EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

Animals have always been an integral part of the lives of humans. For mellinia, livestock have been a source of transportation, power,  clothing, and food.  For households in many parts of the world, animals still serve this purpose. However, in North America, interaction with livestock is more removed, and the concentration of animals into large farms and ranches has become more pronounced. Farmers and ranchers understand the value of these animals and the economic loss that might occur from a disaster. This could be a natural disaster, such as a flood or fire, or an outbreak of a pathogen, such as BSE, Avian Influenza, or Foot and Mouth Disease.  A large event could not only cause higher food prices but threaten food availability and access.  Emergency preparedness for large animals is imperative to fight against scarcity and assure broad food security to the public. This topic is discussed in detail in the following page.

Animals are important as companions throughout the world. Although used in services such as hunting or guiding, the vast majority of these animals are simply known as pets. The importance of these animals in a household is incalculable. Suffice to say that an increasing number of people say that they would not evacuate their homes during an emergency if they could not take their pets. Households consider them as important as children, and in some cases, this companion substitutes for the lack of a child.  Emergency preparedness must take into account the care and wellbeing of pets during an evacuation. This topic is discussed in detail in the following page.