With hurricane season approaching it’s very important to prepare your pets for hurricanes and to have a plan. Our pets are important members of our family and will be even more dependent on us in emergencies. So always keep in mind that if it’s not safe for you, it’s not safe for them.
Make a Plan
To prepare your pets for hurricanes, have a plan. Having a plan already in place sets you up for a lot less worry and stress during an emergency. A lot of shelters and hotels don’t allow pets. By finding a safe place to take them before the emergency occurs you’re setting yourself up for success and creating a much smoother evacuation for your family.
*Helpful tip: During hurricanes we keep at least 2 of our clinics fully staffed with backup generators. Please keep this in mind when creating an emergency plan
If possible, develop a buddy system. Create a plan with your neighbors, friends or family. That way, if you’re not home in case of an emergency, you have someone else to count on. This should be someone who knows your pets and vice versa.
If your pet isn’t already microchipped, talk to your vet about getting them microchipped. This can be one of the best decisions to prepare your pets for hurricanes. Sometimes, no matter what we do, things happen. If you ever lose your pet, microchipping is the best way to make sure your pet comes back to you.
Build an Emergency Kit
Once you have your plan down, your next step is to build an emergency kit to prepare your pets for hurricanes. This kit is going to have all the essential and important information for your pet’s survival. Be sure to review the contents in your kit regularly, ensuring everything is up to date and fresh.
Your emergency kit should include:
- Food
- Water bowl and fresh water
- Medicine that they take on the daily and instructions for how they take it
- First Aid Kit
- Collar with ID tag and harness or leash
- Information on feeding schedules, registration, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets. (All of this should be kept in a sealed bag to avoid water damage.)
- Traveling bag, crate or carrier
- Grooming items that your pet uses often
- Sanitation needs: Litter box, plastic bags, newspaper, paper towels.
- A picture of you and your pet together. This can be included with all of the other important documents, but it may also help to laminate the picture as well as placing it in the sealed bag.
- Familiar items. If possible, bring your pets bed, favorite toys. Anything to make the evacuation easier for them
Stay Informed
When you know bad weather may be approaching, keep your phone on you at all times and well charged. Pay attention to the local alerts and warnings and listen to local officials when told to evacuate or shelter in place. In addition to local alerts, we provide updates on our website, Facebook and Instagram. I highly recommend following our social media accounts to be better informed on how to prepare your pets for hurricanes.
At the very first sign of a hurricane or disaster, bring your pet indoors. Know where they are and where they like to hide before you need to go looking for them.
You can also download the FEMA app to get weather alerts from the National Weather Service to even better prepare your pets for hurricanes and yourself.
Prepare Your Pets for Hurricanes with Familiarizing Travel
To prepare your pets for hurricanes in the long run, begin early on. Be sure to familiarize them with their crate and traveling well before they need to use them. You want their crate to be something they’re used to and a form of comfort during this stressful time.
When practicing the evacuation with your family, include your pets in the drills as well. Teach them to go to their crates when asked and familiarize them with the process. Creating as much of a routine around it as possible is one of the best ways to lessen the stress on your pets.