Did Harvey Learn from Katrina? Initial Observations of the Response to Companion Animals during Hurricane Harvey

Abstract

Simple SummaryWhen Hurricane Harvey struck the Gulf states in 2017, a large-scale rescue effort was launched by officials and citizens to rescue both people and animals. Over a decade since Hurricane Katrina (2005), this study explores whether the reforms to afford better protection to companion animals such as the Pet Emergency and Transportation Standards Act 2006 have made a difference. Key officials from various organizations within the state of Texas were interviewed and it was found that though there has been a cultural shift to better protect animals in a disaster, formal coordination and planning mechanisms need further attention. This study also uncovered the first empirical observation of disaster hoarding where such persons used the disaster to replenish their animal stocks. This study will be of interest to those involved in emergency management and animal welfare.AbstractThe aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 became the genesis of animal emergency management and created significant reforms in the US particularly the passage of the Pets Emergency and Transportation Standards Act in 2006 that required state and local emergency management arrangements to be pet- and service animal-inclusive. More than a decade later Hurricane Harvey struck the Gulf states with all 68 directly related deaths occurring in the state of Texas. In this study, six key officials involved in the response underwent a semi-structured interview to investigate the impact of the PETS Act on preparedness and response. Though the results have limitations due to the low sample size, it was found that the PETS Act and the lessons of Hurricane Katrina had contributed to a positive cultural shift to including pets (companion animals) in emergency response. However, there was a general theme that plans required under the PETS Act were under-developed and many of the animal response lessons from previous emergencies remain unresolved. The study also observed the first empirical case of disaster hoarding which highlights the need for animal law enforcement agencies to be active in emergency response.

Legal Complexities of Entry, Rescue, Seizure and Disposal of Disaster-Affected Companion Animals in New Zealand

“…It is clear that the animal disaster rescue laws in New Zealand are not fit for purpose and have significant limitations. Though there has been some criticism of the PETS Act 2006 being described as "no carrot and no stick" [1] and having some deficiencies [20,21], the passage of this law has been labelled as "effective" [22] and having positively influenced the culture within emergency management to afford greater protection to animals during and following disaster [1].…”

“…The current animal disaster legal framework in New Zealand is based primarily upon the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. Both of these were written prior to Hurricane Katrina (2005) which was the genesis for modern animal disaster law with legislation being swiftly passed due to lessons identified, such as the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act 2006 [1]. According to the Fritz Institute [2], 44% of those who chose not to evacuate during this catastrophic event did so in part because they were unable to take their pets as the federal policy was to leave pets (companion animals) behind at that time.…”

Public perception of urban companion animals during the COVID-19 outbreak in China

“…For example, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the United States passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act. This policy requires state and local urban emergency management to consider and provide services for companion animals, which directly reduced the harm to people and companion animals when Hurricane Harvey occurred 12 years later ( Glassey, 2018 ).…”

Japanese Animals in Calamity

“…Leonard and Scammon ( 2007 ) provide an interesting review on changes in societal views of pets that may have contributed to the enactment of the PETS Act. Through interview surveys carried out in Texas following Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Glassey ( 2018 ) found that the PETS Act and the lessons of Hurricane Katrina had a positive effect for companion animals in the disaster response.…”