 Hurricanes, floods,
wildfires, hazardous material spills—disasters can strike anytime,
anywhere. If you think you will never have to evacuate unless you live in a
flood plain, near an earthquake fault line or in a coastal area, you may be
tragically mistaken. It is imperative that you make preparations to evacuate
your family and your pets in any situation. In the event of a disaster, proper
preparation will pay off with the safety of your family and pets. |
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| If You Evacuate, Take Your Pets |
| The single most important thing you can do to protect
your pets is to take them with you when you evacuate. Animals left behind in a
disaster can easily be injured, lost, or killed. Animals left inside your home
can escape through storm-damaged areas, such as broken windows. Animals turned
loose to fend for themselves are likely to become victims of exposure,
starvation, predators, contaminated food or water, or accidents. Leaving dogs
tied or chained outside in a disaster is a death sentence. |
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| If you leave, even if you think you may be gone only for
a few hours, take your animals. Once you leave, you have no way of knowing how
long you'll be kept out of the area, and you may not be able to go back for
your pets. |
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| Leave early—don't wait for a mandatory evacuation
order. An unnecessary trip is far better than waiting too long to leave safely
with your pets. If you wait to be evacuated by emergency officials, you may be
told to leave your pets behind. |
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| Don't Forget ID |
| Your pets should be wearing up-to-date identification at
all times. It's a good idea to include the phone number of a friend or relative
outside your immediate area—if your pet is lost, you'll want to provide a
number on the tag that will be answered even if you're out of your home. |
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| Find a Safe Place Ahead of Time |
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| Because evacuation shelters generally don't accept pets
(except for service animals), you must plan ahead to ensure that your family
and pets will have a safe place to stay. Don't wait until disaster strikes to
do your research. |
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| Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to
check policies on accepting pets. Ask about any restrictions on number, size,
and species. Ask if "no pet" policies would be waived in an
emergency. Make a list of pet-friendly places and keep it handy. Call ahead for
a reservation as soon as you think you might have to leave your home. |
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| Check with friends, relatives, or others outside your
immediate area. Ask if they would be able to shelter you and your animals or
just your animals, if necessary. If you have more than one pet, you may have to
be prepared to house them separately. |
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| Make a list of boarding facilities and veterinary
offices that might be able to shelter animals in emergencies; include 24-hour
telephone numbers. |
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| Ask your local animal shelter if it provides foster care
or shelter for pets in an emergency. This should be your last resort, as
shelters have limited resources and are likely to be stretched to their limits
during an emergency. |
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| If You Don't Evacuate |
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| If your family and pets must wait out a storm or other
disaster at home, identify a safe area of your home where you can all stay
together. |
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| Keep dogs on leashes and cats in carriers, and make sure
they are wearing identification. |
| Have any medications and a supply of pet food and water
inside watertight containers, along with your other emergency
supplies. |
For more information about emergencies and disasters
visit :
City of New Bedford - Emergency Management - Emergencies and
Disasters |
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| As the Disaster Approaches |
| Don't wait until the last minute to get ready. Warnings
of hurricanes or other disasters may be issued hours, or even days, in advance. |
| Call to confirm emergency shelter arrangements for you
and your pets. |
| Bring pets into the house and confine them so you can
leave with them quickly if necessary. Make sure each pet and pet carrier has
up-to-date identification and contact information. Include information about
your temporary shelter location. |
| Make sure your disaster supplies are ready to go,
including your pet disaster kit. |
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| In Case You're Not Home |
| An evacuation order may come, or a disaster may strike,
when you're at work or out of the house. |
| Make arrangements well in advance for a trusted neighbor
to take your pets and meet you at a specified location. Be sure the person is
comfortable with your pets, knows where your animals are likely to be, knows
where your disaster supplies are kept, and has a key to your home. |
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| If you use a pet-sitting service, it may be able to
help, but discuss the possibility well in advance. After the Storm |
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| Planning and preparation will help you weather the
disaster, but your home may be a very different place afterward, whether you
have taken shelter at home or elsewhere. |
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| Don't allow your pets to roam loose. Familiar landmarks
and smells might be gone, and your pet will probably be disoriented. Pets can
easily get lost in such situations. |
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| For a few days, keep dogs on leashes and keep cats in
carriers inside the house. If your house is damaged, they could escape and
become lost. |
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| Be patient with your pets after a disaster. Try to get
them back into their normal routines as soon as possible, and be ready for
behavioral problems that may result from the stress of the situation. If
behavioral problems persist, or if your pet seems to be having any health
problems, talk to your veterinarian |
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| Evacuation Planning: |
| You may not be in a flood zone or have to flee wildfire,
but even a hazardous material incident on a nearby street could force you to
evacuate. It pays to be prepared! |
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| Disaster Supply Checklist for Pets |
| Every member of your family should know what he or she
needs to take when you evacuate. You also need to prepare supplies for your
pet. Stock up on nonperishables well ahead of time, add perishable items at the
last minute, and have everything ready to go at a moment's notice. Keep
everything accessible, stored in sturdy containers (duffel bags, covered trash
containers, etc.) that can be carried easily. |
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| In your disaster kit, you should include: |
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Medications and medical records stored in a waterproof
container and a first aid kit. A pet first aid book is also good to
include. |
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Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers to transport
pets safely and to ensure that your pets can't escape. Carriers should be large
enough for the animal to stand comfortably, turn around, and lie down. Your pet
may have to stay in the carrier for hours at a time while you have taken
shelter away from home. Be sure to have a secure cage with no loose objects
inside it to accommodate smaller pets. These may require blankets or towels for
bedding and warmth, and other specnal items. |
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Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help
others identify them in case you and your pets become separated and to prove
that they are yours. |
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Food and water for at least three days for each pet,
bowls, cat litter and litter box, and a manual can opener. |
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Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions,
behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you
have to board your pets or place them in foster care. |
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Pet beds and toys, if you can easily take them, to
reduce stress. |
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Always have handy the local animal control officer's
phone number in your town in case you need to contact them. |
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New Bedford Animal Control :
508-991-6366
Emergency Number : 508-991-6350 |
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