Disaster Planning:

• "Storm Preparation at the UTMB Animal Resources Center"
John Donaho, University of Texas Medical Branch
The process of preparing for hurricanes is a constant year round process when you work on an island. Galveston, Texas, has been spared several times in the last few years, but eventually, the island will take another direct blow from a major storm. It is our hope that through testing and refinement, the planning process detailed here will reduce the impact on our research community.

• "Vulnerability Assessment:   Effective Education For the Unexpected"
Gary Novak, Johns Hopkins University
Colleen Deitrich, Synectic Resources Inc.
Rick Deitrich, Synectic Resources Inc.
The vulnerability of your facility will require a hazard assessment that takes into consideration geographical location,
hazardous material storage, research animals issues and facility support systems. The key to implementing a disaster plan will involve effective education and training of personnel.    Effective training will be learner centered. This means it must be flexible, it must accommodate different learning styles and it should actively involve the individual.

• "Effects of an Earthquake in Your Disaster Plan" 
Kim Overhulse, California State University Northridge
On January 18th, 1994, at 4:30 A.M., an earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck in Northridge, California.This earthquake had major impact on the structure of the California State University Northridge campus. Due to the severity of the damages and the recurrent after shocks, the campus was shut down to all personnel. The research animals on campus were trapped in the buildings for 12 days before emergency personnel could rescue them. Based on this premise, think through the typical hazards faced in your area.

• "Disaster PreparednessAVMA & Federal Plans"
Dave Johnson, Cascades Biomedical Consulting Intl. Inc.
The American Veterinary Medical Association has organized an emergency veterinary services program identified as the Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT). This presentation reviews the VMAT mobilization, capabilities and mission.

• "Animal / Human Bonding: Grieving, Coping, Counseling"
Dave Johnson, Cascades Biomedical Consulting Intl. Inc.
This presentation provides a focus on the emotional impact of a disaster to the research animal staff. The devastating loss of animal lives, providing care to the injured and ill animals, ongoing chaos, hardships of the working conditions, uncertainty of the near and long-term future of the institutions solvency, along with personal and family crisis issues, places a serious emotional burden upon the staff.