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Preparedness Focus: Unique Needs

June’s preparedness focus is unique needs. The needs of the exotics community are certainly unique and can vary greatly from from facility to facility. No one knows your facility and collections better than you and your staff. Consider the following:

  • What specific resources might your facility need during a disaster? Consider both supplies and personnel, and be mindful of unique equipment and skills that may needed to maintain life support systems, complete an evacuation, or secure enclosures.
  • How will these needs be met? It is unlikely that you have everything you could possibly need on hand at all times, but you should have a plan for how to acquire them.
  • How will you request assistance if your needs exhaust your capabilities? It is important to be as specific as possible when requesting assistance. Your local emergency management may be able to help, but they will be far less familiar with the specialized needs of this industry. Developing a relationship with emergency management before disaster strikes will help them better understand your needs and help you learn what assistance may be available and how you can request it.

If you are just getting started with planning, consider looking to our Contingency Planning Modules for more industry specific information.

Do 1 Thing, a non-profit organization that aims to build more disaster resilient communities, asks the community to do one “thing” to enhance preparedness each month.