The Animal Issues in Disasters course is an online course (with an additional in-person class with key stakeholders) taught by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health staff to train local officials, first responders and potential volunteers about planning and response for animals during disasters.
History
When a flood or tornado strikes a community, people often have the option to evacuate to a local relief shelter; but what about their animals? Most emergency shelters do not provide for pets or livestock.
Those lessons were driven home in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when images of abandoned pets and livestock flooded the airwaves. The staff of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, is working to ensure that does not happen in a large-scale event here at home.
Who can take the course?
Veterinarians and technicians, animal/humane shelter workers, livestock owners, local first responders, and others who may be called upon to help in a disaster will benefit from the Animal Issues in Disasters class.
For more information on hosting a class or schedule dates, contact BOAH at animalhealth@boah.IN.gov
Online AIid Course
The Animal Issues in Disasters (AIiD) course is now available as an online, interactive course. For more than 20 years, AIiD was offered by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health staff as a one-day, in-person class. The new format is designed to make the course content more accessible for busy volunteers and professionals who struggle to fit a full-day class (plus travel) in their schedules.
AIiD focuses on planning and response for animals during disasters of all variety. First responders, local officials, veterinarians and technicians, animal/humane shelter workers, livestock owners, and others who may be called upon to help in a disaster will benefit from the Animal Issues in Disasters course.
Course Structure
The goal of the online format is to allow for coordinated county-, community- or district-level planning by providing more accommodation for individual schedules to complete a baseline level of awareness and training. This can be accomplished by:
- Individuals who are part of a local/area planning team complete the AIiD online units,
- Schedule a 2-hour planning workshop with the BOAH district veterinarian
- Meet together, in-person, as a group with the BOAH district veterinarian to work through developing or revising a local plan to address animal issues
Unlike day-long AIiD sessions, this format will facilitate everyone participating in the 2-hour planning session to have local connections, awareness and familiarity to ensure more efficient use of everyone’s time with a viable final product. Workshop participants can complete the AIiD online units at their convenience prior to the workshop date.
Continuing Education Credit
The new, online course is accessible in individual units (1 through 9).
Veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians may receive continuing education (CE) credits for completion of each test unit. Certificates will be issued by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Other professionals seeking CE credit should seek approval from their appropriate board or organization.
More Information/Scheduling
For more information about the online course and/or to schedule a 2-hour local planning workshop, contact BOAH at animalhealth@boah.IN.gov