Make your pets part of your emergency plan. When you are creating your household emergency plan, think about your pets and what their needs will be in the event of an emergency.
Pet Emergency Kit
Just like with your household emergency kit, your pet emergency kit will need to be able to care for your pets for at least 72 hours. Some items that your should include in your pets emergency kit are:
- Food and water
- Can opener
- Bowls for food and water
- Small Toys
- Medical records and current vaccination status
- Medications
- A list of pet-friendly hotels/motels and any boarding facilities in your area
- Current photo of your pet
- Leash and collar
- Blankets
- Crate or carrier
- Pet first aid kit
Evacuation Plan
It is also important to include your pets in your evacuation plan. Check with hotels/motels about their policy on accepting pets during an emergency. In the event you need to stay at a location that does not allow pets, be sure to have place you can leave them (e.g. with a family member or friend).
Importance of Identification
It is important to ensure your dog or cat is microchipped and/or wearing a collar with an identification tag, ideally with your phone number or the number of a relative outside of your area in case you have evacuated and can’t be reached by phone. Proper identification helps increase the chances of you being reunited in an emergency. It is also recommended that you keep a current photo of your pet along with their name, address and a brief description in case you need to claim your pet or share information about your lost pet.