Temporary animal shelter walk-through prepares Tri-Cities livestock owners for emergencies
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Medical Reserve Corps of Northeast Tennessee and the Carter County Disaster Animal Response Team (CC DART) hosted an exercise on Saturday to educate area livestock owners and caretakers on how to set up and operate a temporary emergency shelter.
The exercise was held at the Ed Williamson farm in Jonesborough and provided animal caretakers of all different careers and backgrounds the knowledge needed to establish, operate and close a temporary shelter in the case of an emergency or natural disaster.
These temporary emergency shelters are intended to house farm animals in the event of a wildfire, flood or other emergency incident.
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Attendees were taught best practices for shelter tent and fencing set-up, animal intake, running generators, loading large animals into trailers, reuniting lost animals with owners and closing down a shelter after its need has expired.
Coordinator for the Northeast Medical Reserve Corps Jayne Harper told News Channel 11 that teams respond to both natural disasters and incidents like crashes involving animal haulers.
"Sometimes the Disaster Animal Response Team will go out if there's an accident on the road, say a truck that was hauling cattle to market, we may get called out on the scene and get the animals safely contained."
Organizers said both agencies are constantly looking for people to volunteer their time helping animals and people. Those looking for more information can visit tnmrc.org .
