rescue, care, shelter, and essential needs to individuals with household pets and service animals and to such pets and animals.

 

https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/3858

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