Prepare Your Pets For The Next Disaster
Part VI of a series on Hurricane Preparedness in Florida
Release Date: June 20, 2006
Release Number: LTR-06-032
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Disaster recovery officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Florida Long-Term Recovery Office and Florida's State Emergency Response Team (SERT) urge you to have a disaster plan for your pets in preparation for the new hurricane season. Pet care is an often overlooked aspect of disaster preparedness.
"The destructive hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 underscored the importance of accounting for animal needs during major disasters," said Scott Morris, Federal Emergency Management Agency director for Florida Long-Term Recovery.
With hurricane season upon us, your pets need to be included in your family emergency plan.
"In times of catastrophe, people worry not only about their family, but also about family pets," said Craig Fugate, director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management. "But most emergency shelters do not provide for animals, so families need to have a plan in place."
BEFORE
Contact your local animal shelter, a veterinarian or emergency management office for information on caring for pets in an emergency. Find out if there will be any shelters set up to take pets in an emergency. Ask your veterinarian if they will accept your pet in an emergency. Also, the Humane Society of the United States (the agency that offers expertise in animal protection and disaster response) can be invaluable in providing answers to pet owners.
Decide on safe locations in your house where you could leave your pet in an emergency. You will need a portable pet home that allows your pet to rest, stand up and turn around inside. Put familiar items such as the pet's normal bedding and favorite toys inside and label the outside with the pet's name.
Assemble a portable pet disaster supply kit. Keep items in an accessible place and store them in sturdy waterproof containers that can be carried easily. Your pet disaster supply kit should include: medications (heartworm, flea prevention, records of Coggins test for horses, rabies/vaccination), registration records, microchip/tattoo information, sturdy leashes or harnesses, and/or carriers big enough for your pet to stand up and turn around, current photos of pets, food and drinkable water for three days, bowls and manual can opener, cat litter/pan, information on feeding schedule, medical conditions, behavior problems, and name and number of a veterinarian in case you have to foster or board animals.
If your pet is on medication or a special diet, find out from your veterinarian what you should do in case you have to leave it alone for several days. Try and get an extra supply of medications.
Make sure your pet has a properly fitted collar and includes current license and rabies tags. The collar should include an identification tag that has your name and also the name of a relative in another state, with address and phone number. If your dog normally wears a chain link "choker" collar, have a leather or nylon collar available if you have to leave him alone for several days.
Contact motels and hotels in communities outside of your area and find out if they will accept pets in an emergency if you evacuate with your pet. Some will require a nonrefundable deposit of $250 upfront, plus a $10 charge for daily accommodations.
Visit the following Web sites to get more information on pet friendly lodging, www.petfriendlyhotelsandtravel.com or call 1-800-852-1889. You can also visit on the Web at www.petswelcome.com; www.floridadisaster.org; American Veterinary Medical Association www.avma.org and Humane Society of the United States www.hsus.org, for advice on preparing for your pet's safety.
Special considerations are made for Trained Guide Dogs. In most states, trained guide dogs for the blind, hearing impaired or handicapped will be allowed to stay in emergency shelters with their owners. Check with local emergency management officials for more information.
DURING
Bring your pets inside immediately. Animals have instincts about severe weather changes and will often isolate themselves if they are afraid. Bringing them inside early can stop them from running away. Never leave a pet outside or tied up during a storm.
Leave a two or three day supply of dry food, even if it's not the pet's usual food. The food should not be moistened because it can turn sour or rancid. Leave the food in a sturdy container that the pet cannot overturn. Place the water in a sturdy, no-spill container. Large dogs may be able to obtain fresh water from a partially filled bathtub. Also leave familiar items such as the pet's normal bedding and favorite toys.
Separate dogs and cats. Even if your dog and cat normally get along, the anxiety of an emergency situation can cause pets to act irrationally. Keep small pets away from cats and dogs.
If you evacuate and plan to take your pets, take your already assembled pet disaster supply kit. Remember to bring your pet's medical records and medicines with your emergency supplies.
For those with birds, during an emergency, you may have to take your birds with you. They must eat daily to survive. Talk with your veterinarian or local pet store about special food dispensers that regulate the amount of food a bird is given. Make sure that the bird is caged and the cage is covered by a thin cloth or sheet to provide security and filtered light.
AFTER
If after a disaster you have to leave town, take your pets with you.
In the first few days after the disaster, leash your pets when they go outside. Also maintain close contact. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered, and your pet may become confused and lost. Also, snakes and other dangerous animals may be brought into the area with flood waters. Downed power lines are a hazard. Remember in Florida it is against the law to tie dogs outside
