©Corners / Adobe StockMake sure your pet wears an ID tag with current contact information.
Here are some important tips to help your pets survive a disaster:
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Make sure your pet always wears an ID tag. Permanent identification, such as a tattoo or imbedded microchip, is a good idea, too. Make sure the best contact information to reach you is on the ID tag.
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Prepare a file with current medical and vaccination records, your pet's microchip or tattoo number, your veterinarian’s phone number and address, feeding and medication instructions, and recent pictures of your animal(s).
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Invest in shipping crates. Sturdy crates keep pets safe and give rescuers more options in housing pets. They give you more options, too, in the homes of friends or relatives, or in shelters outside of the area. Also, depending on weather conditions, you can safely leave a crated pet overnight in a vehicle.
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Keep several days’ worth of food and safe drinking water, as well as any necessary medicines, packed and ready to go in the event of a disaster. Rotate your supplies so they do not get stale. If your pet eats canned food, be sure to keep an extra can opener and spoon tucked in among the emergency supplies.
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Pack plastic bags — the kind you usually use for picking up poop and bags that seal to put the poop into.
Boarding facilities should also be noted, as well as groomers — all of these places may be able to help out in a pinch. Compile and print a list of these places on your home computer — and tuck the pages in with your emergency supplies.
You may be lucky and survive a disaster nearly untouched, but others in your community won’t be so fortunate. Contact your local humane society and veterinary organization now to train as a volunteer so you can help out in a pinch.
Disaster-relief workers do everything from distributing food to stranded animals to helping reunite pets with their families — and helping find new homes for those who need them.