When natural disasters or other emergencies occur, you may need to take quick action to save yourself, your family members, and—perhaps most challenging—your companion animals. With proper preparation, however, seeing to the safety of an animal in such situations need not be difficult or add extra risks to you and your family.
Even though it is hard to predict what will happen during and after a disaster, there are some things that can be done ahead of time. As is the case for you and your family, when seeing to the needs of companion animals during a disaster, it is vitally important to have a well-thought-out plan, with alternatives at the ready to deal with various circumstances.
Keeping Your Pets with You
If forced to evacuate, it is impossible to know how long it will be until you can return home—so please take your animals with you. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 (PETS Act), signed into law on October 6, 2006, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, requires local and state emergency preparedness operational plans to address the needs of individuals with household pets, and authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide rescue for individuals and their household pets.
Not all emergency shelters allow companion animals, so it is important to research which ones take animals and the types of animals they accept. Your county emergency management office and your local animal shelter may be able to help. Similarly, compile a list of pet-friendly hotels and motels outside of your area.
Assemble a portable pet supply kit and have it stocked and on hand. Keep a good supply of water as well as nonperishable foodstuffs and medicines in sealed, waterproof containers that can be carried easily. Ensure that animal vaccinations are current. Keep photographs of your pet in case you get separated. In preparation for the possibility of being separated from your pet, make sure to have recent photos with you in case you need to post flyers. To be especially prepared, create the flyers ahead of time. (You may not have the time or necessary resources to do so in the midst of an emergency.)
Should disaster strike, try to stay calm, as this will help calm your animals. Take a restraint and carrier, as you may not know what situations you will face and may need to confine the animal for his or her own safety. If space permits, take a familiar blanket and toys to keep them warm, comforted and occupied.
Situations Where You Cannot Keep Your Animals with You
To prepare for the possibility that you will not be able to keep your pets with you, however, also contact in advance reliable friends, relatives or pet-sitters who will agree to care for your pets in accordance with your instructions until you can collect them.
If you have no choice but to leave companion animals behind unattended, understand that circumstances may prevent your return to the premises for an extended period of time—and plan accordingly. Do not leave companion animals loose outdoors. Keep them in a secure area inside your home with access to upper floors in case of flooding. Provide at least ten days’ supply of dry food and as much water as possible. For rescuers or anyone who might need to attend to your animal in your absence, leave your pet’s identification, your name, your location (if known), and how to reach you, as well as any special care instructions. Leave notification outside of the building of the fact that live animals are inside. Also, having your pets microchipped and making sure that their registration is up to date may help rescuers reunite you with your pets.
After surviving a disaster it may be hard to get back to a normal routine. Animals, like people, can become disoriented and confused, especially if once familiar surroundings have changed. Leash dogs and cats when they go outside and maintain close contact at all times in the days following major upheaval. This is especially important if there are downed power lines or other hazards as a result of the disaster. Animals, like people can suffer from post-traumatic stress, so it is also important to monitor behavior and react accordingly by visiting a veterinarian if temperament changes are causing you concern.