Hurricane Preparedness, Safety and Emergency Planning for Pets.

If you live in an area where natural disasters such as hurricanes are likely to happen and mandatory
evacuations are issued, you need to be prepare and preparing in advance is key.
For that reason we have put together safety tips for before, during and after the storm to keep your pets safe.

Hurricane Preparedness: Keeping Your Pets Safe Before, During, and After the Storm

Living in hurricane-prone areas means preparedness is paramount – especially when it comes to our beloved pets.
Advance planning can make all the difference in ensuring their safety during a mandatory evacuation or when weathering the storm at home. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you protect your furry, scaled, or feathered family members:

Before the Storm: Proactive Steps for Pet Safety

Never Leave Your Pets Behind: Your pets’ safety is your responsibility.
If evacuation orders are issued, they must go with you. Under no circumstances should you leave them alone.
- Important Note: While many hotels and shelters strive to be pet-friendly during emergencies, they are not legally required to accept your pets, unless they have specifically advertised as such. Always call ahead to confirm their policies.
- If you absolutely cannot evacuate with your pet:
  - DO NOT crate or tie them up. They need to be able to move freely to escape potential hazards like structural damage or flooding.
  - DO NOT administer tranquilizers. They need to be alert to rely on their natural instincts.
  - Turn off all electrical power to prevent fires and electrocution.
  - Never leave plugged-in lamps or lit candles.
  - Provide at least a one-week supply of food and water. Elevate food and water dishes to avoid contamination.
  - Clearly mark your home.
    Use spray paint to write “EVACUATED – PETS INSIDE, [Number of ] CATS – DOGS, ETC.” on your front door.
Identification is Crucial:
- Take recent photos of your pets.** Print them and keep them in waterproof bags.
- Prepare “lost pet” flyers with your pet’s photo, your contact information (including a landline if possible), and an alternate contact number with a different phone carrier.
  Have these ready to go.
Microchip Your Pets: Ensure your pets are microchipped and that your contact information is current with the microchip company.
Collar and ID Tags: Even if your pet is microchipped, ensure they wear a secure collar with an ID tag containing your phone number, address, pet’s name, and any essential medical information.
As a temporary measure, write your phone number on your pet’s belly with an indelible marker.
As a very temporary measurement, you can make an ID tag by using strong painters tape or duct tape, like this one
Develop and Practice Your Plan: Designate a leader and follow that leader, and ensure everyone in your household knows the evacuation plan, including safe routes and pet-friendly shelters or accommodations. Call ahead to confirm their pet policies and any registration requirements.
Evacuate Early: Don’t wait for the last minute. If an evacuation order is issued, leave immediately. Know your destination and the safest routes.
Pack a Pet Emergency Kit: Just as you pack for yourself, gather essential supplies for your pets:
- Two-week supply of medications and vaccination records.
- Sturdy leashes (non-retractable) and one carrier per pet (large enough for them to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably, plus a litter box for cats).
  Never use cardboard boxes, or cardboard carriers and never put multiple pets in one carrier.
- Food and water bowls.
- Metal wire cages (if applicable).
- Muzzle (if your pet is anxious or aggressive).
- Litter boxes and wee-wee pads.
- Two-week supply of bottled water and both wet and dry food (even if they don’t usually eat wet food). Keep them on their regular diet.
- Battery-operated candles and flashlights.
- Comfort items like their bed, blankets, and toys.
- Sanitation supplies (waste bags, litter scoop).
- Small cooler with ice for refrigerated medications.
- Pet First-Aid Kit: Absorbent gauze pads, adhesive tape, cotton balls/swabs, fresh 3% hydrogen peroxide (consult vet before use), ice pack, disposable gloves, blunt-end scissors, tweezers, OTC antibiotic ointment, oral syringe/turkey baster, liquid dish soap, towels, small flashlight, alcohol wipes, styptic powder, saline eye solution, artificial tear gel, and contact information for your veterinarian and emergency clinics in your evacuation area.
Call Ahead: Confirm pet-friendly policies with hotels, boarding facilities, shelters, and family or friends you plan to stay with.
Many shelters require pre-registration and many family members may not welcome your pet.
Practice Makes Perfect: Acclimate your pets to their carriers by practicing loading and unloading them.
Know Your Cat’s Hiding Spots: If you have cats, identify their usual hiding places when stressed so you can locate them quickly if needed.
Secure Your Home: Bring all pets indoors well before the storm arrives.
Secure pet doors and gates to prevent them from escaping. Walk dogs on a leash, even in your yard.
Buddy System: Coordinate with trusted neighbors, family, or friends to exchange pet information, evacuation plans, and house keys in case you can’t reach your pets.
Gear Check: Ensure pet carriers are in good condition with secure latches. Check the security of leashes and collars (use only breakaway collars for cats – no harnesses).
Feral Cat Colonies: If you care for feral cats, follow the guidelines below.

To prepare feral cat colonies for a hurricane, prioritize raising shelters and feeding stations to higher ground and ensuring multiple escape routes.
Also, remove standing water, provide clean water, and consider creating a plan with backup caregivers.

1. Elevate and Secure Shelters and Feeding Stations:
- Raise shelters off the ground:
  
  Use pallets, bricks, or other sturdy supports to elevate shelters and feeders above potential flood levels.
- Anchor shelters:
  
  Tie shelters to permanent structures like fences or trees to prevent them from being blown away.
- Consider the environment:
  
  Place shelters under overhangs, against walls, or in other protected locations.
- Ensure multiple escape routes:
  
  If cats commonly hide under sheds or buildings, ensure they have multiple exit points.
2. Provide Clean Water and Food:
- Fill multiple water bowls: Have extra water sources available, especially if you anticipate being unable to return to the colony immediately.
- Remove standing water: Standing water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and can also make the area more dangerous during a storm.
- Ensure food access: Provide a plentiful supply of dry food.
3. Backup Caregiver and Communication:
- Create a backup plan:
  
  Identify someone who can check on the colony if you’re unable to do so immediately after a storm.
- Inform local animal shelters:
  
  Let them know the location of your managed colony and provide descriptions and photos of the cats, in case they are displaced.
- Create an emergency contact card:
  
  Include contact information for the backup caregiver and any other relevant information.
4. Post-Storm Actions:
- Check on the colony:
  
  Once it’s safe, check on the colony to ensure they are okay and that their shelters and feeding stations are still stable.
- Provide additional support:
  
  If needed, provide additional food, water, and shelter until the colony can return to normal.
5. Additional Tips:
- Disaster-proof the shelters: Make sure they are sturdy, well-ventilated, and insulated if needed.
- Laminate a sign: Place a sign on the shelters or feeding stations stating that this is a managed colony and who to contact.
- Consider a “buddy system”: Network with other community cat caregivers to create a safety net of care.
Practice Drills: Conduct practice runs of your evacuation plan to identify any potential issues.
Pet-Friendly Accommodations Research: Identify pet-friendly hotels and their requirements in advance, both locally and in potential evacuation areas.
Remember that not all accommodations are legally required to take pets, even during a storm. While the PETS Act (Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006) aims to ensure that state and local emergency preparedness operational plans account for the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals during a major disaster or emergency, it does not mandate that private entities like hotels must accept pets. Their policies are set by individual businesses.
Air Travel Caution: If air travel is necessary, NEVER ship your pets as cargo. For pets under 20 pounds, they may be allowed in the cabin on domestic flights. For larger pets, driving is the safest option. Cargo holds are not safe environments for animals.
The cargo hold is the cargo hold, no matter what the airline tells you, there is no special accommodations for your pet in the cargo hold.
Cargo holds are designated for baggage – “cargo”, hence the name, not for pets.
Luggage shifts in the cargo hold at takeoff and landing and so will your pet in his or her kennel.
The cargo hold is either too hot or too cold, is very dark and incredibly loud.
NOBODY will check on your pet in-flight while in the cargo hold!
If your pet is in distress and needs immediate medical attention, or if something landed on his or her kennel or if your pet dies, nobody will notice until baggage is unloaded and even then your pet may sit on the ramp for a while, nobody may even notice that your pet is in need of help or that
is dead until is reunited with you!
Help Others: Offer assistance to elderly or disabled neighbors with their pet evacuation plans.
Consider Fostering: If possible, offer to foster a pet from a local shelter to reduce their burden during the storm. Many shelters face difficult decisions during disasters.
Become a disaster relief foster with HPR, to do so fill out the Disaster Relief Foster App
Know Your Evacuation Zone: Familiarize yourself with your local evacuation zones.
Check your state zones this link is for Florida

During the Storm: Keeping Pets Safe Indoors.

Designated Safe Room: Choose an interior room in your home where you and your pets can stay together until the storm passes. This makes quick evacuation easier if necessary.
Essentials in the Safe Room: Keep carriers, leashes, keys, flashlights, and even an axe (for emergency escape) in this room. Avoid power tools.
Important Information Accessible: Have your safe route information and pet-friendly shelter details readily available in your safe room.
Wear Protective Footwear: Always wear shoes to protect your feet from debris if you need to move quickly. Rubber-soled shoes offer some electrical insulation.
Avoid Tranquilizers: Do not give your pets tranquilizers. Consider natural calming aids like Rescue Remedy or calming collars (use breakaway collars for cats only). Pets need to be alert.
Stay Calm: Your pets will sense your stress. Remaining calm will help keep them calmer.
Comfort and Distract: Reassure your pets with gentle attention and engage them in playtime to help distract them from the storm. A little catnip can help soothe cats.

After the Storm: Ensuring Continued Safety.

Assess the Area: Before taking your pet outside, carefully check for hazards like downed power lines, debris, and contaminated water.
Keep Pets Indoors Initially: Do not let your animals outside until you are certain it is safe.
Leash Your Dogs: Walk dogs on a leash. The post-storm environment can be disorienting, with unfamiliar smells that can cause even well-behaved pets to run off and get lost.
Confine Cats: Keep cats confined to a room or carrier (one cat per carrier) until things return to normal. If you evacuated to an unfamiliar place, do not let your cats outdoors under any circumstances. They will likely get lost trying to return home.
Use Battery-Operated Lighting: Continue using battery-operated candles and flashlights to avoid fire hazards.
Be Aware of Lost Pets: Keep an eye out for your neighbors’ lost pets.
Never Use Indoor Grills or Generators: These pose significant safety risks.
Secure Hazardous Materials: Keep lighter fluid and matches away from pets.
If Your Pet is Lost: Familiarize yourself with reputable local animal rescue organizations and shelters. Report your lost pet to all relevant agencies (local shelters, humane societies, veterinary clinics) and check their lost and found listings daily in person.
Post flyers and use social media (Nextdoor, Front Porch), but be cautious of scams. Ask for photos and detailed descriptions before meeting anyone claiming to have your pet.
Contact Hurricane Pets Rescue for assistance in spreading the word. For lost cats, do not put their litter box outside as it can attract predators.
Alert neighbors and provide flyers. Scared cats often hide during the day and may only come out at night.
Prevent Water Contamination: Do not allow your dogs to swim in or drink floodwater, which can be contaminated. Check for boil water advisories and provide boiled or bottled water to your pets.
Provide Extra Comfort: This is a stressful time for everyone.
Give your pets extra attention and love.
If You Find a Pet: Take the found pet to your local animal control or humane society to be properly documented in their system.
While you can choose to foster the pet, ensuring they are in the official system increases their chances of being reunited with their owners.
Be wary of individuals or groups who may not have the animals’ best interests at heart.
Donate Wisely: Support reputable local animal shelters and humane societies, as they are often on the front lines of disaster relief.
Smaller but mighthy, direct-action organizations like ours can also benefit from your support.
You can donate here to support our disaster relief efforts.

REMEMBER: When driving in flooded areas, always heed the warning:
“TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN.” Hurricane Pets Rescue ® is a national all breed 501 (C) (3) disaster relief nonprofit – registered trademark with headquarters in Miami Beach, Florida since 2005