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Animals and Disasters: The Safety Algorithm

Dr. Claudia Sonder, DVM

Updated: Jan 29



wildfire image in a forest

During large-scale disasters, such as the Eaton and Palisades wildfires in Los Angeles, animals are often left behind. The rapid spread of a wind-driven fire—essentially a “fire in the sky”—forces people to flee for their lives. For these fires in particular, many animals were left at home while families went to work for the day and were unable to return in time to evacuate them.


Even with the best intentions and detailed plans, many are unable to gather all their animals in time.


Photograph of a tabby cat with yellow eyes

Take cats for example, we know they easily sense panic and often hide or flee. And stressed horses may refuse to load, or goats in pastures can be nearly impossible to catch. In a firestorm spreading both on the ground and through the air, fire officials face immense challenges just keeping their teams safe, let alone assisting community members and volunteers who want to return for animals.


Over the past decade, we've repeatedly seen fire officials prioritize human life above all else, an essential and unavoidable decision. This prioritization creates a delay in addressing the animal component of disaster response and is sometimes hard for us to understand. But, we must trust the judgment of these seasoned fire officials who understand what it takes to save lives.


Once the fire has passed through, the challenges don’t end. Toxic waste, jagged debris, live wires, burning batteries, and other hazards make post-fire environments extremely dangerous. Well-intentioned rescuers searching for animals can face severe risks, including toxic exposure to visible and invisible chemicals, which can shorten lifespans; a sobering reality we’ve learned over time.

Firefighter and first responder surrounded by smoke

The Reality of Animals in Disaster Zones

Yes, animals are often left in these toxic and hazardous conditions. And no, we don’t like the fact that days after a disaster, animals may still be stranded. However, as we continue learning from these firestorms, we are identifying safer, faster ways to bridge the response gap, working closely with responders and veterinarians. Human safety must always remain the top priority.




The Safety Algorithm

When training CART (Community Animal Response Team) volunteers for disaster deployments, we emphasize the “safety algorithm.” This approach ensures that safety remains paramount during rescue efforts. Here's how it works:


Responders are taught to prioritize their own safety

  1. You come first. The safety of the volunteer is the highest priority. Volunteers are trained and sworn to help, but they must prioritize their own well-being.

  2. Your team comes second. Look out for the trained individuals around you—those with radios, assessing hazards, and ensuring the scene is as safe as possible.

  3. The animals come third. This can be a difficult concept to process, but it’s essential. While our mission is to help animals, the safety algorithm places their rescue after human safety.


Emergency managers, county officials, and first responders will only support and train volunteers if they trust that the safety algorithm is upheld and the incident command system is followed.


Moving Forward with Trust and Readiness

For those feeling frustrated or angry that more hasn’t been done for the animals, we must trust the experience of those on the ground. These individuals understand the complexities of keeping people safe in disaster zones. When they need our help, we must be ready to provide it within their established systems. This can happen if the animal component of response is formally integrated into the county disaster plan. There is much work to do to ensure that this happens in California.

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