Disaster Response Training

Want to learn how to prepare for, manage and respond to emergencies and disasters? Check the websites listed here for training on different aspects of disaster response training - from swift-water rescue techniques to Incident Command System navigation.

Online and In-Classroom Training

National Field Response Webinar Series
This 8-part webinar series presented by the ASPCA National Field Response (NFR) Department will explore issues critical to successful investigations and response for animals in crisis, including animals in natural or man-made disaster situations. Animal welfare professionals, veterinarians, emergency management, law enforcement, public health and other government officials will especially benefit from these free, 90-minute webinars.

FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
Access EMI's wide variety of disaster preparedness and response training (both classroom-based and online), including courses for animal emergency responders.

Free Courses: FEMA EMI Independent Study Program
Self-guided EMI courses designed for professionals with emergency management responsibilities.

Where To Get: Technical Training

American Humane Association Animal Emergency Services
Teach your community to prepare for and respond to disasters with AHA's Animal Emergency Services training. Also offers Animal Emergency Services volunteer training.

American Veterinary Medical Association Disaster Training
Includes a list of links to organizations that provide disaster training.

Code 3 Associates
Learn professional disaster response for animal rescue operations and animal-related law enforcement.

ResQFAST: Rescue Fire Animal Safety Training
Education for rescue, fire, animal or safety training. 

Animal Rescue Training
Combines National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standards and National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP) best practices that have been tested and proven in the field. 

TLAER: Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue
Provides practical considerations, behavioral understanding, specialty equipment, techniques, methodologies and tactics behind the safe extrication of a live large animal from entrapments in local emergencies and disaster areas.

National Association for Search and Rescue
Provides search and rescue training and serves as a professional organization for search and rescue professionals.

ASAR Training & Response: Animal Search and Rescue Training 
Supports the prevention of, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from emergencies affecting animals in New York State.

NCR: North Central All-Hazards Region
Guides jurisdictions within the North Central Region in developing community needs assessments and identifying key priorities and strategies that address the emergency management needs of people with companion animals, service animals and backyard livestock. 

Florida State Animal Response Coalition
(Fl-SARC) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to all-hazard disaster preparation, planning, training, response and recovery during animal emergencies.

Rescue 3 International
Offers flood, water and rope rescue training to individuals and organizations.

State Animal Response Teams (SART) North Carolina
Trains SART program participants to facilitate safe, environmentally sound and efficient responses to animal emergencies on the local, county, state and federal level. SARTs are interagency state organizations dedicated to preparing, planning, responding and recovering during animal emergencies in the United States.

For NY State Responders: Empire State Animal Response Team
Learn about this unifying network of organizations, businesses, government agencies and individuals and its training offerings.

Tip: To locate other state SART websites, type "state animal response team" and the state name into a search engine such as Google.

Red Rover
Provides emergency sheltering and disaster relief services for animals.

Where To Get: Emergency Management Training

International Association of Emergency Managers
Promotes saving lives and protecting property during emergencies and disasters, and also offers emergency management training.

National Emergency Management Association
Provides information, support and expertise for emergency management professionals in both the government and private sector

Where To Get: Human First Aid and Crisis Response Training

American Red Cross
Offers first aid, CPR and AED programs (as well as training in blood-borne pathogens, oxygen administration and injury prevention) to prepare you to prevent and respond to life-threatening emergencies

National Organization for Victims' Assistance
NOVA offers crisis response training and can deploy their National Crisis Response Team to assist in disaster response.

DisasterReady
DisasterReady has curated and developed the largest free online learning library targeted to humanitarian and development professionals at every stage of their career.