Pet disaster preparedness: Protect your pet in a natural disaster

No matter where you live, natural disasters can happen — from floods, fires and blizzards to hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes. These unexpected events can put your entire family, including your dog or cat, in danger. Being prepared can go a long way toward protecting your pet, and many essential prep steps are the same regardless of which type of emergency you face. Here’s a pet disaster preparedness guide to help you get ready.

How to keep your cat or dog safe

• Keep a collar with ID tag on your dog or cat at all times. Consider microchipping your dog or cat as a backup ID. Also keep leashes or pet carriers handy.
• Bring your pets inside as soon as you know a natural disaster could be imminent. Then keep your pals contained — in a closed room, pet crate or with a leash on — so you don’t have to spend time finding them later when they may be scared and decide to hide.
• Post a “pets inside” sticker on your front door or window, listing the number and type of pets in your home, as well as your and your vet’s phone number. You can purchase stickers at many pet stores and online.

Make a pet disaster preparedness plan

• Have a plan for sheltering at home — such as knowing the safest places in your home for different types of emergencies — and a plan for evacuating, such as having a family meet-up place. Remember, if it’s not safe for you to stay home, it’s not safe for your pets, either.
• Realize that public emergency shelters for people often don’t accept pets. Create a list of options for your dog or cat, such as veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, boarding facilities, friends and family members outside your immediate area who might be willing to take in your dog or cat in an emergency. Keep this list in your or your pet’s emergency kit.
• Consider working with a local friend or neighbor to be each other’s temporary pet caregiver. This should be someone who can easily access your dog or cat, and who is usually home when you’re not and vice versa.

Create a pet emergency kit

A complete cat or dog emergency kit should include the following:

• At least three days’ and up to two weeks’ worth of food, water and medications. Keep perishable items in your kit fresh by rotating them out to use every couple of months.
• Food and water bowls
• Written instructions for feeding and administering medication
• Your vet’s contact information, plus details on a backup and/or emergency vet
• Pet first aid kit
• Litter box and litter
• Potty pick-up bags
• Trash bags
• Disinfectant and paper towels
• Your pet’s medical records (paper copies or on a USB drive) in a waterproof container
• Extra leash and collar for each pet
• Blanket or pet bed
• Toys and other items that might help your dog or cat feel more comfortable in a crisis

Learn more

For more advice on how to prepare your family, including your pets, for natural disasters, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov website. Talk with your veterinarian for additional insights on what to include in a pet emergency kit for your particular pet, as well as for help finding emergency pet shelters in your area. Simple steps like this can give you peace of mind — and an advantage if an emergency should strike.