The Alaska Bird Club, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization with an active parrot rescue, fostering and adoption program, and as a group of concerned citizens, recognizes their interest in emergency preparedness planning for animals in general and parrots specifically, in order to protect birds in their custody, to mitigate the effects of disasters by educating their membership and to provide animal care assistance to local emergency responders.

To that end, The Alaska Bird Club has established this Long-Range Plan as a guideline towards achieving goals which will result in an organization which is better able to protect its assets, its members and to provide support to the community.

Establish an Emergency Response Committee in The Alaska Bird Club.

Assess the types of disasters probable in major Alaskan communities. Estimate the parrot population in these communities to determine potential emergency response needs.

Construct a long-range plan working document to serve as a guideline for the goals of the Emergency Response Committee.

Provide general emergency preparedness planning information at least once a year at a regularly-scheduled educational meeting.

Provide general emergency preparedness planning information on The Alaska Bird Club website.

Provide general emergency preparedness planning information to the general public in the form of brochures and other printed material for use at public events in which The Alaska Bird Club participates.

Look into opportunities to coordinate disaster preparedness training and planning efforts with local, state and federal responders.

Increase inventory of cages, supplies, and equipment available for use in disasters.

Increase storage space for disaster supplies.

Continue preparedness coordination efforts with local, state and federal responders.

Assess and adjust inventory and storage of emergency response equipment and supplies.

For educational and training purposes, purchase a laptop computer, projector, portable screen and presentation software.

Have Emergency Response Committee members participate in basic training on the Incident Command System, Animals in Disasters, and general disaster planning and response.

Establish a general Emergency Incident Plan to be used for training and as a guideline for response to a disaster.

Provide emergency kits tailored to the needs of the birds in Alaska Bird Club foster care.

Identify and store emergency response materials in multiple key locations statewide for use in disasters.

Address communication needs during disasters. Establish a first-response team with members licensed as Amateur Radio Operators in accordance with FCC regulations and who are equipped with emergency radio communications devices that will enable them to communicate directly with an Incident Command Center for The Alaska Bird Club.

Continue education and training efforts established in years One and Two. Expand to other major Alaskan communities.

Conduct at least one table-top emergency exercise per year. Include members of local Emergency Response organizations if possible.

Establish a Shelter Response Team to be activated if called upon by local emergency responders to help with the initial creation of an emergency triage and sheltering facility and to work with other animal emergency response organizations.

Form mutual-support relationships with other animal clubs and organizations in the geographical response areas.

Continue education, training, exercise and response efforts established in years One through Five.

Provide training to other animal clubs and rescue organizations in emergency preparedness planning, intra-organization disaster support and response, and inter-agency support and response.

Assist other clubs and rescue organizations in running table-top exercises and in developing disaster response capabilities.

The Alaska Bird Club • P.O. Box 101825 • Anchorage AK 99510
akbirdclub@yahoo.com