Before disaster ever strikes, it is important for all family members to prepare.  In most cases your animal's best protection is to be with you.  Taking your pet requires special planning and following are some guidelines that NHES recommends:

1.  Keep your pet's vaccinations and medical records up-to-date.

2.  Make sure your pet wears a comfortable collar with the proper identification, license and rabies tag.  Also, consider a microchip or tattoo as additional identification insurance.

3.  Locate safe places for your pets BEFORE disaster strikes.  Many emergency shelters for humans do not allow pets due to public health and safety reasons.  If you must leave your home, here are some resources to contact:

• Boarding Kennels
• Veterinary Hospitals
• Friends/Relatives
• Hotel/Motels (that will allow pets)
• Animal Shelters (consider only as a last resort)

4.  Disaster supplies to prepare:

• Portable kennel carrier or crate for each pet that you own and carriers should be large enough for animal to stand up and turn around in
• Food/water bowls
• Pet food and water
• Litter and litter box
• Pet's medications
• First aid kit
• Pet's medical records
• Leash
• Cloth towels/paper towels
• Plastic bags for waste

5.  Leaving your pet behind will place your animal at greater risk for injury or loss, so please make every effort to take your pet with you.  If there is no alternative and you must leave your pet, take the following precautions:

• Bring your pet indoors—never leave a pet tied outside
• Prepare a selected area of your home, preferably without windows, but with adequate ventilation
• Leave enough food and water for at least three days—water should be left in bathtubs, sinks or other sturdy spill-proof containers
• Leave familiar bedding and toys
• Place a visible note on your front door alerting emergency personnel that pets are inside Provide a telephone number where you can be contacted
• Never leave cats with dogs, even if they normally get along
• Keep small pets safely caged, leave them with food and water dispensers that regulate the amounts
• Secure bird cages so that they won't swing or fall

In addition to the trauma experienced by evacuees who are forced to abandon their animal companions and the subsequent suffering the animals endure, there are serious health and safety risks to disaster areas that are exacerbated by the abandoning of pets.  Many of these problems can be mitigated or eliminated simply through the proper planning and response.

NHES hopes that you and your family will never experience a real disaster scenario, but we all must be aware and plan ahead for the possibility.  In doing so, remember EACH member of your family.  Our four-legged, feathered and finned friends are totally dependent on us for their safety.

FEMA Animals in Emergencies Information