Are your pets ready to evacuate in an emergency?

In the US, Hurricane season along the Atlantic seaboard starts on June 1 and lasts all the way through November. Disaster Emergency Preparedness, and having a family Disaster Plan that includes pets is extremely important.  Disaster can strike at a moment's notice.  Being unprepared for an emergency can be disastrous for a family, especially their pets.

In the last couple of years we've been impacted by so many storms and hurricanes I can hardly remember all their names and in which months they slammed in!  

Phoebe hated being out in bad weather.  I should have put a jacket or sweater on her!

There's one storm I will never forget, and that's Super Storm Sandy which hit Long Island on October 29th, 2012.  The storm killed 106 people in the Eastern US.  Sandy really kicked butt in the New York/New Jersey area.  New Jersey and several neighboring states had to declare a State of Emergency following Hurricane Sandy.  The damage caused by that storm was enormous. Since then, people in the area are more aware of storms and pay a lot more attention to the warnings.

A storm left lots of debris on our driveway and damaged a neighboring car

Disaster can strike with very little notice and it can create panic.  I live close to the water so I'm acutely aware of storms and potential flooding situations in my area.   I keep plenty of bottled water, canned food, flashlights, a transistor radio, and candles in case of a power outage.  I've gathered supplies together to ensure I have emergency supplies for both us and the dogs in the event we need to evacuate.  We've never had to yet, but you just never know. It's smart to be prepared for anything, storms can be so unpredictable.  

Here's my plan in the event of an emergency or disaster:

If we need to evacuate the immediate area for any reason, we'll head North and West.  Previously, my plan was to head West to my mom's house 30 miles away in Western Long Island. However, she passed away in 2016 and we have since moved so I've had to change the plan.  My current plan is to head North and West, but to be flexible because hurricanes have a bad habit of changing direction at eh last minute! It's important to have an evacuation plan but to review and update your plan and be flexible in making changes.  Track the path of the storm closely to find your best escape route.

I know our town's evacuation route and the safest emergency routes.  My town has a web site with emergency preparedness and evacuation tips, yours probably does as well - are you familiar with it?  If not take a few moments to search online for it and become familiar.

Don't leave your pets behind if you need to evacuate unless it's absolutely necessary.  They may not be safe there, and you don't know when you'll be able to return.

I'll have my dogs with me of course, I will NEVER leave them behind no matter what.  In the event I have to stop for the night somewhere with them I have located several dog friendly hotels within a 50+ mile radius.  I have a few sites I can use as a resource to locate pet friendly lodgings such as Bring Fido and Go Pet Friendly.  I keep the AAA Pet Book with me as well, in case cell phone service goes out and I need to find accommodations. 

Many people have stickers on their windows telling rescue workers that there are dogs, cats, and other pets inside so they can look for them.  However, unless it's somehow impossible you should take your pets with you if you evacuate.  If you've taken pets with you and you have one of these stickers, use a black magic marker to write "Evacuated" over the pet's information on the sticker.  That way rescuers won't waste valuable time searching for pets that are no longer in the home.

These are the supplies I have ready for my dogs if we ever need to evacuate:

In my dogs evacuation bag: Tap & bottled water, dry and wet food, bowls, first aid kit, towels & wipes, medical records, collars/harnesses, toys & chews

In a sturdy shoulder bag I have packed for my dogs:

** Large jug of tap water plus several days worth of bottled water.  Portable dog water bowl.

** Dry dog food for 3 to 5 days and 2 food bowls.

**Canned food for 3 to 5 days and food rolls, which are lightweight and easy to travel with. They're sealed in water tight plastic which is so helpful especially if there's flooding.

**I normally leave copies of my dogs' rabies vaccination certificate and other vaccination documentation from my Veterinarian in the car.  I'll pack the envelope in a plastic bag to stay dry and place it in the emergency bag. I also have photos of the documents on my phone.

** First Aid kit with hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic ointment, bandages & bandage wrap, gauze pads, scissors, nail clippers, cotton balls & Q- tips.

** Pet wipes, a tall kitchen trash bag and zip lock bags.  I love zip lock bags, I use them for everything!  Doggie waste bags and a towel.  We also keep a towel and blanket in the car.

** 1 or 2 toys and chew sticks to help keep the dogs calm and occupied.  An evacuation can be very scary for them!

**Leashes, harnesses, and collars.  I use a harness for both of them, a frightened dog will often try to wriggle out of a collar and run from whatever is scaring them.

As time goes on if you don't use the emergency bag supplies, you can switch out food and medical supplies that have passed their expiration dates. It's never a waste to have an emergency bag packed and ready to GO! You can always swap items in and out.


My dogs are always Ready to go at a moment's notice!

For more about why it's so important to include pets in emergency and disaster preparedness planning, see my earlier post on How Will Your Pet React In An Emergency?

On the West coast, people routinely have to deal with deadly wildfires in California and Washington.  These tragic and widespread fires impact many dogs and other pets.  So many pets have been lost, injured, or killed during the chaos of wildfires.  If you live in an area that has wildfires, be sure to have an emergency go bag for your family, including your pets.

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In my Etsy Shop, you can get my downloadable Pet Emergency Preparedness Checklist for just $1.50!  This checklist will help you prepare to evacuate with your dog or cat in the event of an emergency evacuation during a natural disaster, family emergency, or other emergency. 

Emergencies can happen with little to no warning. Being prepared in advance ensures you won't have to scramble around searching for and packing all the stuff you'll need to leave your home with your pet. The checklist includes both a printable and digital version so you can print it and fill it out manually, or you can use it on your Phone, PC, or Tablet.

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PLEASE, if your dog or cat isn't microchipped, get them chipped as soon as you are able.  As an animal shelter volunteer, I'm begging you to do that for your pets.  Being chipped is probably the one thing that reunites you with your pet, above all else.  It's quick and easy, just like getting a vaccination.  Many shelters offer discounts throughout the year for as little as $10!  Do you love your pet 10 bucks worth?


Have you ever had to evacuate your home due to an emergency?  What did you do to prepare?  Please share in the comments!