Hurricane Season's official start in Louisiana is June 1, 2012. Are you prepared? Are your pets?
Although every early summer, I get our hurricane kits together and make sure everything is current, it's not a bad idea in the South to have a go-kit in place all year round. Because of our warm weather, our proximity to water, and our frequent storms, you never know when you might need to be prepared for a situation with flooding or no electric.
Your pets have some of the same emergency needs as you, but they need some extra help since they can't pack for themselves. Here are some suggestions, tips and a list of supplies:
FOOD: Enough for meals for at least 3-7 days. Keep in a waterproof container. Don't forget the can opener.
WATER: At least a half-gallon for each pet per day. This should be more than enough but better safe than sorry!
PRESCRIPTIONS: An extra supply of any prescriptions your dog may be on, enough for 3 to 7 days. Also, a copy of any written prescriptions in case you need a refill at a different pharmacy.
EMERGENCY/FIRST AID: You can share your own First Aid Kit with your pets. Just make sure that you have enough supplies to cover all of you. Remember, Neosporin is safe for dogs and cats and so is benadryl in most cases for dogs (not cats). Benadryl will also keep alot of pets mildly sedated which may be very useful in a stressful situation such as a major storm and/or evacuation. ALWAYS CONSULT WITH A VET ABOUT DOSAGE AND SAFETY BEFOREHAND. (**chlortrimetron is being reported as safe for cats--but again, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR VET***)
VACCINATION RECORDS/TAGS: Always keep an extra copy of your pets' vaccine records with you, especially if you're having to travel. If their tags are not on for some reason, please keep them on YOU for quick production to any law enforcement body.
A PICTURE OF YOU AND YOUR PET TOGETHER: In case your pet gets lost you will want to have proof he or she is yours should you need to pick up from a municipal shelter/emergency shelter. My vet now does ID cards with their pix and vaccine info on them--ask if YOUR vet does these!
TRASH BAGS AND POTTIE PADS (litter and pan for cats)
A LEASH AND COLLAR FOR EACH PET
MUZZLE
A CARRIER FOR EACH PET (if it will feasibly fit in your auto. I know we don't ALL keep our biggie dogs in carriers all the time if we don't have an SUV. If not, find a way to secure your pet--our leashes can be tied to 'hooks' meant for car seat tie downs behind our back seat headrests).
INFORMATION SHEET WITH EMERGENCY VET INFO, PET FRIENDLY HOTELS, ETC ON YOUR EVACUATION ROUTE
We sincerely hope that none of us will have to use any of the above. But, if Katrina taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected and to be prepared ON BEHALF OF OUR PETS. Please remember to keep EVERYTHING in waterproof containers, ziploc bags, etc. There's nothing worse than a list of contacts and phone numbers that we can't read anymore! Do not rely on your cell phone directory--cell towers may be down and you may have no way to charge your phone until getting to your safe destination.
Although every early summer, I get our hurricane kits together and make sure everything is current, it's not a bad idea in the South to have a go-kit in place all year round. Because of our warm weather, our proximity to water, and our frequent storms, you never know when you might need to be prepared for a situation with flooding or no electric.
Your pets have some of the same emergency needs as you, but they need some extra help since they can't pack for themselves. Here are some suggestions, tips and a list of supplies:
FOOD: Enough for meals for at least 3-7 days. Keep in a waterproof container. Don't forget the can opener.
WATER: At least a half-gallon for each pet per day. This should be more than enough but better safe than sorry!
PRESCRIPTIONS: An extra supply of any prescriptions your dog may be on, enough for 3 to 7 days. Also, a copy of any written prescriptions in case you need a refill at a different pharmacy.
EMERGENCY/FIRST AID: You can share your own First Aid Kit with your pets. Just make sure that you have enough supplies to cover all of you. Remember, Neosporin is safe for dogs and cats and so is benadryl in most cases for dogs (not cats). Benadryl will also keep alot of pets mildly sedated which may be very useful in a stressful situation such as a major storm and/or evacuation. ALWAYS CONSULT WITH A VET ABOUT DOSAGE AND SAFETY BEFOREHAND. (**chlortrimetron is being reported as safe for cats--but again, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR VET***)
VACCINATION RECORDS/TAGS: Always keep an extra copy of your pets' vaccine records with you, especially if you're having to travel. If their tags are not on for some reason, please keep them on YOU for quick production to any law enforcement body.
A PICTURE OF YOU AND YOUR PET TOGETHER: In case your pet gets lost you will want to have proof he or she is yours should you need to pick up from a municipal shelter/emergency shelter. My vet now does ID cards with their pix and vaccine info on them--ask if YOUR vet does these!
TRASH BAGS AND POTTIE PADS (litter and pan for cats)
A LEASH AND COLLAR FOR EACH PET
MUZZLE
A CARRIER FOR EACH PET (if it will feasibly fit in your auto. I know we don't ALL keep our biggie dogs in carriers all the time if we don't have an SUV. If not, find a way to secure your pet--our leashes can be tied to 'hooks' meant for car seat tie downs behind our back seat headrests).
INFORMATION SHEET WITH EMERGENCY VET INFO, PET FRIENDLY HOTELS, ETC ON YOUR EVACUATION ROUTE
We sincerely hope that none of us will have to use any of the above. But, if Katrina taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected and to be prepared ON BEHALF OF OUR PETS. Please remember to keep EVERYTHING in waterproof containers, ziploc bags, etc. There's nothing worse than a list of contacts and phone numbers that we can't read anymore! Do not rely on your cell phone directory--cell towers may be down and you may have no way to charge your phone until getting to your safe destination.
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