About the Charities BureauHurricane Sandy Relief Information
American Humane Association
12/11/12, Submitted by Tracy Speelhoffer - Red Star Animal Emergency Services Specialist
Q 1: What is the approximate dollar amount of donations and pledges that
your organization has received to date in response to Hurricane Sandy?
A 1: American Humane Association, founded in 1877, is the first national humane
organization in the U.S. Our disaster response program was founded in 1916, and has
been in service for our communities in times of natural and national disasters since
the U.S. Secretary of War in WWI stated that our Red Star (tm) Animal Emergency
Services program was the "American Red Cross for Animal Rescue."
American Humane Association responded to Hurricane Sandy with an immediate first
responder deployment prior to the storm making landfall, and then with subsequent
humane relief supply caravans. Our donors were generous, and provided funding to
support Red Star (tm) program activities. American Humane Association (AHA) has
received approximately $163,911 for the Red Star (tm) Animal Emergency Services
program in response to Hurricane Sandy. This includes donations through AHA's website,
response to emails about our Sandy response, text-to-give donations, offline revenue
and grants from corporate partners.
Q 2: Will these funds be used solely for Hurricane Sandy relief? If not,
approximately what portion will be used for Hurricane Sandy relief and
what other purposes will funds be used for?
A 2: These funds were utilized for Hurricane Sandy relief to include the sheltering effort
in Pennsylvania and the humane relief caravans in New Jersey and New York. Since this
is an ongoing and long-term humane relief initiative in the Sandy impacted areas, any
remaining funds will be used for additional disaster relief and Red Star (tm) Animal
Emergency Services program services in the year ahead.
In addition to the actual revenue raised for Sandy relief efforts, AHA was able to
increase significantly the impact of our disaster relief efforts through the
coordination of multiple corporate partners for humane relief supplies. To date, the
monetary value of the donated goods and services provided and coordinated by AHA for
Hurricane Sandy efforts far exceeds funds AHA raised, and most importantly, increased
our impact for the victims and their animal companions. A sizable portion of such
funds came in the form of AHA trained emergency first responder volunteer hours and
donated goods from corporate partners that were brought in because of AHA's
relationships. Because of the generosity of corporate partners, AHA was able to
provide substantial relief supplies to the impacted areas, in value of over $182,908
with our own relief caravans, and the coordination of additional donated supplies
exceeding $527,000.
Again, since this is an ongoing and long-tenn humane relief initiative in the Sandy
impacted areas, any remaining cash funds will be used for additional disaster relief
and Red Star (tm) Animal Emergency Services program services in the year ahead.
(Please refer to our answer to Question #7 for detailed intended use of such remaining
cash funds).
Q 3: Approximately how much has your organization spent to date on Hurricane
Sandy relief?
A 3: The AHA Red Star (tm) deployment expenses and emergency grants totaled $100,147 to
date for Hurricane Sandy relief reflecting the actual hard costs incurred by AHA to
date. Such expenses include:
-$30,147 in disaster response expenses, to include fuel for our 82' Rescue Rig to
travel to PA (Rescue Rig is equipped with rescue equipment and a mobile veterinary
suite), flights for volunteers, supplies and equipment while setting up shelter
operations and supply distributions, etc.;
-$1,150 in emergency relief grants to the Hammonton, NJ-based organization, Making of
Miracle Stories (MOMS) Rescue for coordination of relief supplies to rescue groups;
-$68,850 in staff hours and indirect.
Total donated goods and services are valued at $199,289 to date. In addition to the
deployment expenses, AHA utilized our highly trained volunteer Red Star (tm) emergency
services responders and AHA brought hundreds of thousands of pounds of relief supplies
to the impacted areas leveraging the long-term corporate partner relationships. Total
donated goods and services to AHA include:
-$16,381 in volunteer hours with Red Star first responders
-$182,908 in donated goods and services that were requested, received and distributed
by AHA, including shipments of dog and cat food arranged through corporate partners
Mars Petcare US and FreeHand, shipments of cat litter through Oil-Dri Corporation of
America, trucking services through Rescue Bank, a shipment of veterinary supplies
through Pfizer Animal Health, costs to transport supplies from a hub in Atlantic City,
NJ to a rescue in Staten Island, NY, etc.
Additionally, but not included in the above figure, AHA leveraged its partnership with
Mars Petcare US and the Rescue Bank by connecting them with the National Animal Rescue
and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC). Other members of NARSC (ASPCA, Code 3, Red Rover,
etc.) were responding to Sandy in other impacted areas. Through our corporate sponsor
partnership, Mars Petcare US and Rescue Bank were able to distribute an additional
400,000 pounds of pet food valued at $549,000 to victims of Sandy through NARSC
members.
Q 4: What services has your organization provided to those affected by Hurricane
Sandy? What populations or geographical areas are being served by your
organization in response to Hurricane Sandy? What services does it expect to
provide in the future?
A 4: American Humane Association was contacted by PA State Animal Response Team (PASART) on
October 26,2012 as Sandy was developing and heading for the east coast and PASART was
evaluating their readiness and options. They officially requested our Red Star Animal
Emergency Services Team to pre-stage in Drums, PA on October 2ih and our team
mobilized and was on the ground by the evening of Sunday October 28th
We had 3 staff and 8 volunteers on the ground along with our 82' Rescue Rig, complete
with full rescue equipment. The team opened animal shelters, co-located with Red Cross
people shelters, in Nanticoke and Chester, PA. The team was also requested in West
Chester to prepare for a "mega shelter" which the governor of PA had offered to the
states of NY and NJ, but was ultimately not needed, so our team demobilized.
Shortly after demobilization, we were contacted by numerous groups and agencies in New
Jersey with requests for assistance. On Monday November 5th we received an official
request for assistance from Bergen County, NJ and on Tuesday November 6th we received
an official request from Humane Society of Atlantic County in Atlantic City, NJ. Both
counties were in desperate need of supplies as supply distribution lines had been cut
off, citizens were unable to feed their pets, and shelters were out of supplies. AHA
reached out to our corporate partners and arranged for shipments of pet food and cat
litter to both counties. Mars Petcare US, through Rescue Bank, sent 40,000 pounds of
cat and dog food to each county, and Oil-Dri Corporation of America sent a tractor
trailer of Cats Pride cat litter to each county as well. Additionally, AHA secured a
donation of veterinary supplies through Pfizer Animal Health, which was sent directly
to a veterinarian who works with Humane Society of Atlantic County. AHA mobilized
another Red Star team to travel to these areas and handle distribution of these
assets, as county personnel were already occupied with post-storm clean-up and
everyday operations. The staff publicized the events, coordinated with county
personnel and facilities, and set up distribution sites. During distribution, AHA
staff assisted citizens with determining their need, loaded food for them, and in many
cases even gave those on foot rides home. Our staff also made a number of deliveries
to rescues and shelters too far or without the means to transport supplies to their
facilities, in one instance traveling as far as Ocean County from Atlantic County. At
the distribution sites, AHA personnel also distributed humane education coloring books
to children and other supplies that had been donated from blankets, leashes, collars,
toys, etc. These distribution events in New Jersey lasted from November 8th to
November 12th. We connected the points of contact at both counties with the NJ Dept.
of Agriculture, who asked both if they would serve as state collection and
distribution sites for pet supplies moving forward, and both agreed. Once both
facilities were set up for additional relief distributions, our Red Star team
demobilized. During our distribution efforts, AHA had 19 staff members working on the
ground and on logistical and operational efforts, and an additional 9 AHA-trained
volunteers on the ground.
Our Red Star Animal Emergency Services Team volunteers are highly trained individuals.
AHA trains these individuals in areas such as basic animal emergency services,
disaster sheltering for companion animals, and other critical skills. Following the
New Jersey humane relief caravans, we received requests for help from the Guardians of
Rescue in Staten Island, NY who had been requesting humane relief supplies for their
community. We had been trying to help this group but they were unable to secure Red
Star an official invitation into Staten Island. [As a member of the National Animal
Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC), AHA's Red Star team policy is to not
self-deploy; we only go into areas when we have received an official invitation from
the local authorities.] Without the official invitation for deployment, however, we
were compelled to help Guardians of Rescue with supplies. We managed the logistics for
a humane relief supply caravan for Staten Island, which included 8 pallets of relief
supplies which were delivered to Guardians of Rescue in Staten Island, NY on Saturday,
November 17. Supplies included pet food from Freehand and Mars Petcare, and Cats Pride
cat litter. These supplies were then delivered to the people of Staten Island who were
in desperate need of supplies for their animal companions.
Additionally, we made 2 emergency grants to a rescue in Hammonton, NJ for Sandy relief
efforts, which totaled $1,150.00.
In the year ahead, we will continue to manage the logistics and deliver humane relief
supplies to the impacted areas modeled after the humane relief caravans we delivered
successfully to our partners in affected areas, such as Humane Society of Atlantic
County, Bergen County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, and Guardians of Rescue in
Staten Island, NY. We will also provide for additional emergency relief grants in the
impacted area.
Q 5: Has your organization provided funding to other organizations for Hurricane
Sandy relief efforts? If so, which organizations have received those funds
and what is the approximate dollar amount provided to them? How does
your organization determine the need for funding?
A 5: Yes, we have made 2 emergency grants totaling $1,150.00 to a rescue we work with in
Hammonton, NJ called Making of Miracle Stories (MOMS) Rescue. They are a 501 (c)(3)
organization, Tax ID #27-3240862.
A majority of the emergency relief AHA provides is direct. We will, however, consider
providing funding to other organizations in extreme situations. We determine the need
for funding after talking with shelters and rescue groups we have relationships with
or we are contacted by and evaluating their situation. If the organization requesting
assistance needs something we can't provide through our program work, and they are
able to help a large number of animals in an efficient way within our budget
constraints, we work to make funds available to them.
Q 6: Has your organization provided, or does it intend to provide, direct financial
assistance to individuals, families or businesses for Hurricane Sandy relief?
If so, what is the approximate dollar amount that your organization
has provided to date and approximately how much direct financial assistance
does it expect to provide in the future? How does your organization
determine the need for assistance?
A 6: No, direct financial assistance is not something we generally provide to individuals
or businesses. As mentioned above, AHA may provide funding to nonprofits, but not
typically to individuals or businesses. We provided a huge amount of supplies-dog
food, cat food, cat litter, other donations collected-to individuals and families
during our massive distribution events.
Q 7: Does your organization have a plan in place on how to use any surplus funds
not spent for Hurricane Sandy relief? If so, please describe that plan.
A 7: American Humane Association has already provided and coordinated the provision of
goods and services in excess of the amounts raised for our Red Star Animal Emergency
Services program in response to Hurricane Sandy if direct services, volunteer hours
and donated goods and services are considered. However, we want to make sure that all
donations made to Red Star Animal Emergency Services program in response to Hurricane
Sandy are used by AHA for Hurricane Sandy response (or if funding remains, for AHA's
Red Star Animal Emergency Services program). To that end, donations received less the
response expenses (i.e., excluding donated goods and services and volunteer hour
value), there are funds remaining totaling $63,764. AHA will use the remaining funds
for continuing Hurricane Sandy response over the year ahead, to include work with
agencies for humane relief supplies, sheltering training assistance, and emergency
grants, or if funding remains, for AHA's Red Star Animal Emergency Services program.
AHA plans to continue making humane relief supply caravans of needed supplies as
shelters continue to recover from Sandy during the coming year.
Donations help AHA continue to cover the daily costs of our Red Star Animal Emergency
Services program and team, which stands ready to respond to disasters like Sandy at a
moment's notice. When our team is not responding to emergencies, they are running a
national training program during which they train communities in basic first responder
animal emergency services, disaster sheltering for companion animals, and other
critical skills. To date in FY13 (commencing July 1, 2012), we have trained 479
students, and in FY12 (July 1, 201 I-June 30, 2012) we trained 986 students across the
country, helping communities prepare and plan for disasters and disaster response. In
addition, the team is continually developing relationships with federal, state and
local governmental bodies, NARSC coalition members and other non-profit entities that
aid in emergency relief, to prepare for emergency response efficiency, effectiveness
and best practices. Our team also maintains our 82 ft. Rescue Rig and other emergency
fleet vehicles and equipment.