PROTECTING PETS AND LIVESTOCK

companion pets than they will for livestock animals The following sections will help you get started on your kits

Pets

„ You are responsible for the safety, feeding, and care of your livestock at all times, including in an emergency

„ Ensure all animals have some form of identification that includes your name, telephone number, and anotheremergencytelephonenumber where someone can be reached

Pets are part of our family, and they should also be part of your emergency plan Please don’t forget to make a plan for your companion pets and livestock animals when it comes to evacuations or other crises Ifanimalsareapartofyourdaily life then they should also be part of your emergency planning

Step one: sign up for emergency notifications at coconino.az.gov/ ready Emergency alerts are sent 24/7 when there is an immediate threat to life and/or property Signing up is free Message and data rates may apply depending on your provider and phone service.

Steptwo:makeaplan Ifyouhave aplaninplaceforyouandyourpets, you will likely encounter less difficulty, stress, and worry when you need to decide what to do during an emergency

Step three: build an emergency kit Kits will look different for

Take your pets with you if you are notified to evacuate Pets should wearacollarorharness,aswellasan identification tag Dogs specifically must wear a license and rabies tags Build an emergency kit for your pets that includes the following:

„ Pet food and water with familiar dishes

„ Medications

„ Collapsible cage or carrier

„ Leash

„ Grooming items, such as a brush, shampoo, and conditioner

„ Comforting toys or treats

„ Litter, litter pan, litter scoop

„ Plastic bags for clean-up

Livestock

Disaster preparedness is important for all animals, but it is particularly important for horses, cows, goats, and other farm animals due to their unique sizes and transportation needs

„ Ensure you have any vehicles and/or trailers needed for transporting and supporting each type of animal Also make sure to have experienced handlers and drivers ready to go

„ Know where you will take your animals in an emergency evacuation Plan with a friend or another livestock animal owner to stable your animals if needed

„ In the case of an evacuation a large animal shelter may be opened WatchCoconinoCountyHealthand HumanServicessocialmedia(facebook com/CoconinoCountyHHS) to be notified if a shelter has been opened

„ Inform friends and neighbors of your evacuation plans Post detailed instructions in several places so everyone knows what to expect

„ Place your animals vital informationinawatertightenvelopeand keep in a safe place This should include veterinary papers and details about medications

„ Prepare a basic livestock first aid kit that is portable and easily accessible

„ Be sure to have a supply of water hay feed and medications for several days

„ It is important that your animals are comfortable with being loaded onto a trailer If they are unaccustomed to being loaded onto a trailer practice the procedure to ensure they’re able to reliably and safely load up

For more information on preparing your pets for disasters, please visit ready gov/pets

Here are just a few of the questions you should be asking yourself today:

„ Have you signed up for emergency notifications at coconino az gov/ready to be notified of emergencies in your area?

„ Does a neighbor or family time to have tanks pumped because empty tanks are buoyant and may float out of the ground when water tables are high. Plug floor drains to keep sewage from backing up into house. Floodwaters may still enter through cracks and seams Seal all the septic system’s possible points of entry If possible, seal the manhole and inspection ports to keep excess water out of the tank. Waterproof all electrical connections to avoid electrical shock and damage to wiring, pumps, and the electrical system. Replace cracked damaged, or missing septic system caps Most septic tanks are not damaged by flooding since they are below ground and completely covered. However, septic tanks and pump chambers can fill with silt and debris and must be professionally cleaned. If you have any questions, then please contact a licensed septic tank professional.

PURCHASE OR RENEW FLOOD INSURANCE

Flood insurance is the most reliable way to re-coup financial damages resulting from a flood If you live in a flood area, it is highly recommended that you maintain a flood insurance policy through a private insurer or through the National Flood Insurance Program. For more information, visit www coconino az gov/1392/ NFIP-Flood-Insurance

SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS

The Coconino County Emergency Management team uses various methods to notify residents of impending emergencies such as flash floods Be sure that you’re receiving these alerts by signing up for Emergency Notifications at www coconino az.gov/2612/Emergency-Notification-System.

During a Flood SHELTER IN PLACE OR

SEEK HIGH GROUND

When a Flood Alert is received,

Plan

From L10 member have a key to your home so they can get to your pets during an emergency if you are in the hospital, or you are unable to get home?

 Does each of your companion animals have a go bag packed with seven days of food and water, medications, photos of the pet, medical records, and leashes and collars in addition to a carrier to safely contain them?

 Doyouhaveaplanforevacuating your livestock animals?

Do your livestock know how to load into a trailer? Do you have a trailer, or do you know someone who can help with transport?

Are your livestock on any medicationsanddoyouhaveacopyof medical records available?

 Are your animals microchipped?Whenwasthelasttime youdoublecheckedthatyourpet record has your correct contact information?

 Doyouhavealistofcontact information that may be needed when you are away from home? This typically includes the contact information for the veterinarian, boarding facility, animal shelter and local friends/family people indoors or close to an indoor location should shelter in place immediately Do not evacuate! In flash flooding situations, road travel can become perilous, and vehicles may be stuck or swept away by floodwaters

 Make sure to stay informed of current conditions and pay attention to emergency notifications Itisimportanttoalways have a plan for your family, including your pets!

People who are outdoors during a flash flood should relocate to the nearest high ground immediately

AVOID FLOODWATERS

Keep your family and pets away from floodwater Standing water hides dangers including chemicals and sharp debris Moving floodwater can be lethal and quickly sweep people and animals downstream

AVOID IMPACTED AREAS

Please do not visit flood-impacted areas In addition to being dangerous your presence in these areas may hamper emergency operations, utility repairs, or other vital operations

After a Flood RETURNING HOME

If you are away from home during a flash flood event, then remain in a safe location until you are notified that it is safe to return When you do return:

 Keep children and pets out of the flooded area until cleanup is completed

 Use battery- or crank-powered flashlights if returning at night

 Shut off electrical power and natural gas/propane tanks to avoid fire electrocution or explosions If you smell gas or suspect a leak then turn off the main gas valve, open all windows, and leave the house immediately Do not turn on the lights or do anything that could cause a spark

Notify the gas company or fire department Do not return until you are told it is safe

 Consult your utility company about using electrical equipment, including power generators

 Avoid downed power lines or wading in standing water

CLEANUP OF HOME AND FLOODWATER

If flood damage is extensive, it is recommended to call a pro-

Creek

From L3

The new method called “plug and spread,” allows them to slow water down spread it out and drop sediment out of it, while largely preserving the surrounding environment, said Alan Haden with Natural Channel Design

“I think we maybe pulled 30 trees, at the most, out of the over 3,000 that we counted here in this work area So we’re pretty happy about that and kind of excited to see how this thing works,” he said

That company, like Tiffany Construction, has been working on county flood mitigation for decades Interestingly, Haden said the method is more commonly used to restore wetlands and meadows Indeed, the technique was used on a section of the Coconino National Forest near Clints Well to do just that in an area that had been impacted by overgrazing

“Obviously we’re trying to [use the technique] for an awful lot more discharge than was ever imagined to do before in the applications So we’ve upped the ante on rock size, we’ve done an awful lot engineering ” Haden said Throughout the area that previously held the Schultz Creek Trailhead, Haden said, they created 13 dams that not only block the channel, but also stretch fessional If conducting cleanup yourself, adhere to the following:

 Wear goggles mask rubber boots, waterproof gloves, longsleeved shirts and long pants

 Dry out your house using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers

 Remove drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters

 Clean hard surfaces with hot water and detergent, disinfect with a chlorine bleach solution, then rinse with clean water If your home s water system has been contaminated, use bottled or boiled water

 After cleanup wash your hands with soap and clean water

 Wash clothes worn during cleanup and clothes contaminated with flood or sewage in hot water and detergent separate from uncontaminated clothes

 Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill PROTECT YOURSELF FROM MOLD

Water damage from a flood can result in mold growth When dealing with mold:

 Keep children, the elderly, people with allergies, breathing conditions, or weakened immune systems away from mold

 Minimize the spread of mold spores by decreasing foot traffic, avoiding rapid movements, and covering moldy objects when removing them

 Make sure the working area is well ventilated

 Removal and cleaning are important; even dead mold may cause allergic reactions

 Refer to the U S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) document: A Brief Guide to Mold and Moisture in Your Home

SAFE WELL WATER

Do not drink water from your well without testing it! Flooding may contaminate your well even if it was not submerged by floodwaters Visit www azhealth gov/ wellwater for information on how to test and disinfect your well

TETANUS SHOTS

If you have been exposed to floodwaters or have suffered an injury related to a flood, obtain a tetanus shot from the County’s Health & Human Services Department or other provider

If you have open cuts or wounds, take extreme precautions when walking through floodwaters to avoid contracting tetanus

MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS

Standing water from flooding can result in an increased risk for mosquito-borne illnesses

The following can help you avoid mosquito bites:

 Empty containers that may hold standing water  Use an EPA-registered insect repellent  Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants

 Maintain intact window and door screens

PRACTICE FOOD SAFETY Floodwaters can contain contaminants ranging from hazardous chemicals to disease-causing pathogens Do not eat any food that has been in contact with floodwaters and be sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect any food storage areas, cooking surfaces, or kitchen tools Tightly sealed food, such as canned goods, may be safe for eating after their outer containers have been cleaned and disinfected When in doubt, throw it out recreation, for wildlife habitat, for everything else ”

Andreani said the plug and spread technique represents a new and important tool in the effort to mitigate post-fire flooding throughout the county one that will likely be used on the other side of Flagstaff within the Government Tank watershed as county officials look to address flooding issues in the area west of State Route 89

Even so, the technique doesn’t eliminate the need for more traditional alluvial fans, she said

“It all comes down to the engineering, really, and what’s prescribed by the [terrain] type itself,” Andreani said “So it can’t be applied everywhere But where it can be, we think it s going to be an important tool in the tool chest hundreds of feet across the valley floor, reaching up just about a half foot from the natural floor of the valley

Those dams, created by digging a large trench and “Tetris-ing” boulders within it are expected to become nearly invisible within the valley as plants begin to grow back, he said That few inches of height is just enough to impact the flow of the water in the way they need “It pushes water up, spreads it around slows it down and the seals on the side keep it from coming back together and cutting a new [channel] around your structure,” Haden said “If it does work, like the math says it’s going to work, we have a new tool we can use in less disturbed areas which is going to be really helpful going forward because this is probably not the last fire were going to see ” And that’s a far cry from the appearance of other alluvial fans created by the county for similar purposes Instead traditional infrastructure is reminiscent of a moonscape

“Our normal approach to alluvial fan restoration for post-fire flooding is we grade it all out, take a bulldozer and make our fan surface That’s usually because we don’t have any trees left There all dead, burned sticks, and there’s not a lot of value,” Haden said “On the other hand, there’s a huge amount of trees here for

While last week saw the conclusion of work on the plug and spread infrastructure within Schultz Creek, it just represents the conclusion of the first phase of work within the watershed Andreani said This fall and early this winter, she said, work farther up the creek will begin with the hope of stabilizing slopes and reducing the origin of sediment in the first place

In all the county flood district is expected to spend between $5$6 million on work within the Schultz watershed, one part of about $90 million worth of flood mitigation projects to other areas impacted by the Pipeline Fire

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