Wild fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes are in the news every year. People and Pets do their best to stay safe during these natural disasters. Being as prepared as possible for these events is one of the best ways to help ensure safety in a time of need. Those who have lived through any of the above may have additional suggestions for planning and practicing for these events.
Home fire drill practice
Practicing a home fire drill, so everyone in the house is prepared in case the real thing happens, could save someone’s life. Your practice drills to get out of the house quickly and safely in case of fire, can also work for other emergencies like tornadoes, wild fires, and flooding just to name a few.
Fire drill basics
1 Write down the family evacuation plan
2 Talk everyone through the plan and brainstorm any potential complications; answer any questions
3 Practice the evacuation plan until everyone is confident and comfortable
4 After the family has perfected execution, practice again, this time including your Pets
5 Make changes to the plan as needed, and practice some more to make sure everyone is on the same page
6 Store copies of important documents/computer files in a safety deposit box at your bank
7 Put together an evacuation kit + first aid kit for the people in your family
8 Put together an evacuation kit + first aid kit for the Pets in your family
9 Include important phone numbers you would need after leaving your home
Information sources
The home safety council provides instructions to get you started.
Ehow provide instructions for helping any children in your family with learning a fire drill.
OSHA provides instructions on fire extinguisher safety in the home to avoid a fire in your home
Keep information current and safe
Protect vital documents in the home by storing them in a fireproof safe. Check you local stores or search on the web to see what features fit your needs.
Keeping important papers / copies of computer documents in a safety deposit box off site is another thing to consider as a way to keeps things safe. An important document you might not have considered to include is a current photo ID of your Pet plus any other identification such as a microchip number.
In an emergency, a Pet may become frightened or get away from you in the chaos of an unexpected emergency. Having a current photo and collar identification as well as a microchip number (don’t forget to keep your contact information up to date) can help lead to a speedy reunion of all members of your family.
Build your kits
Decide what evacuation kit you need for your human family members, Red Cross is one source for such information, and here is a list for what to put in a Pet evacuation kit.
Preparing an emergency Pet evacuation kit provides you with necessities. If your Pet is small and you have a small kennel for them it might be good to keep both close together and handy. If you have Pets that are too big to have easily move to a kennel in an emergency, keep the emergency pack close to your exit area where it is easy to grab and go.
To make your Pet’s emergency evacuation kit:
- water bowl (collapsible works too), bottle of water
- several days of non-perishable canned food, until you can buy more at the store
- kitty litter and litter box if you have a Pet using a litter box
- scoop bags to pick up dog waste
- extra collar and leash
- write down Pet ID numbers and veterinary phone numbers and put in zip lock bag to avoid damage from water
- small toy to help with your Pet’s stress
- vaccine records, phone number for your favorite boarding facility
- If your Pet is on special medication, consider keeping that medication close to your exit route to grab quickly. Or keep part of the medication in the kit so it is refreshed frequently.
- The humane society provides additional ideas on what to put in a first aid kit to add to your evacuation kit. They list information for a dog kit and cat kit. Consider adding this to your evacuation supplies so that you’re sure to be prepared in the event of delayed assistance.
Add supplies for extended evacuation
If you live in an area where evacuation may include stores and government services being unavailable for several weeks, pack enough water and pet food for that duration of time. The same goes for cat litter or scoop bags for dog waste.
If you have multiple Pets keep an eye on the weight of your kit, make several smaller kits for easy lifting into your vehicle. A kit that is too heavy to lift on your own is a hindrance instead of a help during your emergency.
More resources
Other evacuation articles are available on the Humane Society website, including how to keep your Pet safe in an evacuation gridlock.
Know your plan, practice your plan, keep your evacuation kits and first aid kits up to date — the goal is to keep everyone safe.
