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Animal control details disaster pet‑sheltering plan and sites; fairgrounds MOU in draft
Summary
Commissioners reviewed the borough’s emergency pet‑sheltering plan, including temporary and co‑located shelter models, site considerations, an MOA/MOU draft from the fairgrounds and plans for volunteer and CERT training.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough’s animal control staff presented an overview of the department’s emergency pet‑sheltering plan on May 5, describing temporary and co‑located shelter models, recommended site features and steps the department takes to stage and demobilize a response during wildfires, floods or other disasters.
Animal Control Manager Sandra Hill said staff use a flexible model that can be adapted to seasons, weather and the scale of the event. She told commissioners the department prefers centrally located sites with water, power, restrooms, waste removal, airflow and secure animal‑holding space, and that site selection must account for concurrent events such as fairs.
Hill reviewed examples from past incidents and exercises, including uses of the Largent Barn and other temporary sites. She said the fairgrounds remains the borough’s preferred large site; staff reported they recently received a proposed SOP/MOU from fairgrounds management and plan to incorporate it into a borough agreement after internal review. “We just got a response in a fairly decently put together SOP,” Hill said, noting the document will need to go through borough processes and could become an MOA or MOU.
Hill noted the transit building (the Transportation facility) and other unoccupied buildings as additional options that staff have identified; she said the department keeps kennels and supplies ready to deploy. Hill also described use of a local Facebook group (FNSB Wildfires Neighbors Helping Neighbors) to match needs with community offers during incidents and said the borough is applying for federal grant funds to buy additional livestock fencing with covers.
Commissioners asked for a written list of pre‑identified alternate sites and details about logistical readiness, including power, drainage and heating. Hill said staff can compile and share a list of buildings they have evaluated and will supply additional information as requested.
On volunteer coordination, Hill told commissioners GivePulse software will let staff post discrete volunteer tasks to manage on‑site needs, and that the department plans coordinated training with the CERT team; Hill said a CERT training session is expected between late May and early June and volunteers interested in emergency response will be invited to train.
The commission did not take formal action but asked staff to provide the list of candidate sites and to continue work on an MOU with the fairgrounds. Commissioners also discussed the possibility of drafting a formal evacuation/contingency plan specifically for a catastrophic shelter failure and suggested the commission consider discussing that plan at a future meeting.
Why it matters: animal control is the borough’s operational lead for pet needs during disasters; pre‑identified sites, MOUs and trained volunteers affect how quickly displaced animals and their owners can be reunited and care provided during major incidents.
Next steps: staff will supply the commission with a site list and the fairgrounds MOU draft for review; CERT training and volunteer outreach will be scheduled and communicated to commissioners and the public.
