Memorandum submitted by the RSPCA (FL
79)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
— The RSPCA committed a great deal
of time and resources to the recent flooding.
— On the whole the response was co-ordinated
well at a local level.
— Lessons can be learned with regard
to animal welfare so that the public and local authorities can
be better prepared in the future to protect their animals.
INTRODUCTION
1. The RSPCA welcomes the opportunity to
respond to the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee
(EFRA) inquiry into the recent floods in Yorkshire and the West
Country.
2. As we discuss below, the RSPCA was involved
in the response to both incidents of flooding. Very many of our
staff were involved, and we rescued and provided fresh water and
other assistance to a large number of animals. We also rescued
some affected people.
3. From our experience, the Society believes
that the organisation of the response to the floods at the local
level was appropriate and effective. However, we make a number
of recommendations below to further improve the response to future
incidents, particularly in respect of animal welfare matters.
RSPCA RESPONSE TO
THE FLOODING
4. At the time of the floods, the main media
focus was on Gloucestershire, due to the well-documented failure
of a local water treatment plant, and the resulting shortage of
clean water. This posed an additional challenge to those affected
by the flooding, and to those responding to it. However the Society
did respond in other areas of the country where flooding occurred,
helping to assist people and animals in difficulties.
5. RSPCA staff worked hard, and showed a
great deal of dedication, during the floods. For example, many
individuals working at our cruelty line centre based near Doncaster
still came into work to support the RSPCA inspectorate response,
even though their own homes were flooded or likely to be flooded
later that day.
6. The RSPCA committed a considerable proportion
of its resources to the response to the floods throughout England.
At the peak of the most severe floods up to one third of our front-line
staff were involved (this consisted of 17 fully operational and
equipped teams). This did impact on the day-to-day operations
of the organisation, but we were able to help 5,450 animals and
also rescued 62 people in the affected areas.
7. The RSPCA has a national team of inspectors
trained to a high standard in fast-water rescue techniques. This
means that our inspectors' skills are recognised and widely respected
by the emergency services and other rescue organisations. Indeed
in some instances inspectors transported paramedics to patients
in need and electrical engineers to power stations so that emergency
repairs could be carried out.
8. One of the biggest problems for people
and animals following the initial flooding in Gloucestershire
was access to clean drinking water. The RSPCA helped co-ordinate
the provision of clean drinking water to areas where it was most
needed, especially to farmers, stables, and livestock owners.
A good example of this was when inspectors sought clean drinking
water for cattle farmer Steve Theyer (near Cheltenham) who had
turned his 100-acre farm into a sanctuary for 15 dogs, 32 cats,
28 rabbits, 10 ferrets, 14 chickens and a tortoise.
9. In total, the Society was able to provide
fresh water to 26,618 animals directly affected by the water treatment
plant failure in Gloucester. The Society brokered the water from
other water companies.
10. In Gloucestershire the Chief Constable
of Gloucestershire police set up a command centre ("Gold
Command") at the police headquarters. Representatives of
the other emergency services, together with the RSPCA as well
as the Red Cross, Seven Trent Water, the Environment Agency, the
Army, the RAF, NHS, Air Sea Rescue, local authority emergency
planning teams and Animal Health were able to have a presence
at this important command and control centre. Communication and
co-ordination of the response was particularly effective in Gloucestershire
as a result.
LESSONS TO
BE LEARNED
11. Floods occur throughout the world and
a lot can be learned from the different policies and practices
of other countries. Possibly the most useful and constructive
approach with regards to animal welfare has been developed in
America following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
12. It was very quickly realised by the
American authorities that the evacuation process of people can
be slowed down, and public order can even be undermined, if provisions
are not made for pets and livestock. This experience led to the
passing of federal law, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation
Standards Act 2006 (PETS Act 2006), to provide for animals during
an emergency situation.
13. Since then the two organisations the
RSPCA works most closely with in the USA—the American Humane
Association (AHA) and the Humane Association of the United States
(HSUS)—have developed detailed response procedures and advice
notes for the general public.
14. Taking the American example, we recommend
that contingency plans for floods and other similar events should
cover the following issues with regard to animal welfare:
— Initial assessment of animal-related
needs—for example different responses will be needed for
small scale and large scale incidents. It is important time is
taken initially and the most appropriate people are consulted
with to ensure an effective response is made.
— Emergency search and rescue of animals
(including humane trapping)—the RSPCA has a great deal of
expertise in such emergency search and rescue activities.
— Establishment and management of temporary
emergency animal shelters—again the RSPCA is able to do
this, but it would also useful for local authorities to know what
types of facilities are in their area that could be converted
to temporary shelters at short notice should they need them, eg
greyhound stadiums, etc.
— Evacuation support—the RSPCA's
frontline staff are trained in fast-water rescue techniques and
these skills can be used for both humans and animals. Thus while
people will always be the priority with regards to evacuations
there is a cross-over of skills that different agencies can use
to pool resources.
— Veterinary evaluation of animals—having
veterinary support is essential to any response and local authorities
should make an assessment of vets they may call up to be based
at emergency shelters or to assist RSPCA inspectors during difficult
rescues or where animals are injured.
15. Although the response to this Summer's
floods has cost the RSPCA at least £300,000, we strongly
believe that we have a vital role to play in ensuring the welfare
of animals (and people) in these circumstances. On this basis
we are taking forward a number of actions in order to be better
prepared to help local communities in the event of such a crisis
in the future. These include:
— Drafting advice cards for livestock,
equine and pet owners on how to ensure the welfare of their animals
can be best protected.
— Encouraging local authorities and
the national government to ensure that animal welfare is a written
into contingency plans (covering both minor and major incidents).
— Ensuring RSPCA front-line staff receive
regular "refresher" training on different rescue techniques
and sufficient equipment is kept in stock and is easily accessible.
— Liasing with other agencies involved
in emergency work to see how we can work in a more co-ordinated
way particularly when minor incidences and small-scale evacuations
occur.
RSPCA
August 2007
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