The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Citizen Corps declared May 8, National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day.

The declaration is meant to raise awareness about the importance of planning for pets’ safety before disaster strikes.

“Preparedness is peace of mind, and including our animals in preparedness plans before an emergency or disaster is the best way to ensure the safety of people and their pets,” said Dr. Heather Case, AVMA Scientific Activities Division director.

The AVMA offers an array of disaster preparedness resources, including “Saving the Whole Family,” a client brochure on ways of providing for pets during an emergency. The brochure and other disaster planning resources are available here 

Pets and Disasters

We always need to be prepared to take care of our animals, especially during disasters such as fire, flood, or other emergencies. In cases of fire or natural disasters, you need to be prepared in case your pet gets injured, lost, or has to be evacuated.

·    A pre-determined plan in case of a disaster will help you remain calm and think clearly.
·    Remember to communicate and cooperate with all emergency personnel.
·    If you must leave the premises let someone know where you are going and try to remain in contact with that person.

Planning for Disasters

·    The AVMA’s Saving the Whole Family©  (also in Spanish: Salvando a la Familia Entera) offers a comprehensive list of what needs to be done to safeguard pets before, during and after a disaster.
·    First Aid Tips for Pet Owners can help you prepare in advance by learning some basics of pet First Aid, including what to put into a First Aid supply kit.
·    Wildfire Smoke and Animals provides important information to keep both pets and livestock safe from wildfire smoke.

Learn more by viewing the Saving the Whole Family: Disaster Prep for Your Pets video on YouTube, or by visiting the following resources:

For Pet Owners
·    Natural Disasters: Plan Ahead for Animals’ Safety (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
·    Prepare Your Pets, Too  (American Red Cross)

For Horse Owners
·    Large Animals and Livestock in Disasters
·    Emergency and Disaster Preparedness for Horse Owners (American Association of Equine Practitioners)

Pet Evacuation Kit

Be prepared for a disaster with a pet evacuation kit. Assemble the kit well in advance of any emergency and store in an easy-to-carry, waterproof container close to an exit.

Food and Medicine
·    3-7 days’ worth of dry and canned (pop-top) food*
·    Two-week supply of medicine*
·    At least 7 days’ supply of water
·    Feeding dish and water bowl
·    Liquid dish soap
*These items must be rotated and replaced to ensure they don’t expire

First Aid Kit
·    Anti-diarrheal liquid or tablets
·    Antibiotic ointment
·    Bandage tape and scissors
·    Cotton bandage rolls
·    Flea and tick prevention (if needed in your area)
·    Isopropyl alcohol/alcohol prep pads
·    Latex gloves
·    Saline solution
·    Towel and washcloth
·    Tweezers

Sanitation
·    Litter, litter pan, and scoop (shirt box with plastic bag works well for pan)
·    Newspaper, paper towels, and trash bags
·    Household chlorine beach or disinfectant

Important Documents
·    Identification papers including proof of ownership
·    Medical records and medication instructions
·    Emergency contact list, including veterinarian and pharmacy
·    Photo of your pet (preferably with you)

Travel Supplies
·    Crate or pet carrier labeled with your contact information
·    Extra collar/harness with ID tags and leash
·    Flashlight, extra batteries
·    Muzzle

Comfort Items
·    Favorite toys and treats
·    Extra blanket or familiar bedding

After the Disaster

·    Survey the area inside and outside your home to identify sharp objects, dangerous materials, dangerous wildlife, contaminated water, downed power lines, or other hazards.
·    Examine your animals closely, and contact your veterinarian immediately if you observe injuries or signs of illness.
·    Familiar scents and landmarks may have changed, and this can confuse your animals.
·    Release equines/livestock in safe and enclosed areas only. Initial release should take place during daylight hours when the animals can be closely observed.
·    Release cats, dogs, and other small animals indoors only. They could encounter dangerous wildlife and debris if allowed outside unsupervised and unrestrained.
·    Release birds and reptiles only if necessary and only when they are calm and in an enclosed room.
·    Reintroduce food in small servings, gradually working up to full portions if animals have been without food for a prolonged period of time.
·    Allow uninterrupted rest/sleep to allow animals to recover from the trauma and stress.
·    The disruption of routine activities can be the biggest cause of stress for your pets, so try to re-establish a normal schedule as quickly as you can.
·    Comfort each other. The simple act of petting and snuggling can reduce anxiety for both people and pets.
·    If you notice any signs of stress, discomfort, or illness in your pets, contact your veterinarian to schedule a checkup.

If Your Animals Are Lost:

·    Physically check animal control and animal shelters DAILY for lost animals. Some emergency response agencies may also use social media (Facebook, etc.) to post information about lost and found animals.
·    Post waterproof lost animal notices and notify local law enforcement, animal care and control officials, veterinarians, and your neighbors of any lost animals (utilize online resources for lost and found animals).
·    If your animal is lost and has a microchip, notify the microchip registry that your animal is missing.

This is also a good time to check your overall preparedness for emergencies. Here are some simple steps (adapted from Weather Ready Nation ) to help you feel ready:

1.    Determine your risk. When does severe weather typically hit your area? Are you at risk for hurricanes or tornados? Do you live in an area that floods easily?

2.    Develop an evacuation plan. This is particularly important when considering your pets. If you should need to evacuate your home for any length of time, you will need to know where you can go that your pets are welcome too. Many emergency shelters do not allow pets. Some hotels/motels do allow pets, but make sure yours are up to date on their vaccinations and that you have vet records.

3.    Assemble emergency supplies (see above list).

4.    Write out your disaster plan and hold a family meeting to discuss. It doesn’t do any good to have a disaster plan if your family members are not on the same page. Go over the plan with everyone living in your house and make sure to assign jobs according to ability. Your toddler may not be the best one to be in charge of your golden retriever, but may be entirely capable of finding the cat if you have to evacuate (if it is safe for him to do so). This is also a good time to apply window clings so that emergency personnel can account for the animals living in your home. Here is a link for a set of 2.

Don’t wait until it is too late.  Be prepared today so that, in the event of an emergency, you can react quickly and get your furry loved ones to safety.

Help protect pets by spreading the word about disaster preparedness. Download, print and share FEMA’s brochure today.

Emergencies come in many forms, and they may require anything from a brief absence from your home to permanent evacuation. Each type of disaster requires different measures to keep your pets safe, so the best thing you can do for yourself and your pets is to be prepared. Here are simple steps you can follow now to make sure you’re ready before the next disaster strikes:

Pet owners may wonder if they could house their pets at a local animal shelter if their own home was lost during a natural disaster. Dr. Johnson-Walker explains that local municipalities are required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to have a place to put pets during such times of need.

“The PETS Act (Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006) requires the director of FEMA to ensure that the needs of individuals with pets and service animals are met at the state and local level prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency,” says Dr. Johnson-Walker.

“FEMA leaders have found that some pet owners will not evacuate a life-threatening situation without their beloved animal,” she explains. “However, if you can’t prove that your animal is current on vaccines, shelters may refuse to take your pet, so that’s another reason it’s important to keep up with annual veterinary visits.”

According to Dr. Johnson-Walker, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for pets housed at human evacuation shelters states that “All dogs, cats, and ferrets must have proof of current vaccination against rabies, or be vaccinated upon entry to the shelter.”

What about relocation plans for large animals or exotic pets, such as small mammals, reptiles, and birds? Dr. Johnson-Walker says that there could be some limitations, depending on the species. For example, some animal shelters may not be equipped or willing to care for a snake. Reptile owners should contact their local animal shelter and check what animals will be accepted during a natural disaster. Prearranging with friend or neighbor who likes scaly pets would be a good backup plan.

Dr. Johnson-Walker recommends keeping a pet’s medical records with the rest of the important family records or on an electronic database for easy access during an emergency. It is especially necessary if the pet is on medication for a chronic illness. A shelter would be able to administer medications to the animal, but they would need to know what those medications are.

Just as families keep emergency kits ready for their humans, don’t forget about an emergency kit for your pet. This emergency kit should include most of the same things that a person would need. Dr. Johnson-Walker recommends a kit including the following: enough food and water to last at least 3 days, any medications the pet is currently on, a leash, collar, records, first aid kit, and a recent picture of the animal.

For people who board their animal at a kennel or barn, Dr. Johnson-Walker recommends asking to see the facility’s plan for the animals during an emergency. This way you’ll know where your animal can be found in case the facility has to move it.

Dr. Johnson-Walker also notes that the college’s Center for One Health Illinois is working with companion animal rescue groups, zoos and aquariums on emergency planning.

“Funded by cooperative agreements with USDA Animal Care and a gift from the Noah’s Wish foundation, Incident Command System (ICS) training is now being provided through the College of Veterinary Medicine. ICS is a tool for enhancing response collaboration and communication during an emergency,” explains Dr. Johnson-Walker. “Our goal is to expand ICS training opportunities for people working with companion animals, livestock, and captive wildlife. We want to make sure that they can work effectively with first responders in a disaster so that the needs of the animals within our community can be part of the response and recovery plan.”