An evacuation plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their pets. Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan.
Assign pet evacuation to an adult
Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation, and that includes assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence.
Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily accessible
If you need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If your pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily.
Practice your plan
Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window may not be as simple as you think!
Be prepared in case you get separated from your pets
No matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, it’s possible that a dog or cat will run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to the area.
Purchase 'Rescue Our Pets' Stickers
Make sure first responders know how many pets & what types are in the home. You can purchase inexpensive self-adhesive stickers to affix to your front door so anyone coming to help knows that pets are home & need rescuing.
Add your veterinarian to your 'Saved Contacts'
If you need to reach your vet in an emergency, make sure you don't have to search for their contact information. Save them as a contact in your phone.
If you live in the area, please feel free to contact us for any pet recommendations, including a veterinarian.
