Emergency Preparedness

This is an Emergency

In the event of an emergency, will you be ready to safely secure yourself? Your family? Your pets? The key is to be prepared, know what to do and when, and to act swiftly. When disaster happens, this helpful guide may be the difference between safety and sorrow.

 

Shelter in Place vs. Evacuation

-Monitor emergency alerts

-If need to evacuate should not need more than 30 minutes to get going

-Be actively prepared

-Have several routes identified and prepare vehicle

-Add gas/charge, remove non-essential items, start packing vehicle if evacuation seems likely

 

Shelter in Place

-Have food and water to support two weeks at a minimum

-General rule of thumb is one gallon per dog per day, (one ounce per pound per day for smaller animals)

-Store food in waterproof bags, in small transportable units in case they get wet/contaminated or there is a need to evacuate and carry

-Prepare reliable power source (generator)

-Blankets if cold; fan or cooling mechanism if hot

-Medicine for at least 14 days, preferably 30 days

-Flashlight with batteries

-Radio with batteries and monitor emergency alerts

-Be prepared to evacuate

 

Evacuation

-Food and treats for at least 3 to 5 days; food in airtight waterproof containers

-Manual can opener if needed

-Drinking water for entire family, including pets

-General rule of thumb is one ounce per pound per day for smaller animals, one gallon per day minimum per bigger dog, one gallon per person per day

-Bowls for food and water

-Current photos, including you with pet

-Physical description of your pets, both written and stored in the Cloud, with details regarding markings

-Tags with pet name, your name and phone number, microchip information

-Medications, vaccination records, and pet first aid supplies; will need records for boarding

-Leashes, extra collars, harnesses, muzzle, carrier

-Will need leash and collar for cats

-Carriers should be big enough for animal to stand up, turn around, and sleep comfortably

-Bedding to keep them warm and that will be familiar. You may not be able to stay with your pet. Some shelters allow if animal in carrier, some shelters do not. Generally service animals can stay with the person they support.

-Toys for dogs and cats, crucial to keep them busy on long trips and for long waits

-Adequate number of poop bags (you likely cannot over-estimate how many you will need)

-Pee pads for crate

-Trash bags and spray disinfectant

-Wet Wipes, towels, and soft blanket

-For cats, extra bag of litter, litter, box, and scooper

-Grooming items – shampoo, brush/comb

-Name and cell phone on all items in case you get separated

Your animals will likely be as scared as you, if not more so. Stay calm, reassure them, periodically provide affection, familiar treats, familiar toys. Ask your vet ahead of time for sedation medication to have on hand in case you have a panicky pet

 

First Aid Kit

-Gauze/wrap material for wounds, scissors (blunt tip), adhesive tape

-Elastic bandages

-Animal antiseptic ointment/wipes or solution

-Sterile saline

-Hydrogen peroxide (3% – for inducing vomiting if advised by a vet)

-Antibiotic ointment (suitable for dogs)

-Nail clippers

-Tweezers

-Cotton balls/swabs

-Disposable gloves

-Muzzle or soft cloth/pillowcase/nylons (to prevent biting if in pain/fearful)

-Petroleum jelly

-Oral syringe or turkey baster (for administering liquids or liquid meds)

-Ice pack

-Flashlight/ batteries

-Styptic pencil (to stop bleeding from broken nails)

 

Pre-Event Practice Drills

-Practice getting pets into crates and transporting in crate

-Note older cats are generally the hardest to capture, so get them in their crate early

-Identify facilities within 100 miles that accept pets – hotels, boarding sites, kennels, groomers, etc.

-Make sure ID tags, microchip, and veterinary records are up-to-date

-For more information see www.ready.gov