🌀 Title: Planning for Your Pets During Hurricane Season: Here’s What to Do
🐾 Introduction:
Here we are again — hurricane season — and it’s forecast to be a busy one. That means it’s time to evaluate plans and supplies for the entire family, including the pets.
🏠 Shelter-In-Place and Evacuation Plans:
We should all have a shelter-in-place plan as well as an evacuation plan in place. No pet, under any circumstances, should be left behind for a hurricane.
🐾 Historical Lessons:
For Hurricane Katrina, more than 100,000 pets were left here when their owners evacuated. Today, policies have been put into place so that pet owners have assistance and options and everyone can evacuate from danger, including pets.
🚨 Emergency Supplies:
Emergency planning for pets requires stocking supplies to provide for at least five days. As I learned during Hurricane Ida, it is important to bring everything that may be needed — consider all scenarios — and plan to make a trip to buy more supplies should the evacuation become an extended stay away from home.
🌪 Preparation Tips:
Today is the time to prepare. Once a storm enters the Gulf, stress levels rise and panic sets in. If the plans are already in place and the supplies, identification, and paperwork are in order, evacuating or weathering the storm in place will be a calmer, more organized experience.
🚗 Evacuation Preparations:
When preparing to evacuate with the pets, consider the following:
- 🎯 Destination: Pinpoint the evacuation spot now and identify pet-friendly lodging options in the area.
- 🏷️ Identification: Ensure pets have up-to-date ID tags and consider microchipping for secure identification.
- 📄 Paperwork: Gather copies of vaccination records, medical records, and any other relevant documents.
- 🍲 Food and Water: Pack a supply of food, water, and necessary dishes in waterproof containers.
- 💊 Medications: Bring along all necessary medications, even if not currently being used.
- 🛍️ Pet Carrier: Ensure carriers are large enough and labeled with contact information.
- 🎒 Accessories and Supplies: Pack leashes, harnesses, litter, newspapers, towels, plastic bags, and cleaning supplies.
🐶 With careful planning and preparation, you can ensure the safety and well-being of your pets during hurricane season. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and keep your furry companions safe. 🌀
