When it comes to Emergency Preparedness, you can’t be too careful. Most of us know we need to have a 72-hour emergency kit to care for our families in an emergency – but don’t forget to include your pets!
Creating a pet emergency survival kit is pretty straightforward – you just have to remember to include a 3-day supply of everything your pet will need. Even if you don’t need to evacuate, remember that you might not have electricity or water in a disaster situation.
To be ready for anything, your kit should be packed for easy “grab and go” in case there is an evacuation order. Put a checklist on the outside of it to remind you to grab things you might not have a back-up supply of, such as current medications. Check your kit every six months to make sure the supplies are fresh and up-to-date.
For example:
- Pet carrier
- Leash, muzzle and/or harness
- 72-hour supply of food
- 72-hour supply of water
- Manual can opener
- Bowls
- Blankets and towels
- Plastic bags, gloves, hand sanitizer
- Litter pan, litter, and scoop, or a supply of puppy-pads that you can line the carrier with
- Veterinarian’s contact information and copies of vaccination certificates
- Any medications your pet is taking
- A recent photo of your pet along with a description and your contact information, in case you are separated
- Microchip number
- Information on your pet’s feeding schedule, temperament and health, in case you need to leave him or her at a boarding facility
- Flashlight
- List of boarding facilities and hotels that will accommodate pets
In the unfortunate event that you do need to evacuate your home, and it is not as you left it when you return, remember to be patient with your pets. Don’t let them roam free as familiar landmarks could be missing and everything could smell different – if they escape they could become lost, and with everyone’s lives in chaos, it is hard to keep an eye out for them.
For more information on how to be prepared for an emergency with your pets, check out FEMA’s Prepare for Emergencies Now: Information for Pet Owners brochure.