Is Your Pet’s Emergency Plan Ready for Hurricane Season?

Pet emergency planning is an important part of emergency household preparations because it increases the likelihood of safely evacuating your pets. Having a pet emergency plan is one of the most sensible things you can do as a responsible pet owner. 

Pet-Friendly Emergency Preparations

You do not get much warning when you hear that a hurricane is coming. For this reason, it causes panic, and you frequently forget what you need to do and important things such as your beloved pets or items. As a result, shelters may refuse you because you didn’t prepare, so having a pet emergency plan is essential.

A Pet Emergency Plan Should Include Three Sections:

  • Preventative
  • During
  • After

What Should You Do Before a Hurricane?

If you have the means, fleeing before a hurricane hit is the safest option. It necessitates extra preparation on the part of pet owners. This information can and should be obtained in advance, as you will be extremely busy once the hurricane arrives.

Look for nearby shelters

Inquire about the types of pets they accept and any pet-specific requirements. Inquire if they have any available space. Unfortunately, animal shelters can only work on a first-come, first-served basis during a crisis. Provide plenty of food and bowls when you send your pet.

Make contact lists

Make a list of your pet’s contacts before a hurricane and decide whether you will leave them at a family or friend’s house outside the emergency area or place them in a shelter or vet surgery. Make this a part of your escape strategy.

Identification tag for your pet

Ensure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date and that it wears a collar with an identification tag as part of the preventative measure.

Prepare a comfortable pet carrier

You will need a pet carrier that allows your pet to stand up and turn around. Put it in a convenient place. We advise them to keep their vaccination records in the carrier.

Take pictures with your pet

According to Dawson, people should also take pictures with their pets and save them on their phones or keep a printed copy with other important documents. If your pet goes missing and loses its identity, having this photo on hand can help you reclaim your pet from a shelter or rescue organization.

Keep yourself informed

Knowing your situation allows you to make informed decisions about your safety and the safety of your pets and family. It will significantly improve your chances of evacuating safely.

If you have all of your pet’s emergency supplies listed on your pet emergency plan, you will be ready if a hurricane hits. When you receive a hurricane warning, stick to your pet’s emergency plan, so you do not forget anything important. 

If the hurricane damaged your property, you must seek the assistance of a reputable property restoration company. You may visit them here for more information.

What Should You Do After a Hurricane?

Include post-hurricane procedures in your pet emergency plan; this may seem obvious, but storms are devastating to humans and animals.

  1. Check if your home requires mold remediation or if any animals came inside during the storm. They are poisonous to your pets or pose a threat to them.
  2. Search the yard for downed power lines.
  3. Keep an eye on your pet’s behavior; natural disasters such as hurricanes can make animals aggressive.

If your home floods or suffers water damage, you can hire a company like PuroClean to help you restore your property.

If you do not have much time or can not find a rescue shelter and have to leave your pet at home, make sure they are safe and calm. If your fluffy friend has gone missing, use the photo to make posters, and hopefully, someone will contact you soon and reunite you with your beloved pet, thanks to the collar and identification tag.

Ultimately

Simple steps such as developing a pet emergency plan can help ensure that you do not forget anything while evacuating. Follow these tips to keep your pet safe this hurricane season. Ensure you have all important information, such as vaccination records, which can result in you being turned away from animal shelters, so follow these tips to keep your pet safe this hurricane season.