FEMA: Include Pets in Your Preparedness Plan

Humane society  -  Photo: Melissa Smith

Many pets were found after tornadoes swept through the county on April 27th.

With September being National Preparedness Month, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and FEMA is encouraging Alabamians to update their emergency plans to include pets.

"For millions of animal owners nationwide, pets are important members of the household," FEMA representatives said. "The likelihood that you and your animals will survive an emergency such as a fire, flood, tornado or terrorist attack depends largely on emergency planning done today. Knowing what supplies to have available, how to evacuate with your pets, where your pets will stay and how you will meet your pets’ needs throughout the disaster are all critical questions to address."

FEMA officials said pet owners should keep a pet emergency supply kit, which should include at least a three-day supply of food in an airtight, waterproof container, drinking water, bowls for the food and water, current photos of you and your pets together, physical descriptions of each pet, medication, vaccination records and first aid pet supplies.

Also included should be a leash and a pet carrier, which could double as a sleeping area and comfort items, such as favorite toys and blankets.

"Make a back-up emergency plan in case you can’t care for your animals yourself," FEMA representatives said.

"Develop a buddy system with neighbors, friends and relatives to make sure someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so. Talk with your pet care buddy about your evacuation plans and show them where you keep your pets’ emergency supply kit. Also designate specific locations, one in your immediate neighborhood and another farther away, where you will meet your buddy in an emergency."

Posted: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 4:03 pm -  Lindsay Slater

Toolkit Overview

The Ready Campaign, FEMA, Citizen Corps, American Red Cross, and The Humane Society of the United States have come together to develop this emergency preparedness toolkit that can assist you in your planning efforts as you work toward keeping your community, and specifically, the pets and people who care for them, safe from disasters.

This toolkit provides you with the resources on how to stay current on your local pet disaster plan, policies and procedures; examples of how to promote preparedness in your communities and engage other organizations in your efforts; as well as resources to educate the community about how to assemble a pet emergency supply kit and make a family emergency plan. In addition, there is a tools section that provides sample preparedness brochures, PowerPoint templates and press materials you can use to develop and distribute your internal and external preparedness messaging.

Preparing our families, homes and businesses for unexpected disasters is a civic virtue. Thank you for your commitment to making our communities safer for the pets we call family!

Community Pet Preparedness Toolkit Banners 112 Kb – Zip Archive

Ready Pets Toolkit And Additional Information

Find pet-friendly hotels, bed and breakfasts and campgrounds throughout the United States and Canada – Website
Animal Specific Information in English and Spanish from The Palo Alto Humane Society (PAHS) – Website
Ready Campaign Pets Toolkit Word Document 1.5 Mb – MS Word
Ready Campaign Pets Toolkit Promotional Flyer 133Kb – Adobe Acrobat PDF
LLIS Animals In Disaster Fact Sheet 78Kb – Adobe Acrobat PDF
Shelter Operations Pet-Friendly Shelters 205Kb – Adobe Acrobat PDF
Pet Sheltering Building Community Response 37Kb – Adobe Acrobat PDF
National Response Framework Fact Sheet 83Kb – Adobe Acrobat PDF
Community Pet Preparedness Customizable PowerPoint 5.3 Mb – MS Powerpoint
Ready Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies Makes Sense Hand Out 626Kb – Adobe Acrobat PDF
Metro DC Council Of Governments Companion Animal Evacuation and Sheltering Public Information Materials 11.9Mb – Adobe Acrobat PDF

Source: ready.gov/pets  h/t to the Times Journal