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Animal Care During Anticipated Emergency Conditions Adopted December 11, 2013

Purpose

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) specifies general procedures used by Washington and Lee University (W&L) to prepare and provide for animal care in the event of mandatory evacuation due to hurricane or other storm warning and other anticipated emergency situations. These procedures are to be used as guidelines to prepare for the care of animals and timely evacuation of staff in the face of emergency. These procedures are also intended to ensure the humane disposition of animals should it be required during or after an emergency.

Principal Investigator's Emergency Responsibilities

Because W&L's Animal Care Program does not employ a facility director or dedicated animal care technicians, the emergency preparations and follow-up are the responsibility of each Principal Investigator who has vertebrate animals housed in the Parmly Hall Animal Colony facility, aquatic laboratories, or any other SOP-defined, routinely inspected facility or laboratory on campus. The SOP specifies procedures for rodents, amphibians, and fish.

Emergency Rodent Care: Parmly Hall Animal Colony Facility

A. Seventy-Two (72) Hours Prior to Event

  1. Change all cages
  2. Replace small water bottles, if present, with large water bottles for group housed animals
  3. Clean all soiled cages and water bottles
  4. Ensure an adequate supply of bleach/chemical sanitizers, and any other needed emergency supplies
  5. Ensure adequate supply of euthanasia agents
  6. If present, secure all chemicals and ensure that MSDS sheets are posted
  7. Properly dispose of all carcasses and biohazards (including sharps)
  8. Contact Facilities Management to confirm anticipated availability of backup power after event
  9. Provide W&L Public Safety and IACUC Chair with list of individuals (and their contact information) who may enter the animal facility after the event

B. Forty-Eight (48) Hours Prior to Event

  1. Fill large container(s)/carboy(s) with water
  2. Turn freezers and refrigerators to coldest setting, as applicable
  3. Provide all IACUC Chair and animal researchers copies of contact list

C. Twenty-Four (24) Hours Prior to Event

  1. Fill Colony Facility and laboratory sinks with water
  2. Ensure that water bottles are full and all animals have a five-day supply of food
  3. Open doors to individual housing rooms to allow ventilation in the event emergency power fails
  4. Notify Facilities Management and Public Safety that temperature alarms will be temporarily suspended

D. After Event

  1. Make contact with Facilities Management, Public Safety, IACUC Chair, and with others on the contact list to determine strategy for entry to the facility (do not enter facility/building alone)
  2. Take flashlight, gloves, and mask
  3. If rooms are damaged, relocate animals to a secure location, as determined in consultation with Facilities Management, Campus Security, and IACUC Chair
  4. Assist Facilities Management and IACUC Chair as requested to restore regular power to the facility as soon as possible
  5. If emergency power has failed, open doors to Parmly Hall hallway to allow ventilation until regular power is restored
  6. Refresh animal water bottles and food supply
  7. Remove any deceased animals, wrap securely, and place them inside the freezer
  8. Contact IACUC Chair and others on the contact list to notify them of the status of the facility
  9. Continue to check on animals on a daily basis until conditions return to normal
  10. If food or water supplies are compromised or animals are injured or are suffering and untreatable, euthanize using an AVMA recommended procedure

Emergency Amphibian and Fish Care: Parmly Hall Animal Colony Facility Aquatic Laboratory and Individual Investigators' Laboratories

A. Seventy-Two (72) Hours Prior to Event

  1. Ensure adequate level of water in all tanks
  2. Ensure an adequate supply of bleach/chemical sanitizers and any other needed emergency supplies
  3. If present, secure all chemicals and ensure that MSDS sheets are posted
  4. Properly dispose of all carcasses and biohazards (including sharps)
  5. Contact Facilities Management to confirm anticipated availability of backup power after event
  6. Provide Public Safety with list of individuals (and their contact information) who may enter the Colony Facility or laboratory after the event

B. Forty-Eight (48) Hours Prior to Event

  1. Fill large container(s)/carboy(s) with water
  2. Turn freezers and refrigerators to coldest setting
  3. Turn off natural gas at cutoff, if applicable
  4. Provide IACUC Chair and all animal researchers and copies of contact list

C. Twenty-Four (24) Hours Prior to Event

  1. Fill sinks with water
  2. Ensure animals have a five-day supply of food
  3. Close valves on all tanks
  4. If applicable, notify Facilities Management and Public Safety that temperature alarms will be temporarily suspended

D. After Event

  1. Make contact with Facilities Management, Public Safety, and with others on the contact list to determine strategy for entry to the Animal Colony Facility/laboratory (do not enter laboratory/building alone)
  2. Take flashlight
  3. If rooms are damaged, relocate animals to a secure location, as determined in consultation with Facilities Management, Public Safety, and IACUC Chair
  4. Assist Facilities Management and IACUC Chair as requested to restore power to aeration and filtration units as soon as possible
  5. Refresh animals' food supply
  6. Replace tank water lost to evaporation
  7. Remove dead animals, wrap securely, and place them inside the freezer
  8. Contact others on the contact list to notify them of the status of the laboratory
  9. Continue to check on animals daily until conditions return to normal
  10. If food supplies are compromised or animals are injured or are suffering and untreatable, euthanize using an AVMA recommended procedure