Unfortunately, during a major disaster not only can people lose their lives, but so can our furry friends that we call companions.
When there is no power, many of us will be looking for ways to keep ourselves busy and occupied. Finding food and water for your loved ones is also difficult when resources are limited.
For this reason, it is important to prepare for disasters by making sure you have enough supplies to ensure the survival of yourself, your family, and your pets.
While it may sound dramatic, leaving your pet behind or throwing away precious foods because they’re gone is more than just irresponsible — it could mean death for them as well.
In fact, research has shown that up to one-third of all homeless individuals who find refuge in shelters are accompanied by a dog.
Pet disaster preparedness
When it comes to disasters, we often think of them as happening to other people. But the truth is, disasters can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. And when they do, our pets are often the ones who suffer the most.
That’s why it’s so important to be prepared for the possibility of a disaster, whether it’s a natural disaster like a hurricane or tornado, or a man-made disaster like a fire or chemical spill.
Here are some tips to help you keep your pets safe in the event of a disaster:
1. Make sure your pets are microchipped and that their information is up to date.
2. Keep a collar with your contact information on it at all times.
3. Have a current photo of your pet on hand in case they get lost.
4. Know where you will go in the event you have to evacuate your home. Make sure your pet is allowed at your chosen shelter.
5. Pack a pet emergency kit with food, water, a bowl, a leash, and any medications your pet needs.
6. Keep your gas tank at least half full in case you need to evacuate.
7. Familiarize yourself with your pet’s behavior so you can better understand their reaction to stress.
8. Stay calm. Pets can sense when their humans are anxious or stressed, and this can make them more anxious as well.
By following these tips, you can help ensure that your pet is safe in the event of a disaster.
How to prepare a kit for your pet?
We all love our pets and want to make sure they’re as healthy and happy as possible. Part of that is being prepared for anything that might come up – including illness or injury. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a pet first-aid kit on hand, so you’re ready for anything.
Here’s what to include in your pet’s first-aid kit:
1. A list of emergency phone numbers, including your veterinarian, the nearest 24-hour veterinary hospital, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
2. Gauze rolls and adhesive tape.
3. Cotton balls or swabs.
4. Sterile non-adhesive bandages.
5. Hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting – only do this at your veterinarian’s direction!).
6. Tweezers.
7. Sterile saline solution (for flushing wounds).
8. A clean cloth.
9. A clean towel.
10. Gloves.
11. A muzzle (to prevent biting).
12. A pet carrier.
13. Your pet’s medical records (in case you have to evacuate your home).
14. A recent photo of your pet (in case you get separated).
15. A flashlight.
By keeping this kit in an easily accessible place, you’ll be prepared for anything that comes up. And, of course, make sure to keep it stocked and up-to-date.
Disaster plan
When it comes to preparing for a disaster, there are a lot of things to think about. But one of the most important things you can do is to create a disaster plan.
A disaster plan is a document that outlines what you will do in the event of a disaster. It should include things like where you will go, what you will do, and who you will contact.
Creating a disaster plan is an important step in preparing for a disaster. But it’s also important to remember that your plan is only as good as your ability to execute it. So, it’s important to practice your plan and make sure that everyone in your family knows what to do.
If you don’t have a disaster plan, now is the time to create one. Here are some tips to get you started.
1. Choose a meeting place.
The first step in creating a disaster plan is to choose a meeting place. This is a place where everyone in your family will meet in the event of a disaster. It should be a safe place that is easy to get to.
2. Choose an evacuation route.
The next step is to choose an evacuation route. This is the route you will take to get to your meeting place. It should be a safe route that is easy to follow.
3. Choose a communication plan.
The third step is to choose a communication plan. This is how you will communicate with your family in the event of a disaster. It should be a plan that is easy to follow and that everyone in your family knows.
4. Practice your plan.
The fourth step is to practice your plan. This is important because you need to make sure that your plan works. Practice it with your family and make sure that everyone knows what to do.
5. Be prepared.
The fifth and final step is to be prepared. This means having all of the supplies that you need in the event of a disaster. Make sure that you have a first aid kit, food, water, and a way to communicate.
Creating a disaster plan is an important step in preparing for a disaster. But it’s also important to remember that your plan is only as good as your ability to execute it. So, it’s important to practice your plan and make sure that everyone in your family knows what to do.
Practice emergency escape routes
In case of an earthquake, fire, or other disasters that could threaten your home or workplace, your loved ones will be looking out for you. They may even try to get you to leave work or home so they can take care of things here.
If this happens, you must know how to protect them as well as yourself. The best way to do this is by practicing different disaster modes. This article has some easy tips on how to prepare for such situations with your pet!
1) Plan ahead
Making sure your house is tight and soundproofed is very important in protecting your family from damage or possible injury caused by external forces like earthquakes, fires, and floods.
Practice putting up extra partitions, shades, and doors to prevent outside interference. If needed, invest in second-hand blackout curtains or plastic sheeting to block out light too!
Drinking enough water and ensuring your pets are fed and sheltered from heat, cold and wet conditions is also crucial to their health.
You should also have a backup plan if you cannot find any suitable shelter at short notice. For example, many people live close to a park or beach where they can go to look after their dogs. Or there are often animal shelters around that can offer temporary refuge.
2) Equip your pet with necessary items
Many dogs and cats love being outdoors, so when evacuation orders are issued it’s common for animals to become agitated and restless.
Teach your pets emergency plans
Even if you don’t think pets are very intelligent, they are! They feel pain, fear, and stress just like us, and when things get bad they can become very ill or even die.
That is why it is so important to teach your pet an appropriate amount of disaster preparedness. This could include finding shelter, understanding what will not work in terms of foods and drinks, knowing how to manage their health issues, and more.
Some examples of potential disasters that could happen to your family including natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, etc.), man-made emergencies (power outages, shootings, bombings), and epidemics/viral diseases would be something like a pandemic or zombie apocalypse.
All of these situations require different levels of readiness according to what safety measures you have and know how to use them. For example, food and water are pretty universal concepts, but figuring out which types of food dogs and cats prefer is very individualized.
Make a family emergency kit
Having a large bag full of supplies is the next step in prepping your pet. This can be done by buying or making new items or gathering used ones at thrift stores and yard sales.
You do not have to spend a lot to make an impact here. We recommend keeping things simple but essentialized. Do not worry about having the most elaborate kits, just remember that you will need them and gather what you need as needed.
Make a family disaster kit
While it may feel cliché, having an adequate emergency preparedness plan that includes instructions on how to care for your pet is very important. Even if you don’t think you will ever need them, these tips are still worth adding to your repertoire as they can help save both you and your loved one(s).
Too often, people start gathering supplies after their house gets hit by a tornado or hurricane, but then they run out of room in their bag or shelf. A lot of time, people forget about their pets until days later when there’s no food or water available.
In this situation, your pet could end up passing away due to a lack of nutrition or dehydration. Or maybe someone else comes along and takes care of him/her while you’re gone.
Create an exit plan
It is very important to have a clear understanding of what will happen next, and how you will escape. What kind of vehicle do you have? Do you know anyone who has a car that works? Are there any clues as to where your family comes from and who they belong to? If so, start looking at cars now!
You can never be sure when or if the road will get congested, blocked, or completely shut down. There may not be enough gas to keep going, and it could become too dangerous trying to find more. In these cases, someone with a working vehicle can help save your life and those of others!
Planning ahead also means figuring out where you will go once you leave. Does one of your friends live close by? Can they give you shelter until you are able to re-enter civilization? Figuring this out in advance will make things much easier when times get tough.
Once again, start thinking about ways to prepare for a situation like the one we discussed here today.
Know your neighbors
In times of crisis, our loyalties shift as people struggle to survive. Some may even prioritize their own survival over helping you or your pet. So before heading out somewhere, do research and know who your neighbors are!
Does anyone in the area work outside of the home? Are they married? Do they have children? Figuring out whether someone is trustworthy can be determined through conversations and activities that they participate in.
If possible, there should be at least one other person in the house with them who knows them well. Make sure to discuss what kind of emergencies would happen, if anything was going away, and how they could help in those situations.
This way you will know if they are truly invested in protecting your family and giving yourself more chances of being saved first!
Practice fire safety
Before the apocalypse, many people spend their time practicing how to do things they have never done before. For example, most people have never practiced baking with only sugar and water as ingredients, so they cannot bake with that limitation once a crisis hits.
The same goes for knowing how to change a tire or fix an engine! Luckily, you will not be limited to those basics when there is no more fuel available and there are few people around who know what to do in such situations.
By learning basic skills, your dog can survive any situation you place him in. You would want to start by changing his food and water bowls (make sure they work properly) and then move on to other things like shelter, first aid, and nutrition.
Practice changing his diet and washing his paws and face to see that he knows what actions should be done. He may learn this from watching us humans or through doing it with another animal of similar size and shape.
Be a good digital citizen
In this era of technology, there are many ways to stay connected with loved ones even when there is no power or cell phone service.
You can use apps such as FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or Yahoo Messenger to connect with people.
These applications do not require any internet connection, so before heading out, make sure you have enough battery life to facilitate these conversations.
For example, if using an iPhone, you can go into Settings and find “Cellular” and then choose Battery Usage to see how much charge you have left. If you notice that it is running low, consider buying more time by grabbing a cheap prepaid card or purchasing a new smartphone.
Likewise, be cautious about sharing too much information online. Certain things like your address, employment, and credit cards may not survive a disaster, so think about what you share and keep it limited to only necessary info.