EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Saving
the Whole Family!
Nature and life have fury days
. . . Tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires, blizzards, terrorism
. . . Devastating natural and manmade disasters can ravage our
lives. No one is exempt from the possibility of being affected
personally. You need to prepare for yourself and for your animals
in case of disaster. This is being underscored by the recent
tragedies in Japan!
Do Not Wait Until It Is Too
Late Countless times
people have been told to leave their homes for a “short
time,” only to find that they cannot return for days or
weeks. Even disasters like gas leaks and minor flooding can keep
you from tending to your animals for extended periods of time.
To prevent situations such as these, plan to take your animals
with you. It is best to be overly cautious during a disaster
warning. Preparing ahead of time and acting quickly is the best
way to keep you and your family, including your animals, out
of danger.
• Familiarize yourself with each type of disaster
that could affect your area, not forgetting a hazardous materials
spill.
• Be prepared for the possible disruption
of services for extended periods of time, including electric,
phone, and local food and water.
• Having a plan in place and practicing
the plan prior to a disaster will help you accomplish a successful
evacuation and animal safety. Prepare a Disaster Plan
Setup an appointment to talk to your veterinarian about disaster
planning.
• Assemble an animal evacuation kit, as
well as for family members! Include meds for everyone in your
family, before you evacuate.
• Develop an evacuation plan for all of
your animals and practice the plan.
• If you live in an apartment, make sure
your animals are on record with management and are able to evacuate
via the stairwell. Dogs should be taught to go up and down stairs
to better assist rescue personnel.
• Keep written directions near your telephone.
This will help others explain to emergency responders exactly
how to get to your home.
• Identify alternate sources of food and
water.
• Keep all vehicles well maintained and
full of gas . . . and keep emergency cash on hand • If you
have horses or livestock, good barn and field maintenance can
reduce danger. Decide on the safest housing location if evacuation
is impossible, realizing that the situation is still life threatening.
Assess the stability and safety of barns and other structures,
promptly remove dead trees, and minimize debris in the fields
and immediate environment around your home and outbuildings.
Having identification on your
animals, including rabies and license tags, if applicable, may
help reunite you with your animal(s) in the event that you are
separated. Identification should provide your name, home address,
a phone number where you can be reached, and an out-of-state
phone number of someone with whom you will be in contact during
or soon after the disaster/evacuation. If possible, include your
veterinarian’s name, location, and phone number. If you
use microchips, be sure your information is up to date. For further
information please visit this website: avma.org/disaster
