By B. Michael Thurlow 

Scarborough Fire Chief, EMA Director

There a relatively new emergency management initiative called the Cumberland County Animal Response Team (CART). This team was formed in September 2008 in an effort to comply with the Pets Evacuation and Transport Standard Law of 2006. This law was passed as a result of the number of people who would not evacuate during the Katrina hurricane in Louisiana, because they had pets that they did not want to leave behind. 

 That created more of a burden on emergency responders because many residents who were warned and should have evacuated before the storm, became victims requiring emergency first response services during and after the storm creating a significant burden on the system.

The law simply requires that state, county, and local emergency preparedness authorities include how they will accommodate households with pets, or service animals when preparing emergency response and evacuation plans. The law authorizes FEMA to provide funding to plan for and create pet-friendly shelters and provide special assistance to pet owners during disasters.

In summer 2008, Adele Jones, one of our veteran full time firefighter/paramedics who has always loved dogs and other animals, inquired about joining the local CART team. She soon discovered that a local team had not yet been developed so she volunteered with the Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency  to get a team up and running.  

Adele currently serves as the chairman of the Cumberland County CART team and works closely with Emergency Management Director Jim Budway and his staff to prepare plans and promote this program.  

CART currently has approximately 24 active volunteers who meet monthly. They include members who bring a variety of expertise to the group from accounting to animal care and sheltering. 

The goal of the team is to educate the public on how to prepare for animals in the event of an emergency or disaster, and to set up and operate pet friendly shelters for pets in the event their care takers are being sheltered as well.

CART operated shelters are considered co-shelters, as pets are not housed directly with humans, but are in a shelter that is connected to or adjacent to the human shelter; such as a Red Cross Shelter. While housed in the co-shelter, owners are expected to provide daily pet care while under the supervision of and with the assistance of CART volunteers.

Another initiative Adele took on was to reach out to the veterinary community for assistance in meeting the emergency response needs of pets in town. Over the years Adele has seen numerous pets overcome with smoke inhalation at various fires. 

Although we have an excellent emergency medical staff and equipment to treat human patients, we had no way to treat some of the pets that also became victims to fire.  

Adele made a contact with Maine Veterinary Referral Center at 1500 Technology Way in Scarborough, and they have agreed to donate a quantity of special re-useable pet oxygen masks that will be carried on ambulances and fire trucks. 

Their donation of these life saving supplies will contribute to the care of pets who are victims to fire for many years to come.

Cumberland County CART is looking for folks who might be interested in learning more about their organization, and they are willing to speak to groups and civic organizations about disaster planning for pets. Anyone interested must commit to approximately 80 hours or more of certification training and one night a month for business meetings. 

If you are interested in getting involved, or if you would like to arrange for a member of the CART to speak to your group, contact Bonnie Canfield at the Cumberland County EMA Office at 892-6785 or email canfield@cumberlandcounty.org.

I can be reached at: mthurl@ci.scarborough.me.us or 730-4201 if you have any questions or comments about this article.

The Scarborough Fire, Police and Public Works Departments produce a weekly feature for the Leader educating the public about various duties of the departments and public safety issues.