Pet disaster preparedness: Protect your pet in a natural disaster

When preparing your family for a natural disaster, don’t forget to include your pets. Both disasters and their aftermath can be stressful for pets and can impact their health and safety. Here are some things to know, along with steps to help you prepare and protect your pets should the unexpected happen.

Understanding the Impact of Natural Disasters on Pets

The same disasters that can disrupt or endanger the lives of you and your family can also significantly impact your pets. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends prepping your pets for each of the following natural disaster scenarios:¹

• Earthquakes
• Fires
• Floods
• Hurricanes
• Severe weather
• Tornadoes

These disasters can make pets vulnerable to physical harm and injury, and if they get separated from you, they may become lost.¹ Pets who are unattended in the aftermath of a natural disaster may also be at risk of contracting diseases, as well as in danger of dehydration or starvation. They may also pose a health concern to humans.²

As stressful and scary as a natural disaster can be for your pet, the prospect of losing your fur baby can be its own special worry. Being prepared to either shelter in place with your pet or to evacuate them to safety can help prevent them from getting lost.¹

Creating a Pet Emergency Plan 

Some special considerations may go into planning to manage and care for pets during a natural disaster. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare an emergency plan for your pet.

• Public emergency shelters for people may not accept pets. Create a list of options for your dog or cat, such as veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, boarding facilities, friends and family members outside your immediate area who might be willing to take in your dog or cat in an emergency. Include contact numbers, and keep this list in your or your pet’s emergency kit. If you have more than one pet or multiple types of pets, you may need to prepare to house them separately.³
• Know alternate routes to get to shelters or pet boarding facilities in case you run into roadblocks.
• Prepare a “go bag” for your pet that contains things they’ll need for a stay away from home, and keep it near the door along with their leash. You can also have secure pet carriers ready to go.⁴
• Know how you’ll safely exit your home with your pets in different kinds of emergencies. Practice evacuating with them so they’ll be ready if the time comes.³
• Consider whether you have someone nearby, such as a friend or neighbor, who can be relied upon to take charge of your pet if you’re not home when a disaster occurs. This should be someone you’re willing to trust with the keys to your home, as well as with the care and handling of your pet. Be sure to communicate with them so they understand expectations and where they can take your pet if they need to evacuate.⁴
• Have a plan for sheltering in place, such as knowing the safest places in your home for different types of emergencies. Stock up on pet food and supplies in case you get stuck at home for an extended period of time, and think about how your pet will relieve themselves if it’s not safe to go outside. If your pet is on any medications, keep an emergency supply on hand, along with a pet first aid kit.⁵
• Be prepared for loss of utilities, including electricity and access to safe drinking water. If your pet has medications that need to be refrigerated, determine an alternate way to store them safely. Consider stocking up on water or keeping a portable water filter on hand.⁶
• If you’re traveling with your dog, have a plan for what you’ll do if a natural disaster occurs while you’re traveling. Keep an emergency kit with you that includes your pet’s medical records and their go bag.⁶
• Make sure everyone in your family understands the emergency plan and what their roles and responsibilities will be.⁶

Create a Pet Emergency Kit

Part of creating a pet emergency plan is creating an emergency kit to have at the ready should an emergency arise. A complete cat or dog emergency kit might include the following:⁴

• A crate or carrier that’s suitable for evacuation
• At least seven days’ worth of food, water and medications (Opt for dry food or pop-top cans, and consider keeping perishable items in your kit fresh by rotating them out to use every couple of months.)
• Blanket or pet bed
• Food and water bowls
• A supply of bottled water (or potentially a portable water filter)
• Disinfectant and paper towels
• Extra leash, collar and harness for each pet, along with ID tags
• Litter box and litter
• Potty pick-up bags
• Recent photos of your pet in case they get lost
• Toys and other items that might help your dog or cat feel more comfortable in a crisis
• Trash bags
• Written instructions for feeding and administering medication
• Your pet’s medical records (paper copies or on a USB drive) in a waterproof container
• Your vet’s contact information, plus details on a backup and/or emergency vet

Consider including first aid in your pet emergency kit. Here are some basic items that could be in a pet first aid kit:⁷

• Activated charcoal to absorb poison
• Adhesive tape
• Blunt safety scissors
• Clean towels that can be used to help restrain the pet
• Digital thermometer
• Disposable gloves
• Eye dropper or oral syringe
• Gauze roll
• Muzzle
• Nonstick bandages
• Nonstick wrap for injuries
• Saline solution
• Small flashlight
• Sterile lubricating gel
• 3% hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting
• Tweezers

Talk to your vet about the proper use of activated charcoal and hydrogen peroxide to treat poisoning. You should also ask them about any additional items you may think of including that are unique to your pet’s health needs.⁷

Keep your pet’s emergency kit in a spot where it will be easy to grab on the way out of your house. Store it in easy-to-carry bags or bins that are clearly labeled, and make sure everyone in your family, as well as anyone else who may be responsible for rescuing your pet, knows where it is.⁴

Special Considerations for Birds, Reptiles and Pocket Pets

Small pets need extra care to stay safe and sound through a disaster. Here are some additional things to consider:⁴

• Birds, reptiles and rodents need to be transported in an appropriate travel-safe cage or carrier. A snake can be transported in a pillow case, but should have appropriate housing once you reach safety.
• Bring a blanket to cover your bird’s cage and reduce stress while traveling. 
• Bring along a bowl that’s large enough for your reptile to soak in.
• Consider timed feeding containers for birds if you may not be able to stay with them and ensure they’re fed throughout the day.
• Ensure that carriers or cages are supplied with appropriate liners and bedding materials, as well as food and water dispensers.
• For birds, if the weather is warm, bring a spray bottle to help keep their feathers moistened.
• Include enrichment toys for birds and small mammals. Pocket pets need a hidebox so they can hole up.
• Pack a heating pad or hot water bottle to keep reptiles warm.

Training and Preparing Your Pet

Here are some additional steps you can take now to help ensure your pet will be safe in an emergency:⁶

• Keep a collar with an ID tag on your dog or cat at all times. It’s also a good idea to microchip your dog or cat, and be sure to keep your contact information current in the microchip database. You may wish to consider a GPS tracker so you can find them if they get away from you.
• Know which vets or emergency animal hospitals you can rely on in an emergency, and keep their contact information in your pet’s kit.
• If your dog may become aggressive when stressed or around other dogs, get a muzzle and spend time helping them get used to wearing it. Keep it with their emergency kit.
• If your pet tends to be anxious, you may want to consider asking your vet about medications, calming chews or other treatments that can help them stay calm in stressful situations.
• Post a “pets inside” sticker on your front door or window, listing the number and type of pets in your home, as well as your and your vet’s phone numbers. You can purchase stickers at many pet stores and online.⁴
• Stay up to date on vaccinations and pet medications.
• Train your dog or cat to get them used to their emergency crate or carrier, and keep up with obedience training to help with handling them during an emergency.

Prepare Your Pets for Peace of Mind

For more tips on preparing your pets for natural disasters, visit the Department of Homeland Security’s disaster preparedness website.⁸ Consider talking with your veterinarian for additional insights on what to include in a pet emergency kit for your particular pet, as well as for help finding emergency pet shelters in your area. Simple steps like these can help give you peace of mind — and a possible advantage if an emergency should strike.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions about pet disaster preparedness and answers to address them.

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Author Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and novelist who has been writing pet content since 2013. Her work has appeared on Forbes.com, Hill’s Pet, Chewy, AKC.org and more.