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Berks CART

Because it can happen here

Before Hurricane Katrina made most of the country pay attention to the terrible possibilities a disaster could bring to animals and their caretakers, the HSBC was working to prepare for the worst.  In 2005, the Humane Society of Berks County was appointed to be the lead agency to undertake the creation of the first Animal Response Team for Berks County (Berks CART). Berks CART is a local extension of the State Animal Response Team for Pennsylvania (PA SART). These Animal Response Teams are public/private/non-profit partnerships intended to provide the volunteers, resources, organization, and financial commitment needed to plan for and respond to disaster of all types and sizes impacting animals in our state and county.

Karel Minor, HSBC Executive Director, is the appointed County Coordinator for the Berks CART.  Additionally, the HSBC has appointed an in-house Berks CART coordinator, Officer Dylan Heckart, to oversee the administrative aspects of Berks CART. This administrative oversight position was made possible in part through a $5,000 grant championed by State Senator Mike O’Pake. Berks CART has developed a written plan of action in the case of an emergency impacting large numbers of animals, staff the various subcommittees with volunteers, establish training protocols and opportunities for volunteers, and build partnerships with local non-profits, animal welfare organizations, corporations, first responder agencies, and government.

Berks CART has already been activated three times since its formation: Once for a massive cruelty case involving hundreds of dogs in Chester County, to respond to the massive flooding of the summer of 2006 (rescued cats pictured above), and to assist pet owners during the 07/08 ice storm. Berks CART volunteers also joined in the rescue effort along the Gulf coast following Hurricane Katrina.

How you can help:

Volunteering:

Berks CART needs volunteers to assist with animal rescue efforts for small animals, farm animals, and horses, as well as planning and logistics, public relations, veterinary services, and resource coordination. There are individual committees for each of these areas and training available.  Apply to volunteer online by clicking here. Learn about volunteer training requirements and online training by clicking here.

Resource Donations:

While active volunteers are important, the Berks CART also needs space to house animals in emergencies, vehicles to transport animals, portable kennels, veterinary support, heavy equipment, and more. These resources need to be lined up in advance of an emergency to allow for rapid response.

Financial Support:

Effective emergency response starts with strong first responder organizations. By supporting the Humane Society of Berks County financially, you help to ensure that we can provide the direction and coordination needed for emergencies of all sizes. Please consider making a gift today in support of the Berks CART, the PetNet emergency foster program, 24 hour injured emergency animal ambulance services, and all the other important services and program provided by the HSBC.  The HSBC would not be able to provide CART support without the leadership provided by PA SART.  Consider supporting PA SART financially, as well. Click here to link to pasart.org.

Contact Officer Dylan Heckart at 610-921-2348, extension 26, or at dheckart@berkshumane.org for more information about how you can help.

Download the Berks CART brochure PDF, which includes the volunteer registration form, by clicking on the image (right).

CART volunteer training requirements and opportunities

5-7-09 Operational Large Animal Rescue Training:  Large Animal Rescue Trainings will be held in Mongomery, Schuylkill and Bedford Counties this summer. Complete details and registration information can be downloaded by clicking here.

(1-30-2008) Important Notice: Berks CART and PA SART have adopted specific training and background check requirements, to ensure the qualifications and safety of our volunteers. 

• All volunteers are required to provide a Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check prior to be allowed to volunteer with Berks CART (details below). 
• All Berks CART volunteers are expected to complete several National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses, available at no cost online.  New volunteers must have these courses completed within six to twelve months of becoming a CART volunteer.  Current volunteers (with over six months service) are expected to complete the course by March 15, 2008 (details below).
• All active volunteers are expected to participate in the Berks EMA Total Visibility Program.  Details will be provided directly to volunteers.

Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Background Check

All Berks CART volunteers are required to provide a PSP criminal background check.  There is a $10 charge to the volunteer.  It is a very quick and easy online process (click here to go to the site).  Once the background check is received, forward it to Dylan Heckart, HSBC CART Coordinator.  NO CART volunteer will be allowed to participate without this check.  If you have received a PSP check in the last 12 months for employment of some other reason, that check may be used. 

NIMS Training

Because of Berks CART's official status as an emergency response organization, there are several qualifications all Berks CART volunteers must complete in order to serve the people and animals of Berks County during an emergency.  FEMA, with assistance from State and local agencies developed the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS) to ensure that all emergency responders understand the basic framework in which they work, so that a coordinated, effective and efficient response is achieved.  Berks CART volunteers are required to take just a few of these basic courses, but we encourage you to take as many as you’d like – a little education goes a long way.  All the listed courses are available online – we all work for a living, and we know sitting through a four-hour class on hazardous materials isn’t everybody’s idea of an evening well-spent.  You can complete these courses at your leisure, and FEMA even allows you to save your progress at certain points, so that you don’t have to accomplish a course in one sitting.

Click here for the FEMA Independent Study Program

This will get you started – FEMA’s Virtual Campus is the gateway through which you’ll sign up for courses, save your progress, and receive your certifications.  There’s an “about” link on the left side of the page that will give you some great information on NIMS and ICS courses.

The following courses are required for all Berks CART volunteers:

IS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command System

Introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System. It also explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

IS-700: NIMS, An Introduction

On February 28, 2003, President Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5. HSPD-5 directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS).  NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents.

IS-200: Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents

Designed to enable personnel to operate efficiently during an incident or event within the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS-200 provides training on and resources for personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within the ICS.

IS-800.A: National Response Plan, An Introduction

The National Response Plan, or NRP, describes how the Federal Government will work in concert with State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector to respond to disasters.

Each of the courses above is a self-study program divided into chapters with a review at the end of each chapter.  Upon completion of the study portion, you will take a final examination.  If you receive a passing grade (and don’t be intimidated – this is common sense stuff) you’ll be mailed a certificate.  We need to keep all volunteer certification on file here at HSBC, so you’ll have to fax or mail a copy of the certificate to the HSBC or bring it into the shelter in person.  If you have any questions about the courses, or if you’re having trouble signing up, please don’t hesitate to contact HSBC Internal CART Coordinator, Officer Dylan Heckart at dheckart@berkshumane.org or 610-921-2348, ext. 26, and he’ll assist you.

HSBC Executive Director Appointed to Board of Directors of Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team.

(July, 2007) The Humane Society recently received a great honor when HSBC executive director, Karel Minor, was asked to serve on the Board of the Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team (PA SART).  Minor will be representing the Federated Humane Societies of Pennsylvania, which holds a permanent seat on the PA SART Board of Directors.  Minor currently serves on Federated’s Communications Committee. 

PA SART of the parent organization that oversees the various County Animal Response Teams (CARTs) in Pennsylvania.  Berks County currently has a CART which was established in 2005 with the Humane Society designated as the lead agency.  Minor was appointed as the Berks CART Coordinator.

PA SART and Berks CART are responsible for responding to natural and man-made disasters that impact animals, as well as people.  By working with County and State Emergency Management agencies and first responders, CART allows people to get the help they need by providing a safe haven for their animals.  CART and SART are privately funded, charitable organizations that rely on corporate and individual donations, as well as the support of volunteers and non-profit agency support from the HSBC and other local non-profits.