Thanks to our volunteers, Florida SARC makes a difference...one pet at a time!
A young girl was walking along a beach upon which thousands of starfish had been washed up during a terrible storm. When she came to each starfish, she would pick it up, and throw it back into the ocean. People watched her with amusement.
She had been doing this for some time when a man approached her and said, "Little girl, why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can't save all these starfish. You can't begin to make a difference!"
The girl seemed crushed, suddenly deflated. But after a few moments, she bent down, picked up another starfish, and hurled it as far as she could into the ocean. Then she looked up at the man and replied, "Well, I made a difference to that one!"
It is that commitment that drives our volunteers to respond when called upon by Florida SARC.
It has been a milestone year for Florida SARC, thanks to our volunteers!
Florida made it through another Hurricane season without a major storm. That doesn't mean your Florida SARC team was lounging around doing nothing. Florida SARC had an amazing year! We have trained more new volunteers than ever before. Many of our team members are now assisting with training classes, either teaching or helping with the important administrative duties.
Program highlights from 2015:
- Florida SART Planning Meeting.
This year's theme was: "Turning Visions into Action".
This meeting is designed to enhance our ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from any hazard that may affect Florida. SARC members are a key part of our statewide response network and this planning meeting is key as we address our future needs. The Florida SARC team was featured during the presentation of the Lee County Animal Evacuation and Decontamination Workshop. Florida SARC team members also participated in a day long, hands on class about response and monitoring contamination levels during a radiologic disaster and evacuation.
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This year the SARC Awareness Level Small Animal Emergency Sheltering training was presented more than a dozen times across Florida, from the Panhandle to the Keys. Hundreds of students had the opportunity to train and take the first step to becoming professional animal disaster responders. Several students traveled from other states to take our training, with the goal of bringing the SARC practices and protocols back to their communities! With more than 1600 trained volunteers; over 500 who have deployed to help other agencies in need or participated in training exercises and workshops year after year, prove Florida is better prepared than ever to assist in times of crisis.
- The Florida SARC Training department has taken a giant leap forward! We have now rolled out the Operations Level training! This training expands on the core concepts of emergency sheltering and provides specific training for the various lead positions needed during deployment. Dozens of volunteers have already been certified, and we look forward to training many more before the end of the year.
- A core concept of Florida SARC is being prepared for a variety of disasters. Training and practice are two of the key components to an effective disaster response. Florida SARC volunteers joined scores of others, representing many different agencies, in the St. Lucie County Radiological Disaster Evacuation and Decontamination Workshop. During this "full-scale"" drill, our team members were able to put their personal disaster response plans into action. What better way to make sure your "Go Kit" really does have everything you need than use it! Activating our sheltering plan for the special needs and concerns of this type of disaster is vital for a safe and effective response. When responding to an actual disaster, this is the situation that our responders will face in the early weeks following a disaster.
- Several agencies regularly request our volunteers to deploy to assist them with providing emergency sheltering for animals from large scale cruelty cases or criminal cases involving multiple animals. This year was no exception as the reputation of our amazing volunteers grows, we have more requests than ever. In 2015 we had many volunteers deploy with a multitude of local, state and even national partners. Our volunteers have provided hundreds upon hundreds of hours of their personal time, away from their families and personal pets, to provide the daily care, feeding and cleaning. For many of these animals, this was the first compassionate, caring touch and enrichment that they have ever received. We couldn't be more proud of our team of amazing volunteers. Florida SARC volunteers truly exemplify the meaning of compassionate, professional animal disaster responders.
What is coming for 2016?
- 2016 Florida SART Statewide Disaster Workshop.
This "full-scale" activation will be the largest workshop scenario that Florida SARC has ever participated in! SARC volunteers and leadership will join dozens of other agencies around the state as we put our emergency plans into action. If you haven't received an email about participating in the workshop, please contact Pam Burns at pamburnssarc@gmail.com
- We are scheduling the Operations and Awareness Level Small Animal Emergency Sheltering classes for 2016. If you know of or work with an animal rescue or local animal services agency in your area that would like to host a training, click here. Be sure to watch your email for training announcements as they are confirmed and share with your friends and colleagues.
- Now that we have so many trained responders across the state, the need for regional leadership is crucial. The ability to coalesce with others in your local region is what puts the "C" in SARC! You know your community better than anyone and your knowledge is crucial to helping your community be better prepared in the event of a disaster. If you have a few hours a month to promote the SARC mission and the importance of disaster preparedness, take the next step and contact us now.
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The Florida State Animal Response Coalition is YOUR home team!
Our team of professional responders live and work in Florida, enabling us to respond in a timely and efficient manner. Emergency animal response equipment is located throughout the state of Florida and is ready at a moment's notice.
Donating today will help protect and shelter animals during disasters. You can feel confident that your donation will stay in Florida, to help Florida's animals during disasters.
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