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HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE HC-DART?
What is a Disaster Animal Response Team?
How Do You Become a Member of the HC-DART?
What Counties in Tennessee Currently Have DARTs in
Place?
Who Are Members of a Disaster Animal Response Team?
How Many Members of The HC-DART Are There?
What is Involved to Becoming Credentialed?
Members of HC-DART Participated in Hands-On Training
June 2007
What is a Disaster Animal Response Team (DART)?
Tennessee Disaster
Animal Response Teams is a state-wide program under
the authority of the State Veterinarian, Tennessee
Department of Agriculture. The DART program
was created in the 1990's, but has been expanded
since both Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina have
occurred. These 2 events showed deficiencies
in emergency response in regards to responding to
needs of animals. HC-DART was developed
collaboratively by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County
Health Department and UT Extension-Hamilton County
in 2006.
How Do You Become a
Member of the
HC-DART?
Contact Ray Burden, the County
Director of the Hamilton County UT-Extension Office.
Dr. Burden will sign you up for the training class
and talk to you about how to complete the online
training to become a member of the HC-DART.
What
Counties in Tennessee Currently Have DARTs in
Place?
There are currently only two
counties in East Tennessee that have completed the
steps to have a DART in place. These counties
are Knox and Hamilton Counties. Below is a map
of all the counties in Tennessee and their DART
status as of June 2007.
Who Are Members of a Disaster Animal Response Team?
DARTs are made up
of credentialed persons who can enter critical areas
during an emergency involving animals. These
individuals can range from veterinarians and vet
technicians to interested animals lovers with some
type of experience with animals (livestock, exotic,
or companion animals).
HC-DART membership
consists of Health Department staff, Agriculture
Extension staff, veterinarians, vet technicians,
farmers, animal control officers, and other
community volunteers.
How
Many Members of the HC-DART Are There?
HC-DART has over 40
fully credentialed members and additional persons
are in the process of becoming fully credentialed.
What is Involved to Becoming Credentialed?
Becoming
credentialed involves a day-long training at the
UT-Extension office off of Bonny Oaks Drive in
Chattanooga. In addition to the classroom
training, there is some online training from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency that can be done
whenever you choose. The online training
revolves around learning about the Incident Command
System (ICS), which is training that details who's
in charge during an emergency and how we would all
work together during that time.
Members of HC-DART Participated in Hands-on Training
June 2007
•The
HC-DART is the only team in the state that
has completed hands-on training through the
American Humane Association.
•The 2-day training, “Animal
Emergency Services”, was a voluntary
training that HC-DART members could attend
free of charge.
•Team members gained hands-on
experience handling dogs, cats, and horses.
In addition, a mock disaster was held
which exercised skills in opening an animal
shelter.
The
HC-DART is the only team in the state that has completed hands-on training
through the American Humane Association.
•The 2-day training, “Animal
Emergency Services”, was a voluntary training that HC-DART members could
attend free of charge.
•Team members gained hands-on
experience handling dogs, cats, and horses.
In addition, a mock disaster was held which exercised skills in
opening an animal shelter.
Don't
Be Stubborn Like This Guy!
If you are
interested in joining the HC-DART or would like
further information, just
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