PETS & EMERGENCY PRE-PLANS – TIP #3.

Some of you reminded us that Pets should be included in the Emergency Pre-Plan and we couldn’t agree more! We briefly touched base on this subject in our last post but felt we needed to “dig” a little deeper into the subject.

They are just like our “kids” and we want to do everything to include them should we have to evacuate from our homes or Shelter in Place if we are unable to go outside.

Being Pro-Active and Ready for Everyday Emergencies.

First and foremost, start practicing for “Everyday Emergencies” by becoming pro-active regarding your Pet’s Health and Wellness.  We highly recommending microchipping your beloved pets.  This is similar like having a Driver’s License which includes: their pet mircochip number in a database telling the rescuer, their name, address, who is their owner and a contact phone number.

Secondly, make sure your pet has a collar with a pet license and ID tag.  Even though your pet may be microchipped, this is one way rescuers or how a shelter can quickly reunite you with your beloved animal.

Including Your Pet in the Emergency Plan

It is natural to evacuate you and your family, but what do you do with the Family dog, cat, rabbit or ?  You do the next best thing and bring them with you when the WHOLE family evacuates from your home.  Including your pet in the Emergency Plan is something that should be done automatically, as you would any child or family member in your home.

No one ever wants to have to worry if their pet will be OK if left behind.  We know, we would be more than just heartbroken if we were facing that same situation.  This is why it is important to NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET BEHIND.  Your pet is just like family and you would never leave your child behind – so take your pet[s] with you.

Leaving pets behind is a stark reminder of terrible disasters like Hurricane Katrina did to those who were left to fend for themselves, be chained to the front porch or stranded to be rescued.  Unfortunately, not all of them were rescued.  We really don’t want that image to go through our minds once again, therefore means we all need to be pro-active together as a community.

  • Evacuate Early | Don’t wait until the mandatory order has been given and then it becomes a stressful time for you, your family and your furry friends.  Evacuating Early also gives you time to pack up more precious items [valuables, photos, your Survival Kit, First Aid Kit, etc.]  Some whom have waited until the last minute, have been told by Officials to leave their pets behind.  We don’t want this be your case and therefore, recommended you leave early.
  • Remember Your Evacuation Plan | Remember, the Evacuation plan you and your family including your Pet[s] practiced over and over again? This is now time to put it into good use.  Some shelters will allow your family to bring in small pets. Check the local Police Department or Office of Emergency Management’s websites to see what resources you can connect with.
  • Pet Evacuations | Large animals also may need to be evacuated and for this, there should be a pre-plan included indicating how you will transport the animals, location and when the evacuation should begin. This will be determined during your Evacuation Plan drills.  Don’t wait until it’s too late.
  • A Pet “GO” Bag |   What is a “Go” Bag you may ask?  Every househould should have one of these.  It is a water-proof bag that contains extra Pet Food, Water and Supplies for your Pet[s].  Depending on your pet[s]’ needs, you may to pack a minimum of three days away from home supplies and food.  We recommend: extra leashes, collars, booties [in case you are walking in and around shattered glass or broken pieces of wood], extra water, pet food and treats [for helping calm stressed pets].

If It’s Not Safe For Humans to Evacuate, It It’s Not Safe For Your Pets

Sometimes when a disaster strikes, like an Earthquake for example leaving your home may not be an option.  As you know, Earthquakes can strike at any moment’s notice with very little warnings or none at all.  Not only do they cause serious damage to infrastructures, buildings, vehicles, homes, public utilities and scare pets into escaping from  their own “safe” haven, it is something that you should be prepared for.

  • Make sure all nooks and crannies are closed off to pets, to ensure they won’t try to escape or become lodged inside.
  • Remove any toxic chemicals that may have spilled from the shaking of the Earthquake or whatever has caused the chemical to spill.
  • If a warning of impending danger is coming your way, practice your Emergency Plan and bring all those animals you can inside with you.  Larger animals may need to be moved to another “safe” location. This should be in your Pre-Emergency Plan.
  • If doing a “property inspection”, make sure to keep your dogs on leashes and cats in carriers inside your home or they could possibly escape.
  • If you are told to “Shelter in Place” by your Local Office of Emergency Management Office, find a “safe” room for your animals to stay until all danger has cleared.
  • Should you find your home seriously damaged, it is time to evacuate your home and put your training of evacuating into play.
  • If your home is flood, it is vital that you act in a cautious way because wildlife can take refuge in your home or yard becoming a danger to you and your pet.

As stated before, September is National Preparedness Month but this should be something we should be prepare for every day.  Being prepared helps Save Lives and those who we greatly care about.  First Responders will find it easier knowing the homeowners and their pets are in a safe pre-determined location and they won’t need to be searching or rescuing them unnecessarily putting their Safety in jeopardy.

Thank you for joining us and hope you enjoyed our “Human Touch” on “Pets and Emergency Pre-Plans” Tip #3.

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