How To Create a Natural Disaster Plan as a Pet Sitter

From hurricanes and wildfires to tornadoes, floods, and winter storms, you never know when a natural disaster might strike. While no one likes to think about emergencies, creating a natural disaster plan as a pet sitter can help you feel more prepared if the unexpected happens. A little planning now can make it much easier to keep the pets in your care safe, stay in touch with owners, and navigate whatever comes your way.

In this guide, we’ll cover ways to prepare before disaster strikes, from getting your home and supplies ready to communicating your plans with pet parents. Hopefully, you can use this guide as a roadmap, so you can focus on what matters most: caring for the pets who are counting on you.

If you’re currently in the middle of a natural disaster and need immediate assistance, contact Rover Support as soon as it’s safe to do so at 888-727-1140.

Prep Your Home

You can’t predict when a natural disaster will happen, but you can make sure your home is ready if one does. Taking time to prepare your space before an emergency means you’ll spend less time scrambling and unsure what to do.

• Build an emergency kit. Keep a well-stocked pet emergency kit in an easy-to-grab and easy-to-remember spot.
• Create a safe sheltering space. Pick an interior room where you and the pets can ride out severe weather if it’s safest to stay put. A bathroom, laundry room, or walk-in closet without windows is often a good option. Make sure there’s enough space for every pet to be safely contained if needed.
• Keep pet spaces away from hazards. If possible, avoid placing crates, beds, or playpens next to large windows, tall bookshelves, heavy TVs, or furniture that could tip over during high winds or an earthquake.
• Plan your evacuation route. Know where you’ll go if local officials issue an evacuation order. Map out multiple routes in case roads are closed, and create a list of pet-friendly hotels, shelters, or friends and family outside the immediate area who could provide a safe place to stay.
• Secure outdoor spaces. Bring in patio furniture, toys, and other loose items outside before severe weather arrives, and check fences and gates for damage.

Prep Your Supplies

When an emergency happens, you don’t want to be searching for a leash or wondering where you put the flashlight. Keeping a dedicated emergency kit stocked and ready to go can save valuable time.

A good pet sitter emergency kit might include:

• Food and water for you and the pets in your care (enough for several days if possible)
• Collapsible food and water bowls that are lightweight and easy to pack
• Extra leashes, harnesses, and slip leads in a variety of sizes
• A pet first aid kit with basics like gauze, nonstick bandages, saline solution, tweezers, styptic powder, and pet-safe antiseptic
• Pet carriers or crates for safe transport
• Any medications the pets in your care may need, along with clear dosing instructions from the pet parent
• Printed copies of important information, including emergency contacts, veterinary information, feeding instructions, and any medical notes, in case your phone loses power or service
• Waste cleanup supplies like poop bags, paper towels, disposable gloves, and pet-safe disinfecting wipes
• Comfort items such as a spare blanket, towel, or a favorite toy to help reduce the pet’s stress during an emergency
• Treats to reward pets, encourage them into carriers, or help redirect their attention in stressful situations
• A flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries
• A fully charged power bank and charging cables for your phone
• Extra ID tags or temporary luggage tags that can be attached to carriers or leashes with your contact information if you need to evacuate

No matter what type of sitting you do, it’s a good idea to check your emergency kit a couple of times a year. Store everything in a waterproof bin or backpack, replace expired supplies, restock anything you’ve used, and swap out seasonal items as needed so your kit is ready whenever you need it.

Get Pets Emergency-Ready

If you had to leave with a Rover pet in the next five minutes, would you have all the information you need? It’s not the most fun question to think about, but it’s a helpful one. Try to take a few minutes to gather key information before a booking starts.

Before you settle in with your Rover pet, make sure you know:

• Who to call if you can’t reach the pet parent. Ask for a trusted local emergency contact or backup caregiver who can make decisions or take over care if needed.
• Where the pets’ carriers or crates are stored. If an evacuation becomes necessary, you won’t want to spend precious time searching the garage or attic.
• Whether each pet is microchipped. Keep the microchip company and ID number on hand if the pet parent has it available.
• What medications the pets take. Know what they take, when they take it, and where those medications are kept.
• Where the emergency supplies are. Some pet parents already have a go-bag packed with food, medications, or medical records.
• What each pet’s favorite hiding spots are. Cats, in particular, are masters of disappearing when they’re scared. Knowing their go-to spots can save valuable time during an emergency.
• How each pet handles stressful situations. Do they panic during thunderstorms? Freeze when they hear sirens? Try to bolt out the door if they’re afraid?
• Recent photos of each pet. Save a few photos to your phone or ask the owner to text them to you. They can be invaluable if a pet gets separated during an emergency.
• Any special handling instructions. Maybe one dog needs a slip lead instead of a harness, or a cat can only be picked up a certain way. Small details like this matter when everyone is under stress.
• Any household things that could affect an evacuation. This could include alarm codes, tricky gates, doors that automatically lock, or where to find spare keys.

Create a Communication Strategy

A little planning goes a long way. Before a booking begins, take a few minutes to talk through a few “what if” scenarios with the pet parent. You don’t need to plan for every possibility, but it’s a good idea to establish a shared understanding of how you’ll handle the unexpected.

Here are a few conversations worth having with the pet owner:

• Where should the pet go if you need to evacuate? Find out if the pet parent has a preferred destination, such as a trusted friend or family member, a boarding facility, or another safe location.
• Who should you contact if the pet parent can’t be reached? Make sure you have the name and phone number of a backup contact who can make decisions or step in if needed.
• What should you do in a medical emergency? Ask when they’d like you to seek veterinary care and whether they have a preferred emergency hospital.
• How should you communicate during an emergency? Decide on the best way to stay in touch. It’s also smart to choose a backup method in case one isn’t available.
• How often should you provide updates? Some pet parents appreciate frequent updates during severe weather, while others simply want to know if things go awry.
• What if you can’t stick to the original care plan? Talk through a few “what if” scenarios together. For example, if roads are closed or it’s no longer safe to stay at the home, what would they like you to do?

Prepare for Different Types of Natural Disasters

No two emergencies are exactly alike. The steps you’d take during a wildfire may look very different from what you’d do during a tornado or winter storm. If you live in an area that’s prone to a particular type of disaster, it’s worth taking a little extra time to prepare for those unique challenges.

Wildfires: Leave early if you can

Wildfires can spread quickly and change direction with little warning. If evacuation orders are issued, don’t wait until the last minute to leave. Smoke can also affect pets long before flames are nearby, so pay attention to air quality alerts and keep pets indoors whenever possible.

Hurricanes & flooding: Plan for rising water

Floodwaters can rise faster than expected, and roads may become quickly impassable. Know multiple evacuation routes, and never walk or drive through floodwaters with pets. If you’re sheltering in place, move everyone to higher ground if flooding is a concern.

Tornadoes: Head to a safe room

When tornado warnings are issued, move pets to a designated safe room as quickly as possible. Interior rooms on the lowest level of the home—away from windows—offer the best protection.

Earthquakes: Watch for hazards after the shaking stops

After the initial quake, check for broken glass, fallen debris, damaged fences, or anything else that could injure pets.

Winter storms: Prepare for power outages

Snow and ice can leave homes without power for hours or even days. Keep extra blankets and fresh water on hand, and limit outdoor time if temperatures are dangerously cold. Wipe pets’ paws after walks to remove ice melt or road salt that could irritate their skin or be ingested as they groom.

Extreme heat: Keep pets cool

Make sure pets always have access to fresh water and a cool place to rest, and avoid walks during the hottest part of the day. Never leave a pet in a parked car, even for a few minutes.