June 1st marks the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. But residents of coastal areas aren't the only ones who should keep their eyes on the weather. Hurricanes - and other disasters - can strike wreak havoc far inland. Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, toxic spills - all can devastate lives in a short time.
After hurricane Andrew struck south Florida, tens of thousands of animals were left homeless, injured, and/or euthanized because they could not be reunited with their owners. Many of these animals were left to fend for themselves while their owners fled to a place of safety.
Make a disaster plan now, while life is calm. If you are in a hurricane-prone area, make an evacuation plan that will cover you and your pets. While many hotels do not allow pets or require hefty pet deposits during normal circumstances, many will reduce or waive fees or allow pets during evacuations. Or find a vet or kennel inland in a safe place that will board your pets for you. Better yet, find a friend or relative in a safe area that will let you bring your entire family with you. Also, some larger areas now have animal evacuation sites set up for people to bring animals to, but they have requirements that each pet must meet to be accepted. Contact your local emergency management office to see if such a program exists in your area, and if so, what the requirements are.
Invest in collapsible crates or portable kennels for all your animals. Make sure all pets have up-to-date vaccinations, required tags, and ID tags with current contact information. I recommend also having a second "emergency" number included with another family member or friend's number so that if you are separated and your residence is uninhabitable, there will be a better chance of someone being contacted with your pet's location. Also, look into having your pet microchipped as an extra safety precaution. Collars and tags can get lost. And make sure you have current pictures of you with your pets to aid in identification and proof of ownership.
Have extra collars, leashes, and a muzzle available. If you feed your dog canned food, make sure you have a manual can opener. Keep an emergency pet kit with these extra items, plus lists of any medications your pet takes. (And don't forget to take those meds with you if you evacuate.) Also, spare collapsible food and water bowls and a couple of gallons of fresh water
