- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Hurricane preparedness for pets is just as important as it is for people!
An average of 17.7 hurricanes strike the United States mainland each year. Hurricanes can occur very suddenly, so it’s important to have a plan ready just in case—especially if you live in a hurricane zone.
Read on to learn how to prepare pets for an emergency and what to do during and after a hurricane to keep your pets safe.
How To Prep for a Hurricane
Hurricane preparedness for pets involves a few important steps, including creating an emergency kit, knowing your evacuation zones and routes, and making an emergency plan.
Build a pet emergency kit
According to Dr. Heather Berst at Zoetis, your pet emergency kit should include:
- Food and water for at least two weeks
- Food and water bowls
- Any medicine your pet takes regularly, plus an extra supply
- Medication to help keep your pet calm if needed
- A month’s supply of flea, tick, and heartworm preventative
- A first aid kit
- A collar and tag with contact information
- Important documentation, including pet registration, medical records, pet description, and photo of you and your pet—all stored in a waterproof container
- Pet gear, including bed, crate or carrier, grooming items, toys, and treats
Know your evacuation zones and routes
Hurricane evacuation zones and routes are pre-determined, so you can familiarize yourself with these before a disaster hits.
The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) can provide you with information on your evacuation zone or route.
- Hurricane evacuation zones: These are high-risk areas where residents may need to evacuate.
- Hurricane evacuation routes: These are roads you can use to safely escape the hurricane’s path.
Make an evacuation plan
Hurricanes are most common in the southeastern and central states of the U.S., including:
If you live in one of these states, you’ll want to have an evacuation plan in place.
While your evacuation plan will vary depending on where you live and your area’s protocols, it’s wise to have a few important things ready beforehand:
- Accommodation options: AKC Pet Disaster Relief helps local emergency management teams provide emergency shelter for pets during disasters. You can also research nearby pet-friendly hotels.
- The FEMA app: Before and during a disaster, the FEMA app can provide weather updates, details about emergency shelters, and other helpful information.
- A microchip: If your pet doesn’t have a microchip, get this quick procedure done as soon as possible. This identification device that can help you find your pet in case they get lost during a hurricane or other disaster.
- Insurance: Different types of insurance can be helpful in case of a hurricane. Your region may even require certain types of insurance. Windstorm, flood, and homeowners insurance can all help cover the costs of damage during a hurricane.
- Evacuation practice: To prepare your pet for an evacuation, you can take regular car rides, practice obedience training, and crate train your pet.
What To Do During a Hurricane
When there’s a hurricane in your area, it’s essential to keep your pets calm, be ready to evacuate if needed, and know how to safely return home.
“As a precaution, I advise pet parents to put a sign or sticker on the front door of their homes, stating how many pets they have as well as their names, in case your animals need rescuing in your absence,” says Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, a Rover veterinary panelist and Chief Veterinarian at Kleinburg Veterinary Hospital.
How to keep pets calm during a hurricane
Dr. Berst recommends the following to help keep your pet calm during a hurricane:
- Keep them away from windows: When you have one available, a quiet interior room without many windows is safest. Offering your pet’s bed and toys can also provide a sense of safety and comfort.
- Offer soothing sounds: Play calming music for your dog or cat or talk to them to help create a sense of security.
- Don’t take them outside: Provide pee pads or artificial turf for dogs to use indoors until officials say it’s safe to go outside. Cats can use their litter box as they typically would. Just keep it close to your safe area!
- Offer affection and treats: Pets can take cues from us, says Dr. Greenstein, so how we speak and interact with them.
Tips for evacuation during a hurricane
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you should always bring your pets with you when evacuating.
Have your pet emergency kit easily accessible and know your pet evacuation plan in case you’re advised to evacuate.
If possible, you should also contact a shelter or hotel before you go to give advance notice of your arrival with your pet!
Tips for Returning Home
It’s important to pay attention to your pet’s well-being even after the hurricane is over and you can safely go home.
According to Dr. Berst, it may take a few days or weeks for your pet to recover from the stress of the disaster.
Your cat or dog may be anxious, for one thing. Dr. Berst says it’s also important to check for and address the following safety hazards:
- Sharp objects
- Displaced wildlife
- Fallen branches
- Contaminated standing water
Monitor your pet carefully for several weeks after the hurricane is over. Dr. Berst suggests not leaving them alone for too long and providing them with a consistent routine and comfortable space.
While it may take your pet some time to adjust, contact your vet if you notice any lasting changes in their behavior.
