Planning for Emergencies Should Keep Pets in Mind
September is National Preparedness Month, a reminder that everyone should plan year-round how to handle an emergency for the whole family – including pets. Hurricanes, floods, ice storms and fires can require quick action, and preparing in advance can save lives.
Survival can come down to crucial details. For example, stocking a certain number of gallons of water per person in an emergency kit is a great start, but the calculation should also include pets’ needs.
“The most important element in preparing for emergencies is to create a plan,” says Gina Hardter, Director of Marketing & Communications for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). “How will the pet be transported if necessary, and where will they be lodged during an overnight evacuation? What if an emergency occurs while the pet owner is at work?” she said. “It’s important to arrange in advance someone who can enter the home and evacuate the pet.” The answer may be setting up a pet care buddy system with a friend or neighbor.
Who is this? “Pets can’t tell authorities in an emergency who their family is,” Hardter said. Before an emergency arises, it’s important to make sure pets are wearing collars that identify them, including the owner’s name, phone number and address. But since collars and tags can fall off, especially in emergencies, cats, dogs and even rabbits and ferrets should also be microchipped with chips that are inserted just under the skin and can be scanned by a shelter or veterinary office to identify the animal. Keeping that information up to date is critical, and the information also should be registered at PetMicrochipLookup.org. At the pet’s annual exam, the veterinarian should scan him or her to make sure the chip still can be located.
Kits just for pets: Pet owners should keep their pets in mind when creating an emergency kit for the family. Some critical elements for dogs include an extra collar, leash and harness, and for cats a supply of litter and a litter box. All pets should have at least a week’s supply of food, water and any medicines that they take, all stored in waterproof containers. Food, water and medications should be rotated out of the kit monthly to keep it fresh. The kit also should contain towels, bedding, dog waste bags, food and water bowls, disinfectants and soaps. Storing the kit in the pet’s crate or carrier will make it easy to find when leaving the house quickly, and the crate should contain the owner’s identification information. Find a full checklist of items to include at AlexandriaAnimals.org/CareKit.
Kits also should contain copies of the pets’ medical records. “And it’s a good idea to have printed photographs of your pet available so you can show authorities what they look like in case you and your pet are separated in the emergency,” Hardter said. A picture showing both the pet and owner will help document ownership.
Taking shelter: The city of Alexandria has designated several sites for use during emergencies, but some of them may not accommodate animals. It’s important to look into your community’s shelter options well ahead of an emergency. Knowing what local hotels are pet-friendly can be invaluable in a power outage or similar emergency, for those who are able to take advantage of that option.
For pet owners experiencing a personal crisis such as loss of a home or a sudden hospitalization, the AWLA’s Crisis Care program shelters pets on a temporary basis. More information can be found at AlexandriaAnimals.org/CrisisCare. The AWLA also oversees Alexandria’s CART, or Community Animal Response Team. Through CART, the AWLA is responsible for animal-related issues and care that may arise during an emergency.
Detailed information and tips on emergency preparations for pets can be found at AlexandriaAnimals.org/EmergencyPreparedness and on the Virginia Department of Health website or by calling 800-BE-READY.