#1 IN A SERIES
By Amy O.
A disaster preparedness plan for your pet is important for all pet owners to have, but it might be intimidating to some people, and others may not know where to start.
The great thing about disaster plans is that once it is started with the Basics, it is easy to keep adding to it. Then simply have quarterly drills with your pets (and family!) and check/rotate your inventory every few months.
(PLEASE NOTE: If you are prone to anxiety or catastrophizing tendencies, it might be a good idea to buddy up with someone to do this, to help bring you back to the present moment and reassure that you are safe.)
Here are some easy steps to get you started!
1. ASSESS: Have a look around your environment and think about what natural and/or man-made disasters might impact where you live.
a. Small Scale: This means your household (like house fire, gas leak, isolated tornado, etc.). Could you stay at a friend or family member’s home? The WacoAnimalGuide.com provides a list of pet-friendly hotels, but it’s always a good idea to call and confirm those closest to you.
b. Large Scale: An event that impacts the entire community, such as a large or multiple tornadoes. Pandemic 2020. “Snow-mageddon” 2021. The West explosion of 2013. Be prepared if you need to hunker down for a few days. Also be prepared with a “Grab Bag” if you and your pet(s) needed to quickly evacuate.
c. Other risks to consider: Do you live by Lake Waco? Is your neighborhood prone to flooding? Is there a chemical route on a highway near you? Do you live near any industrial facilities? Know your surroundings and plan for alternate routes if there was a sudden need for evacuation!
2. PLAN FOR HUMANS: You probably know the old airplane analogy that you have to put on your oxygen mask first before you can help others. Same goes with an emergency plan with your pets. Once you have assessed your surroundings, let’s make a plan for yourself, and (if applicable) your human family members. This includes your immediate household, but it also might include senior parents and grown children. Start with the 3-Day Supply of the Basicsand add to it every month or paycheck for what seems appropriate to your needs. For some people it’s 10 days, for others, it’s a month.
PREPAREDNESS BASICS FOR HUMANS
NOAA Weather Radio with extra batteries
Non-perishable food/snacks
Water (Bottled water or 5 gal jugs)
Medicines (Prescription and over-the-counter)
Sanitary items like trash bags, vinyl gloves and cleaning supplies.
Paper towels and, yes… toilet paper!
IDEAS FOR “EXTRAS”
Solar power supply (combo lantern, power charger and crank radio)
Propane heater & heating
Generator & gas (store safely)
Igloos to store your refrigerated items if power outage.
3. RESOURCES: There is a wealth of information online, but a few helpful resources to start to make your personal preparedness plan include:
a. Ready.gov: Make A Plan | Ready.gov (multilingual information)
b. Recovery Texas: Disaster Preparedness (texas.gov)
c. American Red Cross: How to Prepare For Emergencies | Be Red Cross Ready | Red Cross (multilingual information)
COMING UP NEXT:
The #2 blog in this series will discuss Pet Owner Disaster Preparedness for Cats.
The #3 blog in the series will look at Pet Owner Disaster Preparedness for Dogs.
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