A natural disaster may result in having to be evacuated from your home. As such, your pet will also need to be evacuated, which adds further stress to an already unfavorable situation. While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the fear that comes with emergency evacuations, it is possible to enhance your disaster preparedness plan to alleviate some of the strain. 

Stay Current with Their Vaccinations 

Oftentimes during an emergency situation, pets need to be boarded at boarding facilities or veterinary hospitals as their families wait out the storm in a shelter. These pet-friendly establishments are glad to help you with your pet, provided that they are up to date on their vaccinations. That’s why it is essential to stay up-to-date on your pet’s vaccinations, flea and tick treatments, and heartworm medication to ensure they will be accepted should they need to be boarded. 

Make Your Pet Easily Identifiable 

Natural disasters strike fast and as such there’s a possibility you may be separated from your pet. To encourage the best chance of being reunited there are a few measures you may take, including the following: 

• Consider having your pet microchipped 

• Keep a recent photo of your pet on hand 

• Ensure your pet’s collar has your updated contact information on it

Put Together a Pet Emergency Kit 

Creating a pet emergency kit that is stored in an accessible area of your home can deter some of the stress of trying to prepare for an emergency evacuation. Your pet’s emergency kit should include the following items: 

• Your pet’s food and plenty of water 

• Bowls for their food and water

• A harness, leash, collar, and/or pet carrier 

• A toy or bone 

• Their medications and copies of their medical records 

• A blanket or small pet bed 

Have a Safe Place Planned in Advance 

Most storm shelters do not allow animals, as they can be a health and safety concern. That means it’s important to plan in advance where you will bring your pet in case of an emergency. If you’d like to stay with your pet, look up hotels or motels that are out of the area of the disaster that accept pets. It’s also helpful to have the number of a trusted shelter, boarding facility, or veterinary hospital that can take your pet in while you wait out the emergency situation. 

Enhance your pet disaster preparedness by following these helpful tips and reach out to your trusted veterinarian for additional information on keeping your pet safe and healthy.