Including Your Pets in Your Emergency Plan

For many households, pets are family. In an emergency, they depend on you for everything: food, water, safety and a calm presence. Preparing for them takes only a little extra planning, and it makes a real difference whether you need to stay home for a few days or leave in a hurry.

Ready.gov's guidance is straightforward: if it is not safe for you to stay, it is not safe for your pets. Plan to bring them with you whenever possible.

Build a pet go-kit

Keep a dedicated kit for your pets in a sturdy, easy-to-grab container near your household emergency kit. Include:

• Several days of food in a waterproof container, plus a manual can opener if needed
• Several days of water and collapsible bowls
• Any medications, with written dosing instructions
• Copies of vaccination and medical records
• A sturdy leash, collar and harness
• A crate for each animal, labeled with your contact information
• Litter, a litter pan and waste bags
• Familiar items such as a blanket, toy or bed to ease stress
• A recent photo of you with your pet, which can help show ownership if you are separated
• Written care notes: feeding schedule, behavior quirks and your veterinarian's contact information

Rotate pet food and water on the same schedule as your household supply so nothing goes stale.

Make sure your pet can find its way home

Pets that become separated during an emergency are much easier to reunite with their families when they are properly identified.

• ID tags. Keep a collar tag with your name and phone number on every pet that can wear one.
• Microchip. If your pet has a microchip, confirm that it is registered and that your contact information is current. Ask your veterinarian about microchipping if your pet does not have one.
• Photos. Keep current photos of each pet on your phone and in your document grab file.
• A second contact. Consider listing a phone number for a friend or relative who lives outside your area.

Plan where your pet can stay

Not every place accepts animals, so a little research now saves stress later.

• Friends and family. Ask people outside your area whether they could host you and your pets.
• Pet-friendly lodging. Keep a list of hotels along your evacuation routes that accept pets, and note any size or number limits.
• Boarding facilities and veterinary clinics. Some offer emergency boarding. Ask about their policies in advance.
• Emergency shelters. Policies vary. Some shelters accept pets or partner with nearby animal shelters. Your local emergency management office can tell you what is planned in your area. Service animals are generally allowed in public shelters.

Arrange a buddy system

Emergencies do not always happen when you are home. Ask a trusted neighbor or nearby friend to check on or evacuate your pets if you cannot get there, and offer to do the same for them. Share a key, your pets' care notes and the location of the pet kit.

Some households put a pet alert sticker on a front window listing the number and types of animals inside. If you use one, keep it current. If you leave with your pets and time allows, write "evacuated" across it so responders do not spend time searching.

Sheltering at home with pets

If you are told to stay where you are, bring pets inside early, before conditions get bad. Animals often sense changes in the weather and may hide or bolt. Choose a safe room, keep their kit with you, and keep anxious pets leashed or crated. Close off spaces where a frightened pet could hide somewhere hard to reach.

Helping pets cope with stress

Emergencies are stressful for animals too. Changes in routine, unfamiliar places and loud weather can make even calm pets act differently. Keep feeding and walking routines as close to normal as you can, give them a quiet space with familiar items, and keep them leashed or crated in new surroundings. Afterward, watch for changes in behavior or appetite, and contact your veterinarian if you have concerns.

Large animals and other pets

Horses and livestock need a separate plan, which might include trailers, a list of destination farms or fairgrounds, and practice loading animals well before you need to. Birds, reptiles, fish and small mammals have specific needs for temperature, food and housing, so ask your veterinarian what to include in their kits.

After the emergency

Once things settle, give your pets time to readjust. Walk dogs on a leash for the first few days, since familiar landmarks and scents may have changed and a startled pet can get lost even close to home. Check your yard and fencing for damage or debris before letting animals out on their own. Keep an eye out for hazards such as standing water, broken glass and downed lines. Then restock the pet kit, update any records your veterinarian provided, and note anything you wish you had packed.

Write it all down

Put your pet plan on a single page: where your pets will go, who your buddy is, your veterinarian's number, feeding and medication instructions, and where the kit is kept. Tape a copy inside the pet kit and add one to your document grab file. Anyone who steps in to help will know exactly what to do.

This article offers general preparedness information and is not professional advice. Always follow the instructions of local officials during an emergency. Spotted an error? Email support@preparedamerican.net. Read our editorial standards.