POINTS ON PETS
LISA VELENOVSKY
Y
our phone starts blaring with a flash flood alert, and you are urged to evacuate. An ice storm takes down power lines, leaving your neighborhood in the dark, with no heat for days. Intense 100+ degree temperatures overwhelm your A/C, and no one is available to fix it for a week. If an emergency situation requires you to leave your home, you need to be ready to move not only people, but also your pets. A little planning and advance preparation can save time, stress, and even your pet’s life when you have to leave quickly. Luckily, organizations such as the ASPCA, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) have prepared comprehensive, easyto-access resources to guide pet owners in planning the best outcome for the worst situations. Pet emergency preparedness focuses on two main components: 1. Creating an evacuation plan; and 2. Preparing an emergency kit for your pets.
Creating An Evacuation Plan The biggest hurdle in evacuating pets is often understanding where you can safely go together or apart. Depending on the situation, one option may be better than 18 | October 2021
Emergency Preparedness Planning for Your Pet’s Safety and Your Peace of Mind
TOP: [Hurricane Katrina] New Orleans, La., September 10, 2005 -- Rescued animal from New Orleans arive at New Orleans airport were FEMA's DMATs have set up operations. Photo: Michael Rieger/FEMA
RIGHT: [Hurricane Ike] Galveston Island, TX, September 17, 2088 -Birds displaced by Hurricane Ike are at a local shelter set up by the Humane Society where volunteers from around the country are helping to rescue animals displaced by the hurricane. Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA
another so it’s good to have several mapped out: Friends and family buddy system. Work with your petloving neighbors and family members to develop a goto list of people who agree to care for each other’s pets during emergency situations/ evacuations, whether it’s offering shelter for people and pets, caring for pets during an emergency if owners have to
be elsewhere, or evacuating and caring for pets if the owner can’t. Boarding kennels and facilities. Get a list of preferred boarding kennels and facilities from your veterinarian or other trusted sources. Contact them regarding procedures and availability during emergency situations. Hotels. If there is no other
option or if you’d prefer a hotel, make sure you know which hotels/ chains are pet friendly. Check out www. petswelcome.com to help you locate a pet friendly hotel. Shelters. The City of Alexandria Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and AWLA establish shelters at local schools and recreation centers to provide emergency shelter for residents and their pets who have nowhere else to go during emergency situations. Keep contact information for OEM or AWLA animal control on hand to determine available temporary shelter sites. In addition to shelter options, your evacuation plan should include: • Getting your pet
microchipped, if not already done, and making sure that your contact information on file with the microchip company is up to date, including an out-of-area contact. • Making sure your vehicle has room to quickly stow or secure your pets and evacuation kits. • Preparing a note to place securely on your door that your pets have been evacuated safely for rescuers or friends/family checking on your house.
Preparing Evacuation Kits The second major component of the emergency evacuation equation is preparing “to-go” kits for each pet. Prepare an individualized kit for each pet, if possible. Make sure you keep all items together in an easy-to-reach spot. Also, make sure you update the kit regularly so items, especially food and medications, are not expired when you need to use them. The most basic kit contents are food and water, of course, but for your pet’s safety and comfort, experts agree that your kit should include the following: Food. Several days’ supply of food in an airtight, waterproof
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