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Plan Ahead to Protect Pets from Natural Disasters
No one wants to think they they'll be involved in a disaster. But as the residents of Greensburg, Kansas learned when a tornado destroyed the town on May 4, 2007, it can happen at any time. The best thing you can do is prepare a disaster plan for you and your family. But when you're planning ahead don't forget about your pets.
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When Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and caused flooding that devastated New Orleans, the world got its first glance at how seriously pets could be affected by disaster too.
Many pets died in the flood and storm, but for those that survived the disaster, thousands were separated from their owners. Lack of pet identification and outdated contact information, combined with the fact that residents themselves were displaced, made extremely difficult to reunite owners with their pets. When thinking of a worst-case scenario, this was it.
If anything good came out of the situation it was that for the first time, the country was forced to realize how important pets are in the evacuation plan. The public outcry from residents looking for their pets or those demanding to bring their pets with them to the shelter made the government stand up and take notice. Thirteen months after Katrina, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act was signed into effect. The law requires local and state emergency preparedness authorities to include in their evacuation plans.
Pet Rescue in Greensburg, Kansas
When Greensburg was hit by a tornado in 2007, its pets fared much better than those involved in the Katrina disaster. According to the Disaster News Network, volunteer veterinarians took turns visiting and helping displaced or stray Greensburg animals following the May 4 tornado. Pets that were found were moved to nearby Pratt County Humane Society. And most of the pets that survived the tornado were reclaimed by their owners. However some owners were not able to keep their pets since they were living in temporary housing.
Each disaster brings its own set of obstacles and problems. The best way to prepare for any one of them is to plan ahead.
Disaster Preparedness Plan for Pets
If knowledge is power, you're off to a strong start. Lots of animal welfare organizations, including International Fund for Animal Welfare and The Humane Society of the United States provide disaster preparedness checklists for pets. In addition, the FEMA website provides invaluable information for knowing what to expect before, during, and after a disaster. FEMA's says: "If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND! Pets most likely cannot survive on their own; and if by some remote chance they do, you may not be able to find them when you return." Plan ahead by finding which locations or nearby hotels will allow pets.
Below are a Few Highlights of Disaster Preparedness.
1. Identification: Microchipping your pet is the best way to identify them after a disaster. Even if your pet always wears a collar, the collar may come off or the ID tag may be difficult to read.
2. Update information: Always keep your contact information up to date. If you can, provide alternate phone numbers for family members who may be reached if you can not.
3. Know where to go: Plan ahead by knowing where to take your pet if you need to evacuate. Most temporary shelters will not allow pets. Some will, but you often won't know until the shelter is determined. Find out what hotels or other places are available nearby.
4. Prepare a disaster kit: Along with your family's disaster kit pack the following items for your pet
- Copies of veterinary records, licenses and vaccinations in a plastic bag
- Picture of you with your pet in plastic bag
- Important phone numbers such as veterinarian, kennel, emergency clinic, hotels which accept pets
- Familiar items and toys to make your pet feel comfortable
- Pet First Aid kit
- Flashlight or light sticks
- Medications and instructions as prescribed by your veterinarian in a sealed bag
- Extra leash and collar or harness for each animal with up to date identification
- Pet waste clean-up supplies and a small litter box and litter for cats
- Food and water(two week supply)
- Metal food and water dishes
- Spoon and manual can opener (for canned food)
- Old towels and extra bedding material like blankets
- Pet wipes to clean contaminated feet
- Cat carrier
- Pet treats
- For pocket pets and birds--have a portable cage ready.
Horses and farm animals require additional preparedness. For horses, be sure to bring their harness and to practice loading them onto the trailer ahead of time. Learn more about disaster preparedness for horses and farm animals.
When you do evacuate safely, be prepared for some unusual behavior from your pet. Know that he or she may hide, refuse to come to you when called, or even become aggressive towards others, simply out of fear. Take precautions to protect your pet and others in these situations.