Pet owners urged to get ready for hurricane season. ‘Preparedness saves lives’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Pet owners should microchip animals and update ID info ahead of hurricanes.
- A pet emergency go bag with essentials can save time during evacuations.
- Vaccination records and preplanned shelter options aid safe pet relocation.
When hurricanes approach, families often have less than 72 hours to act. For pet owners, having an evacuation plan can ensure the safety of beloved friends.
“This is the best time to think about what you’re going to do with your animal in the event of a hurricane,” said Sharon Hawa, senior manager for emergency services at Best Friends Animal Society.
According to Hawa, pets should be microchipped and registered with a current address and phone number. Without proper identification, Hawa said shelters could be forced to transfer a pet to a shelter across state lines.
“When a pet is separated from their family members and there’s no way to identify who they are, it becomes difficult to reunite a pet with a family member,” Hawa said.
The Humane Society of South Mississippi said it can provide low-cost microchip services.
“In the chaos of a storm, pets can become lost or separated from their families, but a microchip gives them the best chance of being reunited with you,” HSSM Development Director Katie King said. “Preparedness saves lives”
Pack now, not later
Hawa also emphasized the importance of keeping vaccination records up to date and easily accessible. If pets need to be housed in emergency shelters, vaccination records may be required to prevent the spread of illness.
“In an emergency shelter with multiple different animals, it’s important that your animal has vaccines to show that your animal is healthy and can be with a population of other healthy animals, but also that your animal is not susceptible to catching things in a shelter,” Hawa said.
To streamline evacuation efforts, pet owners are encouraged to pack a pet emergency “go bag.” Recommended items include:
Vaccination records
Medications
Food and water
Bowls
Waste bags
Leash and collar with ID tags
Towels
Crate or carrier
“For one animal, it could take just 10 to 15 minutes (to put this together),” Hawa said. “You’re just pulling all of the essentials, just as you would for yourself.”
Preparing doesn’t have to be expensive. Hawa noted that dollar stores, seasonal pet store sales and local shelters often offer free or affordable pet supplies.
“People wait until the last minute to evacuate,” Hawa said. “As soon as you hear the word evacuate, you need to start moving. You need to get your animal in the crate or on a leash, pack up and go wherever it is that you’re designated to go.”
Disaster doesn’t wait
Hawa also advised pet owners to make arrangements in case a disaster strikes while they’re away from home.
“A lot of times we see that there are pets left behind, not because the owner wanted to leave them behind, but mostly because the timing of the disaster was when the owner was not home,” Hawa said.
Hawa said preparing early can prevent tragedy and heartbreak later on.
“We’ve seen in the past that pets are left behind or people are separated from their animals during an emergency. That’s our family, so they depend on us for their safety. Having a plan in place can only prevent that separation from happening later,” Hawa said.
