Emergency Pet and Family Planning

As thousands of families struggled with the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina, many of them were also missing pets. Many
people have plans to deal with emergencies for themselves, but
fail to make arrangements for the animal members of their
family. Whether it’s a small emergency such as a house fire, or
a large emergency like a tornado, hurricane, flood or manmade
disaster, advanced planning always gives the best chance of
keeping all of your family members safe.

Preparation

Start by talking with your family about what you will do in
various situations. Responses to localized emergencies like
fires, small storms and power outages will likely differ from
emergency plans for large scale emergencies such as hurricanes,
tornadoes and manmade attacks. Plan evacuation routes to
designated meeting points.

These will vary based on the situation. If dealing with
flooding, you’ll want to take refuge in the highest room
location in your home. For a tornado, you’ll want to take family
and pets to the lowest level of your home. If dealing with a
chemical or airborne emergency, the Red Cross advises families
to go to an interior room without windows that is above ground
level (in the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground
location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than
air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed).

All pets should have collars and tags with easily visible
identification. ID tags should have your pet’s name, your phone
number and important medical information. If possible, list a
mobile phone number. If you’re not at home when danger strikes,
calls may not reach you at a home phone.

For local emergencies, it is important to display an animal
rescue sign or sticker so that responders know that there are
pets in your home. Your rescue sign should contain the types and
names of pets in your house, as well as veterinarian name and
contact information. Use your best judgment about placing
additional contact information on the sign. While you want to
give emergency officials enough information to safely rescue you
pets, you must be cautious not to expose information which might
be abused by solicitors or passers by.

Finally, make copies of contact, evacuation route and emergency
plan information for all members of your family. Store them in
Ziploc style waterproof bags so that they will stay dry in case
of flooding or water damage.

Where to Go

After you take care of basic preparation, you should agree on
two meeting places: one near your home for emergencies such as
fires, and another outside of your immediate neighborhood if you
must evacuate your home. Similarly, it’s wise to designate two
emergency contacts. The first should be in your neighborhood,
the second should be out of town. During large scale disasters
it can often be easier to reach people who are not in your
immediate area. Make sure all of your family members memorize
both phone numbers.

If it is necessary to leave your home, you may not be able to
bring your pet to rescue facilities with your family. To prevent
permanent separation, identify a boarding kennel or shelter in
your immediate area that provides emergency care or foster care
for pets. Outside of your area, have the name and number of
hotels, friends or relatives that will accept your pets. By
having these numbers and arrangements in place, you will be able
to reunite with your pets even if you are not able to return to
your home.

Making an Emergency Pack

It’s easy to prepare an emergency pack for you and your pet.
Each pack should contain 3 days worth of supplies. Supplies
should be stored in a backpack as close to an exit as possible.

For each member of your family, your pack should
include:

*Batteries

*Battery powered flashlight

*Battery powered radio

*Blanket

*3-5 days worth of water

*Energy bars, canned nutrition shakes or other food which does
not require cooking or refrigeration

*Baby wipes

*Breathing mask

*Plastic sheeting

*Duct tape

*First Aid Kit and guide book

*Light stick

*Spray paint

*Whistle or air horn

*3-5 day supply of Tylenol or Aspirin, as well as any
prescription medication

*Recent photos if family members become separated

Your pet’s supply kit should include:

*Easy open canned or dry food. If packing dry food, you may wish
to store it in large Ziploc style plastic bags. For birds, a
small, tupperware container is recommended

*Bottled water supply for your pet

*Disposable litter trays

*Pet feeding dishes *Extra leash

*Photocopies of medical records

*3-5 day supply of any medicine your pet requires

*Litter or paper toweling

*A traveling bag or sturdy carrier, ideally one for each pet
*Recent photos of your pets if you become separated

Remember to change food, water and medicine every three to six
months to maintain freshness and effectiveness.

Disasters, whether small, large, natural or manmade can be
terrifying. By having a solid plan in place, emergency contacts
and disaster packs ready to go, you can give your entire family
the best chance of surviving together.

About the Author

Jenn Lanka is a writer for COMPANIONnet – a website
for pets and the people who love them. Visit for pet news, pet care tips, dog
treat recipes and more

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