Natural disasters are challenging to predict and impossible to manage. Even if, by luck, people have an opportunity and time to prepare for storms or fires, there is still no guarantee they can ultimately ensure the families’ safety. In such extraordinary situations, our pets depend on us the most.
Animals can unmistakably feel the disasters coming, and we need to pay attention to the signals sent. However, any natural crisis holds special threats to pet owners. By taking proactive steps and learning the best protection techniques, we can eliminate the problem and ensure all the family members stay safe and sound.
Understanding the Peculiar Risks for Pets in Natural Disasters
Even the most intelligent and trained animals can get scared and out of control, having heard loud sounds or seen a lot of light. Under such extraordinary conditions, they can easily get injured, run away from the owners, and get lost in the chaos. Pets struggle to realize how to behave during emergencies, and if you are both confused and scared, things may turn much worse. The key is to analyze potential dangers and act in advance.
Do Some Research
It is crucial to understand, that one cannot be prepared for everything. Yet, it makes sense to research what disasters are the most common in your area. Coastal areas experience hurricanes, while heavily fostered regions are exposed to fires. If the state or local authorities are actively cutting the trees in the area, floods and landslides are just a matter of time.
Make an Emergency Plan
Making an emergency plan is everyone’s least favorite to-do thing. However, if your family and pets live in a region susceptible to extreme weather conditions, ignoring the reality won’t do much good. Ask professionals and local authorities for instructions and strategize how to follow these rules. Also, pay attention to the cleanup procedures in your area.
Take notes on how professionals manage disaster aftermaths, ensuring the safety of all residents, including animals. Look for people who do storm cleanup jobs since relevant specialists not only restore houses and streets after the crises. They help find lost pets and even people, so it is handy to know how to reach out to them in case of an emergency.
Creating an Emergency Kit for Your Pets
If a natural disaster happens, our pets will need individual help. With the right things in your bag, you will help your furry friends before, during, and after an extraordinary situation. Here are the things to keep in the kit:
- Vitals: Pack at least a two-day food and water supply. If supplies run out, check out how to get water for your pet.
- Medications: Pack all necessary pills for your pets. Get a copy of their medical reports to ensure rescue team members or doctors are aware of how to save the animal.
- Identification: Ensure your pet has up-to-date ID tags. However, the tags get lost often. Therefore, microchipping can be a robust security method.
- Comfort Items: Our pets feel stress and anxiety, just like humans. In extreme conditions, make sure your pet has comforting things around, such as toys or blankets.
- Sanitation Supplies: Pack waste bags, litter boxes, or puppy pads as needed.
Packing this kit in advance saves you tons of time and nerves amidst the crisis. You can go online and ask specialists who work in emergency management for more advice on what you may need.
Develop a Pet-Friendly Evacuation Plan
Evacuating with pets may require more strategizing. Sometimes, rescue teams cannot care for the animals since they have to prioritize saving people. To eradicate this considerable stress factor, check the pet-friendly shelters and hotels in the neighborhood. Consult specialists regarding the evacuation routes, which would not be too stressful for the animals. Create a plan B in case the shelters won’t be able to host pets.
Teach your pet to get comfortable and travel safely in a carrier or crate. Short and long trips under different weather conditions would work best as an adaptation mechanism. Keep your pet leashed or crated during evacuations to prevent them from running away in the chaos.
Make Your Home Ready for Shelter-In-Place Scenarios
If the evacuation doesn’t seem possible, follow these instructions to make your home ready for any natural disasters:
- Select a Safe Room: The best option would be a room with no windows. Thus, you will protect yourself and your furry friends from broken glass. However, safe rooms are usually in the middle or back of the house. Create a plan for getting out of there should the need arise.
- Reachable Emergency Kit: Ensure your pet’s kit is in a safe room or easily accessible place.
- Eradicate Additional Hazards: Remove any items that can harm your pet, such as poisonous substances or sharp objects.
Help your Pet Tackle Stress
Natural disaster experience is stressful, to put it mildly. Pay as much attention to your pet as possible. Help them feel safe and attended. Just like humans, animals can also go through long-term trauma. The success of their recovery depends on owners’ efforts and readiness to participate.
One of the best and simplest ways to help your animal feel better is to reintroduce routines and provide plenty of reassurance. We like feeling that things are predictable. Also, we like feeling loved. So do our pets. Other things to do include:
- Inspecting Your Home: Check and clean up all the broken or damaged things that can hurt a pet.
- Monitoring Their Health Long-Term: Pay attention to various signs of health imbalances, such as changes in behavior and sleep patterns, limping, or vomiting.
- Attending the Veterinarian: To dispel concerns and doubts, meet a vet to conduct a post-disaster checkup.
Get the Community Support
Some organizations provide pet owners with special help, including shelter, food, and medical attention. Learn more about such opportunities in the case of acute need. Another good option is to get acquainted with the local groups and unite the efforts should the disaster hit.
Gather to discuss evacuation plans, shelter options, and even storm cleanup activities. Contributing to the local community’s well-being positively affects people and their pets. Nothing brings more comfort and satisfaction than knowing how safe the living conditions in the neighborhood are, thanks to your efforts.
Conclusion
Natural disasters are too abrupt and unpredictable to ignore. The preparation can play a life-saving role for your pet. Getting the safe room ready, planning and packing the emergency kit, and using community resources are many other easy steps that will make a huge difference. Our furry friends need us as never before in the moments of disasters. By acting proactively and responsibly, we make their lives longer and happier.