This agreement seeks to better assist EAI facilities impacted by natural disasters and adverse events by enhancing overall industry readiness and strengthening capacity for mutual aid response

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded ZDR3 (Zoological Disaster Response, Rescue, and Recovery) a Cooperative Agreement valued at $511,245.28 under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025) for the period September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. ZDR3 provides emergency response coordination and disaster preparedness services to equine and livestock agriculture industry facilities impacted by natural disasters and adverse events. The award supports the maintenance and expansion of an emergency response network encompassing over 180 facilities across 38 states, including management of member databases, resource centers, and website systems, as well as targeted outreach to expand network coverage into underrepresented states and territories.

Under this agreement, ZDR3 delivers tactical and remote support services to member facilities during emergencies, including staffing a 24-hour emergency hotline for rapid response coordination. Additionally, the organization conducts facility risk assessments and preparedness consultations, provides technical assistance to local and state agencies and industry associations, and maintains resource typing information on equipment, supplies, and responder capabilities. ZDR3 also develops and strengthens relationships with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, airlines, feed companies, and specialty transporters to enhance mutual aid coordination capacity and industry readiness for disaster response.

Activities

Maintenance and growth of emergency response network by carrying out the following activities: management of a response network of over 180 facilities in 38 states, including maintenance of systems such as member database, resource center, website, etc.; expansion of the network, including targeted outreach to EAI facilities in states and territories not currently represented within ZDR3'S network; outreach and support for member facilities, including ensuring various mous and agreements are up to date; recruitment and onboarding of new members, and expedited support to get mous in place for non-member facilities in imminent need of assistance; resource typing and information gathering regarding network members, equipment and supplies, and responders; technical assistance, provided as requested to local and state agencies, industry associations, etc.; industry engagement, including participation in conferences, meetings, working groups and committees; relationship building within the indu stry, with government and NGO partners, and with other entities that provide services to network participants such as airlines, feed companies, and specialty transporters; additional industry support, including preparedness consultations and risk assessments as P ermitted by schedule and budget; provision of tactical and/or remote support to facilities; maintenance and staffing of a 24-hour emergency number, monitored by trained personnel; communication with requesting facilities to collect additional information regarding perceived needs when requests for support are received; deployment of ZDR3 personnel to impacted sites to conduct more in-depth needs assessment; identification of ZDR3 response network members best equipped to help the potentially impacted facility (based on variables such as proximity, capacity, equipment, and individual responder profiles); coordination of response team deployments, and assistance managing communications with responders and the ZDR3 team to ensure consistency and avoid confusion and risks that can result from uncoordinated communication; provision of on-the-ground support via network response teams and ZDR3 personnel as needed; development of after-action reports for responses; assessment of facility planning and preparedness gaps; development of a qualitative assessment strategy, to include an online survey, assessment tool, or other response mechanism. Proposed content will be sent to USDA aphis for comment before being finalized; distribution of survey, to include outreach to all USDA class-C licensees reasonably considered to be within scope of the assessment (EST. At least 400 facilities); collection of responses, with a goal of receiving responses from at least 100 facilities; assessment of results and selection of respondents for follow-up interviews; communications with the sample of respondents to provide greater clarity and specificity regarding needs; response analysis and development of report or other mechanism to show results; distribution of findings via ZDR3 and zahp. Deliverables and expected outcomes per objective: MAI ntenance and growth of emergency response network by carrying out the following activities.

Expected outcomes

Allowing for coordinated support among the EAI and building capacity for response; providing access to specialized subject matter expertise and resources needed to address unmet needs related to non-domestic species; serving as a resource for government agencies and external response partners seeking to increase engagement with the EAI regarding disaster response related concerns; provision of tactical and/or remote support to facilities; evacuating and transporting animals and providing temporary housing; clearing downed trees and other debris, and safely working around exhibits; assisting in emergency facility repairs; documenting response activities; supporting a facility's communications team; providing referrals to critical incident stress management specialists; assessment of facility planning and preparedness gaps; identifying areas where facilities require support to improve contingency planning, preparedness, and response capacity; determining what specific types of deliverables and materials facilities need to enhance capacity for both initial contingency plan development and ongoing plan maintenance. Intended beneficiary(IES): the beneficiaries of this agreement are the exotic animal industry (EAI) which includes, zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, outreach educators, wildlife ranches, and conservation breeding centers representing a range of accreditation and membership groups; animal care and aphis ESF#11 will also benefit from getting accurate and on time information during disasters; AC will benefit from the proposed survey of the EAI regarding the contingency planning rule so we can have a better understanding of how the rule is working and any potential changes needed. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: no subrecipient identified at the time of the award.