While it looks like Hurricane Earl is going to miss us here in Meriden, it’s never a bad idea to review your disaster preparedness plan. It’s been five years since Hurricane Katrina, when the issue of animal rescue after natural disasters was first brought to the nation’s attention. Thanks to the efforts of both local and national rescue groups, many animals were saved and reunited with their families. However, this disaster also taught us that the best thing you can do for your pet in the face of an evacuation is to take them with you. That’s why it’s important to know your plan ahead of time.
Here in Connecticut we are lucky not to experience many natural disasters, but there are other reasons that homes can be evacuated and you will need to have a plan for your pets in this case. The rule of thumb is that if your home is unsafe for you to remain it, it is also unsafe for your pets. Even if you are told that the evacuation is short term, you cannot be certain when you will be able to access your home and your pets again. Take them with you.
When evacuating with your pets there are items that you must have ready to go. These include:
-Food for all your pets
-Bottled water
-Food bowls
-Cat litter and litter pans
-Pet first aid kit
-Carriers for small animals and leashes/collars for dogs
-Medical records stored in a waterproof container or baggie
-Any medications your pets need
-Current photos of your pets in case you are separated
All pets should wear ID at all times, but in an emergency this is even more important. Microchipping is a safe and permanent form of identification, but if there is no time to have this done all pets should wear a collar with ID tags. The tags should include your pet’s name, your name, your phone number and address, and the phone number of an out-of-state contact person in case your area loses cell reception or phone lines are down. If you know where you are evacuating to, you should also include a temporary tag with the address and phone number of that site. But be aware that collars can become lost and if your pet does not have a form of permanent ID (such as a tattoo or microchip) there may be no way of positively identifying them.
You also need to know where you can bring your pets once you’ve left your home. Most emergency shelters will not take in animals, so it is likely you will need to make other arrangements. Locate and keep contact information for pet-friendly hotels both near your home and out of the area. Try to make arrangements with friends or family to temporarily take in you and your pets.
The best advice anyone can give is to be prepared before there is an emergency. If you’re given an hour to get out of your house, will you remember everything you need for you emergency kit? Will you know where you can take your pets? Will you know who to contact for help? These are things you need to consider before hand or your pets will pay the price. A pet left chained outside or roaming a house in a disaster can be seriously injured, made ill by contaminated food and water, or killed. Your pets deserve the same concern that any other member of your family would. Don’t let your pets down by being unprepared in an emergency.
Links and Further Reading:
Get a free Rescue Alert sticker for your front door.
ASPCA’s recommendations for disaster preparedness
FEMA’s recommendations for disaster preparedness for pets
Take FEMA’s IS-10: Animals in Disaster course
United Animal Nation’s recommendations for disaster preparedness
