When disaster strikes, it doesn’t just impact people, it impacts pets, too.
In the wake of the recent winter storm, our community witnessed firsthand how quickly lives can be disrupted. At Nashville Humane, disaster preparedness isn’t an afterthought. It’s a responsibility we carry every day, long before the first snowflake falls or the first siren sounds.
A First Line of Defense for Animals
Nashville Humane is deeply embedded in the emergency response network that activates when our community is in crisis. We proudly serve as Secretary for Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and as President of the Animal Care and Control Association of Tennessee. We also have shelter staff who are DART certified and can respond on the front lines when disasters happen.
These partnerships ensure that when disaster hits our city, state, or region, animal welfare is not an afterthought. It is part of the initial response.
What Disaster Response Looked Like This Winter
During the recent storm, our role extended far beyond the walls of our shelter. We served as a hub for emergency pet food and supply distribution across Tennessee.
- NHA moved 41,000 pounds of pet food and supplies to partner shelters and rescues statewide
- NHA coordinated deliveries and scheduled pick-ups so supplies could quickly return to impacted communities
- NHA ensured animals in rural and urban areas alike continued receiving care despite winter conditions
- NHA provided supplemental food, litter, and essential supplies to roughly 65 families per week through our Pet Food Bank, helping keep pets safely at home during a time of financial and environmental strain
- NHA delivered supplies to pet-friendly warming shelters operated by the American Red Cross, because access to safe shelter should never mean leaving a beloved pet behind during a crisis.
Preparedness Is Ongoing Work
Our partnerships with VOAD, statewide animal welfare leaders, local rescues, and national organizations ensure that when the next disaster strikes, animals are part of the response plan from day one.
We are proud to serve as a trusted partner in our community’s emergency response network. And we are grateful to the supporters, volunteers, and partner organizations who make this lifesaving work possible.
Preparedness Includes Policy
Disaster preparedness also happens in legislative chambers. Nashville Humane works alongside state leaders and believes preparedness means prioritizing all members of our community, including pets, in the policies that shape emergency response, animal welfare standards, and public safety.
We encourage our community to stay informed about legislation currently being discussed in Tennessee that impacts animals and the people who care for them. Laws shape how we respond to crises, how shelters operate, and how resources are distributed when communities are under strain.
Your voice matters. Both in everyday life and in times of crisis.
