Pet Evacuation Procedures

Going Over How To Plan And Prepare For Pet Evacuation In Honor Of National Preparedness Month

Emergencies happen everyday. While there is no good time for an emergency, that doesn’t mean you can’t be well prepared for them. Whether it’s a man-made emergency, natural disaster, or freak accident, being prepared for them can save lives. This applies to your pet’s lives too.

The month of September is observed as National Preparedness Month. In honor of this awareness-based holiday, this article will go over the best way to plan, prepare, and execute a pet evacuation. While every disaster is different, this article will offer some basic guidelines on how to safely evacuate your pets to safety. 

A Holiday That Can Save Lives

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is a month-long, awareness-based holiday observed every September. This holiday is held by FEMA’s public service campaign called Ready.gov. This holiday aims to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.

Additionally, many organizations like F.E.M.A. (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the E.P.A. (United States Environmental Protection Agency), and the C.D.C. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) all contribute to National Preparedness Month. They do so by providing education and resources about disasters and how to prepare for them. 

Pet Evacuation Procedure

You can’t predict when a disaster will happen. But, you can prepare for them. Pets, on the other hand, can’t do this. Instead, pets rely on their owners to keep them safe and keep them away from danger. Here are a few pieces of advice for creating and executing an evacuation plan for your pets. 

Emergency Bag For Pets 

Have a designated emergency bag that contains all of the necessary emergency items you will need for your pets. This includes the basic essentials like pet food, bottled water, leash and collar (for dogs), a travel-sized litter box (for cats), poop bags (for dogs), some pet toys, and a blanket. 

If your pets are on any kind of medication, it’s also a good idea to pack some of those too. Having all of these items in a bag, ready to go at any moment, will ensure your pets are covered in an emergency situation. 

Pet First Aid Kit

In the aforementioned pet emergency bag, you should also have a pet first aid kit. This includes all of the usual items you would find in a first aid kit, but also some additional ones that tailor to your pets. To learn more about pet first aid supplies, check out our previous article titled “5 Things You Need To Know About Pet First Aid.”

Also, be sure to check your pet first aid kit every 3 months or so. This allows you to double check your inventory and replace items that have been used or have expired. Always keep your pet first aid kit up-to-date and rotate your perishables accordingly. 

Identification & Medical Records

Alongside emergency supplies and first aid kits, you should also keep up-to-date identification tags and veterinary records in your emergency bag. Being able to identify your pet, should they become lost, is essential for having them safely returned to you. Additionally, you also want to have all of your pet’s medical records including current vaccination records. When seeking safety in emergency shelters, most pets will only be allowed in if they have such documents. 

Have A Plan In Place

Having emergency provisions is important. But, it’s equally important to have an evacuation plan. We suggest sitting down with your family members or roommates and devising an evacuation plan. Using a blueprint of your home or apartment, determine all of the exit points and muster points. 

Additionally, designate one person in your home to be in charge of your pets. This chosen person is responsible for finding and escorting your pets out of the house in an emergency situation. Having a designated person responsible for the household pets ensures that they will be safe and accounted for during any emergency situation. 

For more information about creating an evacuation plan for your pets, click here.

Looking For A Pet Sitter?

Do you or someone you know need a pet sitter? Then look no further than ParaMount Pet Care! We are the leading pet care professionals in the Luzerne County area. All of our sitters are insured, bonded, trained in pet CPR & first aid, and dedicated to caring for your pets. 

We offer a wide variety of pet sitting services such as in-home pet sitting, routine dog walking, overnight stays, and more! Click here to see all of our services! Click here to become a client today or give us a call at 570-814-1037. We look forward to hearing from you soon! Be sure to check us out on Facebook and Instagram too. We post adorable pictures of pets everyday that you won’t want to miss!