By: Andrea Free
During the summer months in the United States, southern states like Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas are affected by hurricanes from the Atlantic Ocean. While hurricanes can happen anytime, the season is from the beginning of June to the end of November, with August through October being the peak.
The purpose of this article is to provide tips to pet owners who may find themselves in a situation where they would have to evacuate their home. I am aware there are circumstances in which pet owners cannot take their pets during a disaster due to lack of resources (transportation, animal carriers, money, etc.); however, I hope the following will be useful, especially to those with limited resources. The following should be helpful in many evacuation-type situations and should be used in addition to any other plans you have in place for you and your family.
First, I would like to note the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) was passed in October of 2006 to help prevent pets from being left behind in the event of a disaster. Thousands of pets were left behind during Hurricane Katrina because pet owners were unable to take their pets. There are various reasons for this, but one of the main reasons is busses taking people out of town did not allow animals. Under the new law, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) must work to develop plans for evacuations that will incorporate pets and service animals.(1)
While this law is a good start, I’m sure we would all feel better knowing there are some things we, as pet owners, can do to prepare.
Here are some tips:
1) Have a checklist ready. An evacuation can be very rushed. It will be extremely beneficial to prepare a list of items you need to take for your pet.
2) Talk to friends and family. If you don’t think you will be able to take your pet with you in the event of a disaster, talk to neighbors, friends, or family to see if they will help.
3) Do research. Chances are you have some idea of where you would evacuate to during a disaster. Find shelters and resources for you, your family, and your pet ahead of time. If you plan to stay with someone you know, make sure they know you are bringing your pet. If your plan is to stay at a hotel, do a search on HotelsAllowingPets.com (HAP) for pet-friendly hotels in the area you plan to evacuate to, and always have a back-up plan.
4) See how your pet responds to a car ride. Prior to an emergency, take your pet for an occasional car ride to see how they react. A disaster is not the time to find out that they are scared of riding in the car. (Under the Travel Tips section of HAP, we provide articles with general travel tips and traveling with cats.)
5) Set aside extra supplies. Pet food can be expensive, so rather than buying an extra bag to set aside in case of an emergency, start setting aside a scoop a week in a sealable plastic container. As far as supplies (kennels, leashes, travel dishes, blankets, etc.), shop at discount stores, or see what you can find at garage sales throughout the year. With some thrifty shopping and by spreading it out over time, it’s completely possible to prepare the supplies your pet will need during an evacuation.
The five tips mentioned above can be done with limited resources and should be in addition to normal pet care such as keeping your animal up-to-date on shots and making sure they have proper identification (tags and/or microchip).
(1)“President Bush Signs Bill to Leave No Pet Behind in Disaster Planning and Evacuation.” The Humane Society of the United States. 6 Oct. 2006. 16 June 2009. http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/president_bush_signs_pet_Act.html
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