The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in December signed an historic agreement through FEMA’s Project Impact to assist communities and individuals to include animals in their disaster and evacuation plans. This initiative will include horses as well as pets and livestock.

While horses have held a place in disaster planning for several years, the recent FEMA/HSUS partnership will bring critical national attention to the importance of protecting horses from natural and man-made disasters. According to the New York Times, there are more than 6 million horses in the United States: a fact which underscores the need for advanced disaster-related planning. HSUS will continue to work in cooperation with FEMA and other organizations to promote the incorporation of horses into individual and community disaster planning initiatives.

Through their experience across the country, HSUS Disaster Teams have found that strengthening the local response through emergency planning and education is the best way to meet a community’s needs during times of disaster. HSUS will develop educational and partnership programs to encourage local disaster preparedness within horse communities.

“HSUS is expanding animal disaster training programs with an emphasis on serving the equestrian community,” said Melissa Seide Rubin, HSUS Senior Director of Disaster and Field Services. “We are in the process of developing special courses in trailer extraction, horse rescue, horse handling skills, first aid, and animal sheltering to benefit emergency personnel and community organizations