High Alert Institute

Wholistic Preparedness & "Pet-Paredness"

Photograph By 2001 The Record (Bergen Co).

With our Vision and Mission established in the wake of 9/11, the High Alert Institute envisions a world where all people, families, communities, businesses, organizations, people, and pets are Disaster-Ready. The Institute’s Mission is to help those not served by municipal, local, county, state, regional, or federal programs/agencies to be disaster-ready. We have fulfilled this mission over the past 20 years through disaster research and in-person disaster training programs for frontline healthcare workers and first responders. Moving toward a post-pandemic phase, the Institute recognizes that our prior concentration on Healthcare Disaster Education is not the current area of need. Our partners in the animal wellness and conservation community, however, have recognized the need for more disaster-readiness education and training. In 2022, the Institute is responding by pivoting our approach to fulfill Our Vision and Our Mission.

OUR IMPACT

Disasters are defined as situations in which needs exceed or overwhelm available resources. Some disasters affect an entire community, while other disasters impact individuals and families. Crises of physical or psychological health can be very personal disasters. Our goal is to share our two decades of disaster readiness experience with animal welfare organizations, caretakers, shelters and pet owners, as they implement contingency plans for natural and manmade disasters.

FREE TRAINING

Photograph By 2004 US-DOD (FEMA Photos)

When disaster strikes, most aquatic pet owners have limited options to secure the safety of their pets. Sheltering in place may not be possible if there is no power to provide aeration and “pet-friendly” shelters do not include ponds or aquariums. Our goal is to provide an option for aquatic pet owners in need of rescue and shelter for their finned friends.

SAVE A PET

Disasters disrupt life and impact our sense of personal, family, and community safety. Survivors and responders alike often are not aware of the emotional, psychological, or spiritual challenges that they may face from disaster onset through recovery. With two decades of experience training responders and communities to prepare for the behavioral health aspects of disasters, we will continue to provide education and a curated list of resources to groups or individuals.

CONNECT TO HELP

Our efforts in shelter and rescue are the main focus of our environmental stewardship, reducing the environmental impact of non-native aquatic animals being dumped into public waterways. The High Alert Institute also assists innovators with the design, development, and evaluation of green and renewable energy technologies. Reducing the carbon footprint associated with disaster preparedness, response, and recovery furthers our continued mission to mitigate risk and improve resilience.

PROJECTS 4 GOOD

The therapeutic value of pets during illness, trauma, and recovery is well established. And koi fish may be well suited for people who are not able to provide verbal pet commands or physically care for pets like dogs and cats. Koi ponds are also a source of beauty and peace, providing an ideal setting for quiet reflection or meditation. In addition to rehoming aquatic pets to their original home or a new home through pet adoption, we work with pond installers and aquatic pet rescues/shelters to offer free or reduced-cost ponds with rehomed koi fish to people seeking this type of pet therapy. We partner with public and private organizations, sharing resources and fostering partnerships to improve disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

REQUEST A JOY KOI POND