Education & Workshops
Fostering a Culture of Preparedness
ZDR3 aims to improve preparedness for individual facilities, our response network, and the entire zoological industry, leveraging its reputation in disaster response.
With an increase in potential threats from natural and manmade disasters, and the resultant media and public scrutiny, our industry must not just plan and prepare for what has happened in the past. Our future depends on us facing the fact that the unexpected and unthinkable could befall us.
Regional Response Readiness Workshops
These 2-day workshops enable personnel from different facilities to build collaborative relationships and enhance disaster preparedness. Participants learn to develop disaster response teams, strengthen their own facility’s response capacity, and understand ZDR3’s regional disaster planning. This knowledge is then utilized to improve their facility’s preparedness and support for others, fostering a spirit of peer-to-peer support in the zoological industry.
Facilitated Training & Certification
ZDR3 encourages network responders to seek training in emergency management, including First Aid, CPR, Stop the Bleed®, automated external defibrillator (AED), and Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER). ZDR3 coordinates with specialized instructors and certified trainers from the ZDR3 Network, who volunteer to provide certified training at workshops.
Speaking Engagements & Network Building
ZDR3 offers in-person and virtual presentations on zoological disaster planning, preparedness, and response, sometimes featuring subject matter experts. We aim to reach diverse stakeholders to promote broad information sharing. As of June 2024, ZDR3 has delivered content to over 2,000 participants through webinars and in-person events.
ZDR3 Tabletop Exercise
If you have joined ZDR3’s Member Resource Area:
Tabletop exercises are essential for disaster planning and preparedness in the zoological industry. These exercises allow teams to simulate emergency scenarios, evaluate their strategies, and improve communication protocols in a controlled environment. They are particularly useful for training new staff or those who may not participate in live-action drills, providing a safe space for learning and collaboration.
ZDR3 staff have enriched these exercises with detailed gameplay and challenging scenarios, using tactile 3-D objects to enhance engagement and learning. This method boosts overall readiness and ensures smoother execution during real disasters.
You can access the tabletop exercise manual and shopping list for the 3-D objects in our Members Resources area. If you have not yet joined, follow the instructions on the Members Resources page.
If you have not joined ZDR3’s Member Resource Area: