PREPAREDNESS FOR PET AND ANIMAL OWNERS

WHY PREPARE

Whether it's a large-scale natural catastrophe or an unforeseen emergency that causes you to leave your home temporarily, everyone's family can benefit from having a household evacuation plan in place before disaster strikes.  Every disaster plan must include your pets!

There are real benefits to being prepared.

  • Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters.  Communities, families, and individuals should know what to do in the event of a fire and where to seek shelter during a tornado. They should be ready to evacuate their homes and take refuge in public shelters and know how to care for their basic medical needs.

  • People also can reduce the impact of disasters (flood proofing, elevating a home or moving a home out of harm's way, and securing items that could shake loose in an earthquake) and sometimes avoid the danger completely.

The need to prepare is real.

  • Disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Each disaster has lasting effects, both to people and property.

  • If a disaster occurs in your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you, but you need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere.

  • You should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster that could occur in your area--hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme cold, flooding, or terrorism.

  • You should also be ready to be self-sufficient for at least three days. This may mean providing for your own shelter, first aid, food, water, and sanitation.

Basic Disaster Planning for Animals

Two Simple Steps

1. Have a safe way to transport your animals

2. Know where you are going to take your animals

That is all it takes

Disaster planning for animals does not need to be an overwhelming task! There are only two steps that you need to take to safeguard your animals. Once you have completed these two life-saving steps, you are well on your way to protecting the animals you are responsible for when a disaster strikes.

To take planning one step further, you can also put together, in a waterproof and secure container, the supplies needed to care for your animals during the time you are evacuated. It is suggested that you be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours.

Animal disaster supply kit

You will have to set up your kit based on the types and number of animals you have. At a minimum, your kit should include the following:

  • Food and water (include a food dish and water bowl)

  • Collar with identification

  • Sanitation items

  • Vet records

  • Current photographs of your animals, preferably with you

  • A way to keep your animal controlled and confined (harness or leash – crate or other pet carrier)

  • Long term medication

  • Favorite toys or bedding

When it comes time to evacuate, what is most important is that you get you and your animals to safety. If you are putting lives at risk to grab your disaster kit, leave it behind. Animals are dependent on people to survive when disasters strike. That is why you, as a caregiver, need to take the time - NOW - to prepare to evacuate and care for them when something happens. If you don’t, your animal may not survive.

Have a backup plan

If you are not at home when a disaster strikes, who could you trust to step in and help your animals? That is the last question you need to ask yourself to complete your plan. Choose someone you trust that you can notify when you are going to be away from home. If they have animals, you can become each others back up person. Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so. Talk with your pet care buddy about your evacuation plans and show them where you keep your emergency supply kit and provide telephone numbers of friends or relatives outside the immediate area for emergency contact.

For More Information or Speakers Contact:

Disaster Animal Response Team of Athens County
(740) 753-1529
Tammy Hann Harlan

Click on the below to download the subject matter

ADOBE PDF FILES  
Are You Ready?  An In-depth Guide To Citizen Preparedness (21MB)
Preparing Makes Sense. Get Ready Now. (Booklet)
Preparing Makes Sense. Get Ready Now. (Pamphlet)
Emergency Supply List
Family Emergency Plan
Your Family Disaster Plan
Family Disaster Supply Kit
Emergency Preparedness Checklist
Multi-Disaster Checklist
Homeland Security Response Guide For Individuals And Families
Preparing Your Pets Emergencies Makes Sense.  Get Ready Now.

Taking care of and how to handle your pet in a disaster They're family too!

The Humane Society of the United States Offers Disaster Planning Tips for Pets, Livestock and Wildlife
Disaster Preparedness For Pets
Disaster Preparedness For Horses
Disaster Preparedness For Livestock
Shelter In Place (Video Student Guide)
Animals In Emergencies ( Video Guide)
   
WINDOWS MEDIA FILE  
Shelter In Place Video (13:38 min/ 8.78 MB)
Family Preparedness Video (3:09 min/ 12.3 MB)
Animals In Emergencies: What Owners Need To Know (35:37 min/ 21.8 MB)
Preparing Your Pets Emergencies Makes Sense.  Get Ready Now (4:20 min/ 14.9 MB)
   
GETTING READY FOR DISASTER VIDEO SERIES  
Getting Ready For Disaster - Introduction (5:06 min/ 6.17 MB)
Getting Ready For Disaster - Get Informed (3:47 min/ 4.6 MB)
Getting Ready For Disaster - Make A Plan (5:44 min/ 6.9 MB)
Getting Ready For Disaster - Disaster Supplies Kit (4:44 min/ 5.52 MB)
Getting Ready For Disaster - People With Disabilities (3:05 min/ 3.73 MB)
Getting Ready For Disaster - Food And Water (4:38 min/ 5.68 MB)
Getting Ready For Disaster - Helping Children Cope (4:43 min/ 5.62 MB)
Getting Ready For Disaster - Get Involved (6:37 min/ 6.88 MB)