2024 Responses
Response Activities
Hurricane Helene
When Hurricane Helene rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm, ZDR3’s proactive planning ensured a swift and effective response. Director Julia Wilder and Administrative Manager Melanie Messer pre-positioned near the anticipated impact zone, equipped with backup power and communications to manage assistance requests.
Three facilities required on-site deployments, while three others received remote support. In total, ZDR3 maintained contact with 10 facilities, offering guidance on readiness and connections to government and NGO resources. Helene showcased the value of early preparation, allowing our network to respond quickly and effectively to minimize the storm’s impact on facilities and their animals.
Beyond direct deployments, ZDR3 also facilitated critical remote support. In the aftermath of Helene, corporate collaborators worked together to supply a facility in need with feeder insects and essential supplies, ensuring the well-being of animals reliant on specialized diets. While this was not an on-scene response, it reinforced the importance of remote missions in disaster recovery. By leveraging partnerships and logistical coordination, ZDR3 continued to make an impact even from afar, demonstrating that every form of response plays a vital role in supporting facilities during crises.
Hurricane Milton
In early October, fewer than two weeks after Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton emerged as one of the most intense Atlantic storms on record, reaching Category 5 status before weakening to a Category 3 at landfall. Despite the reduced intensity, Milton brought significant challenges, including heavy rain, strong winds, and a record number of tornadoes that compounded the difficulties of facilities still recovering from Helene.
Following Milton’s landfall, ZDR3 quickly mobilized and strategically positioned in the region to ensure swift availability for assistance. Teams were deployed to multiple impacted facilities to provide immediate response. At one location, response teams worked to clear fallen trees and repair damaged fencing, securing the site for both animals and staff. At another, teams conducted an initial clean-up and needs assessment, focusing on the immediate priorities to set the facility up for successful recovery.
As the response efforts continued, additional teams arrived to provide long-term support, including additional clean-up and recovery tasks. ZDR3 maintained coordination, assisting in critical operations to help facilities resume normal activities as quickly as possible.
California Wildfires
Wildfires in California forced a native wildlife facility to evacuate its animals. ZDR3 quickly mobilized to assist, deploying Director Julia Wilder and Operations Manager Cari Wittenborn to coordinate on-site operations. The team worked alongside three network facilities and dozens of responders to safely evacuate the facility’s animals. Thanks to the rapid response and collaboration, the animals were housed in temporary locations until it was safe for them to return home.
While the on-the-ground team addressed immediate evacuation needs, ZDR3 provided remote support to another facility monitoring wildfire risks. This coordinated effort highlighted our network’s flexibility and capacity to address multiple challenges at once. The success of this response reflects the power of our partnerships and the unwavering commitment of our responders.
Animal Placement
As the year drew to a close, ZDR3 concluded its response season with a unique and impactful mission. A facility preparing to close its doors requested assistance with rehoming part of its animal collection. ZDR3 mobilized to meet the need. Leveraging the strength of the network, 15 facilities collaborated to coordinate placements, while eight responders from five teams worked on-site to manage animal capture and transport.