Fire Season has become a scary time for all. These aren’t just the “dog days of summer” anymore, but rather a time when we are all on high alert due to fire potential. We can’t reiterate enough that preparedness is key! Napa County has been very focused on helping its citizens with preparedness. This spring & summer, Napa CART participated in this effort by attending several emergency preparedness events hosted within Napa County, and we solidified evacuation, shelter and reunification planning in preparation for this year’s fire season and potential power outages.
April 2019
● We held a Trailer Safety & Maneuvering Course and certified 9 additional trailer drivers for Napa CART’s Hauling Nixle Group
● Our Large Animal Shelter training hosted 50+ attendees. Volunteers learned about large animal shelter operations from set up to take down. They practiced scanning for microchips, animal assessment, and constructing temporary corrals using pipe panels.
● Attended the Napa Earth Day Festival to educate the public in animal preparedness
May 2019
● Our Field Ops team leaders coordinated a work day to organize Napa CART’s cargo trailers, label equipment, make signs, and collate forms to ensure our readiness.
● Approximately 50 volunteers attended Napa CART’s Dispatch training. Volunteers interested in this area drilled hotline operations, completed request for animal services forms, and practiced radio communications.
● St. Helena Fire Dept hosted an open house event where several Napa County departments and agencies had booths with information about preparedness. Napa CART was there to discuss the pet component.
● We worked in collaboration with Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch to host a Community Town Hall Meeting focused on Disaster Preparedness and lessons learned from recent fire seasons. Speakers included Congressman Mike Thompson, Mayor Jill Techel, UC Davis Professor John Madigan and more.
June 2019
● June is National Pet Preparedness Month. Through our social media platforms we offered tips and informational resources specific to pet emergency preparedness.
● Napa County’s Community Open House and Emergency Preparedness Fair was held in downtown Napa. Our booth offered emergency kit checklists and examples of what items to include in pet go bag/emergency kit.
● Our Field Ops Training had over 60 attendees. Field Ops is comprised of volunteers who help with evacuation, transportation and shelter in place.
● Together with Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch, Merck Animal Health and Valley Brook Equestrian Center, Napa CART hosted a Free Microchip Clinic for Horses. 18 horses were microchipped that day free of charge.
● Managed tables at Emergency Preparedness Fairs in the cities of Angwin, Calistoga, American Canyon and St. Helena.
● Participated in CVNL’s annual Volunteer Fair to bolster awareness of volunteer opportunities.
July 2019
● We enjoyed participating in Napa Sunrise Rotary’s 4th of July Parade. Our training mannequin, Smokey Joe, was showing his patriotic spirit and was surrounded by Napa CART leadership, volunteers, some agency representatives from our Community Advisory Board and several cute pups.
● Our Communications Training was a collaborative one with CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). Attendees learned basic radio anatomy and received some hands-on practice.
August 2019
● There was a great turnout at our Activation Drill. Over 60 volunteers participated and were split up to work on a dispatch team, Field Ops team, or livestock shelter team. Vine Village, Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch and Valley Brook Equestrian Center allowed us use of their facilities and Napa County allowed us use of a radio channel to carry out the drill.
● ResQFast offered a 2 hour All Hazards Health & Safety Training to our Napa CART members. This was an important training for our volunteers as they may find themselves in hazardous situations when responding to a disaster.
● Napa CART teamed up with Napa Humane to assist in an emergency preparedness event for residents at a senior housing facility in Napa. We created pet information sheets, offered microchipping, and provided crates and carriers to residents who needed one for their pet.
● Hosted Safe Animal Handling & Vitals training at Napa Valley Horsemen’s Association. Volunteers learned to take an animal’s temperature, pulse, respiration rate and use a stethoscope to listen to heart, lungs, and digestive system. 14 additional CART members were sworn in as county Disaster Service Workers (DSW), bringing Napa CART’s total to 56 DSW’s.
Preparedness Project
To fully prepare for extended power outages during a disaster or with the possibility of PG&E’s PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff) occurring, now’s the time to check that you have a sufficient emergency water supply for yourself, your family and your pets. Plan on 15 gallons per day for horses in hot weather, and 1 gallon per day for large dogs, half gallon for small dogs and cats. Two liters per day per person in the household is a safe bet for your family.
How can you have a local impact protecting the powerful human- animal bond?
As you plan for your end of year giving, we hope that you will consider a monetary gift to support the outreach and response efforts of Napa CART. The animals in our vulnerable community will directly benefit from your support, as we educate the community and plan for mass shelter and evacuation. Your tax deductible donation can be mailed by check to Napa CART, P.O. Box 67, Napa, CA 94559 or made through PayPal Please also consider the donation of crates and carriers through our Amazon Wish List to aid seniors and others in our
community.
Thank you again for your support.
Read the PDF version (opens in a new window and includes photos!) 10.20.19-Napa-CART-News.pdf