The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management will host a planning committee kickoff meeting for the Animal Disaster Plan from 5-6:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24.

The purpose of the Animal Disaster Plan is to protect people, animals and property during a disaster and to ensure the effective evacuation and sheltering of pets and livestock.

People can volunteer to serve on the committee, and the public is welcome to attend the meeting. It will take place in the Clallam County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the basement of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St. in Port Angeles.

A virtual attendance option will be available via a link, posted with the meeting announcement, in the News Flash section on the main page of the Clallam County website, clallamcountywa.gov.

The meeting will include an orientation to the history, purpose and scope of the plan, and the committee’s goals. At the end of the meeting, committee members will be identified and organized into subcommittees to work on the plan’s finer details.

The plan will describe the policies and procedures for evacuation, care and control of animals as well as the related roles and responsibilities of participating agencies and external partners.

The Clallam County Animal Disaster Planning Committee is made up of agencies, rescue groups and concerned individuals. Those interested in joining the committee should email Justine Chorley, emergency management program coordinator, at justine.chorley@clallamcountywa.gov or sign up during the kickoff meeting.

An Animal Disaster Plan will help prepare county first responders, animal rescue groups and individuals to protect themselves and animals during a disaster.