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Emergency Manager
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Pets & Animals in a Disaster
The
Humane Society of the United States Offers Disaster Planning
Tips for Pets, Livestock and Wildlife
Whether
it's a large-scale natural catastrophe or an unforeseen emergency
that causes you to leave your home temporarily, everyone's
family can benefit from having a household evacuation plan
in place before disaster strikes.
Every
disaster plan must include your pets!
The
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) offers the following
tips to pet owners designing an emergency safety plan:
- If
you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND! Pets
most likely cannot survive on their own; and if by some
remote chance they do, you may not be able to find them
when you return.
- For
public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept
pets. Find out which motels and hotels in your area allow
pets -- well in advance of needing them. Include your local
animal shelter's number in your list of emergency numbers
-- they might be able to provide information concerning
pets during a disaster.
- Make
sure identification tags are up to date and securely fastened
to your pet's collar. If possible, attach the address and/or
phone number of your evacuation site. If your pet gets
lost, his tag is his ticket home. Make sure you have a
current photo of your pet for identification purposes.
- Make
sure you have a secure pet carrier, leash or harness for
your pet so that if he panics, he can't escape.
- Take
pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records,
cat litter/pan, can opener, food dishes, first aid kit and
other supplies with you in case they're not available later.
While the sun is still shining, consider packing a "pet
survival" kit, which could be easily deployed if disaster
hits.
- If
you are unable to return to your home right away, you may
need to board your pet. Most boarding kennels, veterinarians
and animal shelters will need your pet's medical records
to make sure all vaccinations are current. Include copies
in your "pet survival" kit along with a photo
of your pet.
- If
it is impossible to take your pet with you to temporary
shelter, contact friends, family, veterinarians, or boarding
kennels to arrange for care. Make sure medical and feeding
information, food, medicine and other supplies accompany
your pet to his foster home. NOTE: Some animal shelters
will provide temporary foster care for owned pets in times
of disaster, but this should be considered only as a last
resort.
- If
you have no alternative but to leave your pet at home, there
are some precautions you must take, but remember that leaving
your pet at home alone can place your animal in great danger!
Confine your pet to a safe area inside -- NEVER leave your
pet chained outside! Place a notice outside in a visible
area, advising what pets are in the house and where they
are located. Provide a phone number where you or a contact
can be reached as well as the name and number of your vet.
Not
only are pets affected by disaster, but the other animals
in the disaster area are affected as well. The HSUS offers
these basic tips for people who encounter wildlife or have
livestock on their property:
Wildlife
- Wild
animals often seek higher ground, which, during floods,
eventually become submerged (i.e., island) and the animals
become stranded. If the island is large enough and provides
suitable shelter, you can leave food appropriate to the
species (i.e., sunflower seeds for squirrels). Animals
have a flight response and will flee from anyone approaching
too closely. If the animal threatens to rush into the water,
back away from the island or you may frighten the animal
into jumping into the water to escape from you.
- Wildlife
often seek refuge from flood waters on upper levels of a
home and may remain inside even after the water recedes.
If you meet a rat or snake face to face, be careful but
don't panic. Open a window or other escape route and the
animal will probably leave on its own. Never attempt to
capture a wild animal unless you have the training, protective
clothing, restraint equipment and caging necessary to perform
the job.
- Beware
of an increased number of snakes and other predators who
will try to feed on the carcasses of small mammals who have
been drowned or crushed in their burrows or under rocks.
- Often,
during natural disasters, mosquitoes and dead animal carcasses
may present disease problems. Outbreaks of disease may
occur. The local public health office will issue news releases
to assist with aiding the public regarding health issues
associated with the disaster.
- If
you see an injured or stranded animal in need of assistance,
or you need help with evicting an animal from your home,
please contact your local animal control office or Nebraska
Games and Parks.
Livestock
Evacuate
Livestock Whenever Possible.
- Arrangements
for evacuation, including routes and host sites, should
be made in advance. Alternate routes should be mapped out
in case the planned route is inaccessible.
- The
evacuation sites should have or be able to readily obtain
food, water, veterinary care, handling equipment and facilities.
- Trucks,
trailers, and other vehicles suitable for transporting livestock
(appropriate for transporting each specific type of animal)
should be available along with experienced handlers and
drivers to transport them. Whenever possible, the animals
should be accustomed to these vehicles in advance so they're
less frightened and easier to move.
- If
evacuation is not possible, a decision must be made whether
to move large animals to available shelter or turn them
outside. This decision should be determined based on the
type of disaster and the soundness and location of the shelter
(structure).
- All
animals should have some form of identification that will
help facilitate their return.
Your
disaster plan should include a list of emergency phone numbers
for local agencies that can assist you if disaster strikes
- - including your veterinarian, state veterinarian, local
animal shelter, animal care and control, and county extension
service. These numbers should be kept with your disaster
kit in a secure, but easily accessible place.
For
additional information, please contact:
The
Humane Society of the United States
2100
L. Street, NW
Washington,
DC. 20037
Attn:
Disaster Services Program
Phone:
(202) 452-1100
Website:
http://www.hsus.org
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