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The year of 2005 was
unimaginable with hurricanes, tsunamis, floods, fires
and earthquakes. These are big enough reasons to
warrant an evacuation, but there are smaller reasons,
too. You could have a house fire or if you live near a
train track or a highway, there could be an accident
with one of the vehicles carrying hazardous material,
there could be work done on a home near you and someone
accidentally hits a gas line. We all live within a few
hundred miles from a nuclear plant or there is the
possibility of a biological and/or terrorist attack. In
Nashua, a few years ago, some were evacuated from their
homes when there was a chemical problem in a plant in
the southern part of the city. Spring of 2006 brought
drought and dry conditions, starting wildfires to many
NH towns and then there was the Mother’s Day floods.
If you ever need to be
evacuated, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND. If it is
unsafe for you, it is unsafe for them. Even if you are
told you will be back in a few hours, take your pets.
Once you are evacuated, you will NOT be allowed back
into the affected areas and there is always the
possibility of the disaster becoming worse. Survival
of you, your family and pets goes up dramatically if you
are prepared, so here are some tips and information
collected from The American Humane Association, Humane
Society of the United States, Emergency Animal Rescue
Service, The ASPCA, and
The American Red Cross. If you
would like further information please contact these
organizations, (contact information located at the end
of this document).
Disasters can happen
at anytime and anywhere. In a disaster, roads may be
out, cell towers may be down, phone lines and
electricity may be stopped so do not depend on these.
Cells phones are always a good idea, however, it is also
advisable to have a corded phone, so in the case of no
electricity and no cell phone, you will still have a
phone line in case of emergency. When a disaster
strikes, you may not have much time to respond so please
be proactive. Prepare BEFORE a disaster. Hopefully,
you will never have to experience a disaster, but the
probability is that you will at some point in your life,
being prepared will help
in a very hard stressful situation. As we saw in New
Orleans, it is best to not rely on state or federal
government for all your needs.
Think about what you
would do if you had to live in your home during a
disaster. What would you do for food? Water? What if
you had no electricity? No heat? What if there were no
gas available? No propane? No Oil? What would you do if
the outside air was contaminated? How would you seal
your home? What if you had to stay in your home for 4 –
6 weeks? Okay, this sounds drastic, but what if? When
the planes hit the towers, what did you think? I
thought we were at war. What if the scenario of the TV
series “Jericho” were a reality? One day you are living
your life as you have always done, and then within
minutes life as you know it changes. All I am
suggesting, is to think about these things, prepare for
as much or as little as you feel comfortable to protect
you, your family and your pets. I am giving you
suggestions that can apply if you are contained in your
home and/or if you are evacuated from your home. Of
course, if you can stay in your home, you can prepare
with more food, water, etc, then if you must leave and
pack things in your vehicle. You will need to decide
before hand, what would you bring and not bring if you
must leave. So, here are some ideas.
Create a Family
Disaster Plan
·
Contact
your local emergency management or civil defense office
and your local American Red Cross Chapter. Find out
which disasters are most likely to happen in your
community. Ask how you would be warned. Find out how
to prepare for each. Ask the American Red Cross for a
brochure on “Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit”. Click
on Making a
Disaster Kit for more information.
·
Meet with
your family. Discuss the types of disasters that could
occur. Explain how to prepare and respond. Discuss
what to do if you need to evacuate. Practice what you
have discussed.
· Plan how
your family will stay in contact if separated. Pick two
meeting places: 1. a location a safe distance from your
home in case of fire 2. a place outside your
neighborhood in case you can not return home. Also,
choose an out-of-state friend as a “check-in contact”
for everyone to call if a disaster and evacuation
separate you.
· Complete
the following: Post emergency numbers by every phone and
put these numbers in wallets and pocketbooks to go with
you. Show responsible family members how and when to
shut off water, gas and electricity main switches. If
you ever go away post this information in a visible
place. Make a map of your house as to where these are.
·
Keep gas
tanks in vehicles full at all times, Stock pantries of
canned goods (One month’s supply is best), keep cash on
hand, keep plastic gloves and masks (boxes marked N95 or N100,
can be purchased at drug stores and also used around
home when using chemicals, painting, etc.) for
disease control and if air is contaminated. If a
disaster hits, gas, food, and other necessary items will
be in short supply and banks will be closed.
·
Post Pet
Rescue Stickers on each door. They must be easily
visible to rescue workers and must contain the types and
number of pets inside, the name of your veterinarian and
phone number, your phone numbers (cell, work, emergency)
and emergency person’s phone numbers. Professional Pet
Sitting Etc. does have Pet Rescue window clings for
sale.
·
Install
fire/smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors on
each level of your home, especially near bedrooms, test
monthly and change the batteries two times each year (an
easy way to remember is to change batteries when the
clocks are changed in spring and fall). It is also
recommended to replace these devices every FIVE years.
Another recommendation is to buy devices that
communicate with each other, so if the one in the
basement goes off, the others sound also and say the
room of the unit that is sending the alarm.
·
Contact
your local fire department to learn about fire hazards.
Have your home inspected for fire hazards and repair,
also have your fire extinguishers checked.
If you can afford to equip your home with a fire
sprinkler system, these systems can extinguish a fire
within minutes and keep damage to a minimum.
·
Learn
first aid and CPR (for people and pets), you can contact
your local American Red Cross for information and
training. Click here for
Pet First Aid
·
Meet with
your neighbors. Plan how the neighborhood could work
together after a disaster. Know your neighbors’ skills
(medical, technical). Consider how you could help your
neighbors who have special needs, such as elderly,
disabled persons and neighborhood pets. Make plans for
child care AND pet care in case you can not get home.
·
Always
bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a
storm or disaster. Pets can become stressed,
disoriented and wander away from home during a crisis.
REMEMBER TO PRACTICE
AND MAINTAIN YOUR PLANS.
The federal government
has passed the PETS ACT (Pets
Act,
Pres. Bush Signs Pets Act), basically stating that each
state must include pets in there disaster
response plans. The following is a compilation of pet
disaster preparedness from the American Humane
Association, Humane Society of the United States,
Emergency Animal Rescue Service, and the American SPCA:
Where
could you go?
·
Know
where you can go with your family and your pets BEFORE
anything happens. Evacuation shelters will not allow
animals, so it is up to you to know where to go.
·
Call
hotels in and out of state. Go to the book store, there
are books that list pet friendly hotels. Ask hotels with
a “no pet policy” if that would be waived in the event
of an emergency (A great source is the web site
Pets Welcome).
·
Keep a
list of pet friendly places and their phone numbers.
·
As soon
as you hear that there may be an evacuation, call and
make reservations and go as soon as possible. These
hotels will book fast. Most operate on a first come,
first served basis. Be one of the first to arrive and
give your pets plenty of time to settle.
·
If your
pet is not used to traveling, take them for short rides
in the car now, it will help them in a time of crisis
and when they are going to the veterinarian for their
regular check up.
·
If they
are not used to being crated/caged, again now is the
time to get them used to it by feeding them in their
crate/cage and leave the doors open, gradually get them
used to staying in their crates for periods of time.
If pets are not used to leashes, collars, harnesses
(especially cats), it is advisable to accustom your pet
to these also. If you have a pet that does not
have some basic obedience training, or your pet is not
used to strangers, etc., work on these now. Not only will it be a better life
for you and your pets working with them to being
comfortable in these situations in case of a disaster,
but everyone will be able to live better at home if
there were no disaster also. Again, helping your pets
now, will help you and them later.
Read how Dori
does this with her 10 cats!
·
Contact
your veterinarian or pet professional for a list of
emergency animal shelters. Click here to view
many shelters in NH.
·
Check
with your local animal welfare shelter to determine if
they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets.
Animal shelters may be over burdened caring for the
animals they already have, as well as those displaced by
disaster, so this should be your last resort.
·
Ask
friends and relatives outside your immediate area if
they would be willing to take in you and your pets in a
disaster. If you have more than one pet, they may be
more comfortable if kept together, but be prepared to
house them separately.
·
Choose a
Designated Caregiver. This is best when you take
considerable time and thought. You should make plans
for a temporary home for your pets in the event of an
emergency (and you may need to make arrangements for a
permanent home in the event you can no longer care for
your pet, if you become incapacitated or worse).
·
If you
have not prepared a will and a trust, now is the time to
do this. If you already have a will and a trust and
your pets are not included, this may also be the time
that you consider adding your pets to your wills and
trusts if something should happen to you. Unlike a
will, a trust provides for your pet immediately, and
can apply not only if you die but if you become disabled
(call your wills & trust lawyer for more information).
·
Professional Pet Sitting Etc. and Dori have been placed
in quite a few trusts by their clients to be notified in
case of an owner’s passing to care for pets until they
go to the prearranged home in the trust, or they have
entrusted the company to find a permanent home.
Make a Disaster
Emergency Kit
· Make an
emergency kit (make
a kit for you and
a kit for your pets) and put everything in a
plastic container, ready to go at a moments notice. You
can use water proof luggage, duffel bags, Rubbermaid
storage containers, trash cans, etc. Remember that no
one can predict mother nature, you may be evacuated much
longer than you originally thought, so pack for an
extended stay. If you do not need everything you bring,
great, save it for the next time.
· Make a
list of items (not in your emergency kit like photos,
your grandmother’s ring, etc.) you want to take or
itemize what you may need to do for the emergency and
post it on the inside of your bedroom door. Purchase
an inexpensive lockbox or a small fire proof safe to
place these important items in. If you need to leave
you can bring this with you. Making your list ahead and
having these important items in an easily accessible
place will ensure that you won’t be scrambling when disaster happens. It
is best to prepare this list when you are calm and over
a period of time with much thought. You will not be
able to think of everything in a crisis. Practice time
(how long it takes you to do everything from packing the
car to actually driving away), in many cases you are
only given 15 minutes to 24 hours to
evacuate.
· Now is
the time to check what you have for insurance on your
home and belongings. Make sure that you have
guaranteed replacement” if your home and belongings are
completely destroyed. Also ask about inflation in
rebuilding, etc. It is advisable to take pictures of
your home inside and out. Take pictures of each room,
include all your belongings and if possible, write down
an inventory.
· Scan all
photos (personal and for insurance) and place on a CD, put family videos
on DVD, make a list of all bank numbers, credit card
numbers, include institutions phone numbers, all
important documents (home mortgage, insurance – life,
house, health, passports, etc.
· For all
important documents, photos, CDs, DVDs, etc. if you can
make three copies of each, and place one copy with a
trusted friend or family member, second copy in a bank
security box with the third (or originals ) with you.
This way if anything ever happened you will have access
to this important information (and memories), one way or another if one
or two are unavailable.
· If you
ever need to be evacuated due to unsafe conditions –
anything can happen. Everything could be fine and you
can return to your home in thirty minutes or everything
could go very wrong and everything in a 5 mile radius
could be completely destroyed. So when you plan, plan
for the worst. When you evacuate, you will not be able
to bring everything you have stored for a disaster. It
is just not feasible to bring everything, so you need to
decide when you are calm and not in a disastrous
situation (in a trauma situation, we may not make wise
thought out choices) what is important to bring and what
you must leave behind.
Food
· It is
recommended by all sources to have a supply of food and
water for pets and people and medications if needed.
One month’s supply is best.
· Canned
food stores best but rotate cans using the oldest and
replacing with new. Buy flip top cans or keep a manual
can opener (in case of no electricity).
· Keep dry
pet food in airtight containers (never leave dry pet
food in bags on concrete, as concrete depletes nutrients
and moisture through the bag). Also, check these
plastic containers to make sure they are “food quality”
containers. Many plastics leach chemicals into food
products that are not good for consumption.
· Have
extra bowls (disposable bowls or paper plates do not
have to be cleaned between uses, so you do not use up
much needed water).
· Make sure
that you have spoons for mixing food, disposable is
good.
· Buy a
small grill with a supply of charcoal to cook with, in
case you lose electricity. Gas grills are great,
however, keep an extra full propane tank. Also keep in
mind if you could not obtain more gas/propane.
Water
·
It is
recommended 2 gallons per person per day, 1 gallon per
pet per day, One month’s supply is best. This is a lot
of water, so at the first sign of disaster fill empty containers and tubs.
· If tap
water is unsuitable for human consumption then it is
unsuitable for animal consumption.
· Store
drinking water in tightly sealed plastic containers.
· Do not
store water in direct sunlight (will grow algae).
Rotate water every 2-6 months.
· Have
extra water and bowls/bottles on hand for pets.
Housing
· The best
situation is for you and your family to be in your home
together, self contained. Check into alternative
energies – solar, wind. There are many solar products
to produce energy to run household items. Some items to
have on hand – solar and/or battery powered lights,
emergency TV/radio to keep up to date on information, CB
radios may come in handy also.
· If you
must leave your home, the best situation is for your
family and pets to stay together. If your pets can not
stay where your family is staying, spend as much time
with them as possible. This will keep them calm and
prevent others from bothering your pets. KEEP IN
MIND - pets have been stolen in a crisis situation.
· Purchase
wire collapsible cages to house cats and small dogs (and
other small pets). Make sure it is large enough to put
a litterbox, food, water and a small area for the pet to
sleep (this will help if you need to keep the pets
contained).
· Each
carrier should be labeled with pets inside, owner
information & numbers, general care
and vaccine history. Keep copies of medical records in
safe dry container with pets, a copy with you and a
third copy in a safe place.
· To help
keep a pet calm, bring a blanket to cover the cage.
· Also,
bring a lock to lock the cage door so that the door can
not accidentally come open by accident or by curious
people if you are in a shelter (a combination lock is
best, keys can become lost or misplaced).
· Bring a
harness and leash for exercising pets out side of the
cage.
· Bring
extra collars, harnesses, and leashes and a portable tie out if
needed (never leave your pet unsupervised when out of
carriers).
· Bring pet
beds and toys if they are easily transportable and there
is room, especially if they can help keep your pet happy
and calm.
· Make sure
pets have access to water – obtain a good quality water
bottle made for carriers (bowls can be tipped over and
create a mess).
· Try to
keep to some schedule for feeding and exercising.
· Be aware
of temperatures where your pets are housed – it should
not be too hot or too cold.
Cleaning
Supplies
· If you
are evacuated bring a
small container of dish soap and disinfectant (Purelle).
· Bring a
minimum of FOUR rolls of paper towels (more if space
allows), small bags to dispose of waste, Litter scoops,
pooper scoopers, litterboxes (bring extra disposable
litterboxes , aluminum roasting pans work great).
· Bring
enough litter, One month’s supply is best (try to use
less than you normally would).
First
Aid
· Have a
human first aid kit (Pre-made
kits& MORE )and a first aid kit & book for your
animals. Pre-assembled animal & human first aid kits can be
purchased or go to one of the organizations at the end
of this article and ask for a list of items to make your
own (Red
Cross List ,
Pet Kits/Emergency food ,
VSI First Aid Products ,
Red Cross First Aid for Pets ,
How to pack a first aid kit for pets ).
· During or
after a disaster and in high stress, a pet’s behavior
can temporarily change, packing a muzzle is a good idea
in case behavior becomes less than desirable, plus your
pet may be in close quarters with other pets and may be
cared for by people they do not know (especially if
something happens to you).
· If your
pet is stressed and does not travel well or hates
unfamiliar surroundings, talk with your veterinarian
about possibilities of medications to keep on hand in an
emergency.
Medications
· Have any
long term medications, for you or your pets. One month’s
supply is best.
· If you
have any medical conditions that others should be aware
of, wear a medical alert bracelet so that people will
know if you can not speak for any reason.
· If your
animal is on a long term medication or has a medical
condition (allergies, diabetic, kidney failure, FIP,
etc.), have a tag made indicating this and put it on
your animal’s collar (same idea as an alert bracelet for
people).
· Also
check out the Health section below for more information
Identification
· Have a
collar and ID tag for any animal that can wear them
(remember to include the above medical conditions).
· Use safe
break away collars for cats. All cats (and dogs) should
have collars and ID and be used to wearing them all of
the time.
· On the
collar and/or tag include your name, home phone number,
an alternate phone number and your address.
· Another
permanent form of ID, which can be used in addition to a
collar and tag is micro chipping, in case collars and
tags fall off.
Check with Animal Shelters or your Veterinarian.
· Attach a
temporary tag with the phone number and address of your
temporary shelter (if you know it), or of a friend or
relative outside the disaster area. You can buy
temporary tags that you can write on and set them aside
in your disaster kit. Another good idea when you
are traveling or visiting with your pet, attach this
temporary tag with the temporary vacation information, just in
case your pet gets loose.
Photos
· Have
multiple copies of current (within 6 months) photos of your animals to
help locate them should they get lost.
· Include
yourself in some photos as proof of
ownership.
· As stated
above, take photos of your house and belongings inside
and out for insurance. Put all photos (personal and
insurance) on CDs. Put all taped memories on DVDs.
Make three copies of everything, one copy to a trusted
friend or family member, one copy in a bank security box
and the third copy with you. That way, no matter what
happens, you will never lose your memories and have
necessary proof for insurance to start your life again
if everything becomes destroyed.
Health
· Make a
medical sheet for each member of the family, include
things such as blood type, surgeries, dates and type of
vaccinations (include all childhood & adult vaccines
received), any known allergies, all medications being
taken, any surgeries and/or medical conditions, list
last few readings for blood pressure, etc. This will
help medical personnel if you needed medical care in the
event of a disaster, if you could not speak and access
to your medical history was not available. This
information is required to be carried on each person who
does disaster response. It may come in handy for each
person to have, just in case.
· Check with your doctor about any vaccinations that may
need to be updated. Some childhood vaccinations
that you have received as a child, may need to be
boostered as an adult.
Adult Vaccine Schedule
· Do a
similar medical sheet for each pet
· Keep your
pets’ vaccinations current. This will protect them if
they need to be housed with other animals. Keep a
notebook with all medical records ready to go. You may
need to show proof of vaccinations.
· It is
advisable to keep all important paperwork in water proof
containers (Ziploc bags or plastic container).
· In the
event you are unavailable for pet care for whatever
reason - It is also advisable to leave information on
pets’ crate for feeding schedules, behavior problems,
and a written permission slip for the pet caregiver to
obtain medical for your pet in the event of a medical
emergency (you may need to include a credit card number
and expiration date with your signature just in case the
emergency veterinarian will not treat if there is not a
financially responsible party – this can be tricky
because you do not want your CC information in the wrong
hands).
· Bring
grooming items, grooming helps calm some pets and will
help pets that easily mat.
What
happens if you are not home at the time of a disaster?
· You
should choose someone who lives within walking distance
to your home to check on and care for your pets. They
may also need to transport your pets to safety.
· They
should have a key to your home (or access 24/7)and know where carriers
are and your disaster/emergency care box is, so they can
grab and go. Key lockboxes attach to your home,
open with a code (can be changed as often as you wish)
and are a great way to have emergency
access to your home with a phone call to whoever you
feel comfortable without having many keys out and about.
(Key lockboxes are sold by Prof. Pet Sitting Etc.)
· If you
have a pet sitter or another company caring for your
pet, do not rely on them. A good pet care
company will have asked you for a person you trust close
by to care for your pets in the event of an emergency.
A pet care company may not live close to your home and
they may need to evacuate themselves along with many
other clients’ pets. It is always best to have a back
up person within walking distance to your home.
This person must be within walking distance because if
your neighborhood is evacuated, no one from outside the
area will be allowed in the evacuated neighborhood.
· Have your
person meet you in a prearranged location to obtain
your pets if they needed to be evacuated when you were
not home.
What
about pets other than cats or dogs?
· Most of
the suggestions above are pertaining to dogs and cats.
Horses, livestock, small pets, reptiles, birds, etc. all
have special needs. Be prepared for their care. Also,
remember that all pets will react very differently under
stress. Outside your home and in your car, ALWAYS keep
dogs securely leashed and transport all cats in
carriers. Do not leave pets unattended anywhere. Even
the most trustworthy pets may panic, hide, try to
escape, or even bite and scratch. Being prepared can
save your life and the life of your pets.
What
about other emergencies such as a Pandemic like the Bird
(Avian) Flu?
· According
to Dr. Michael Osterholm as seen on the Oprah Show
airing 1-24-06 (contact Harpo or go to Oprah.com for
more information), it is not a question of if a pandemic
of some sort will happen it is when. He states:
· You
should have enough food, water, medications and all
essentials for you and your pets to stay in your homes,
(not leaving for any reason) for up to 5 WEEKS.
·
If you
need to leave your home while the virus is in the air,
purchase special masks with air filters to screen out
Avian Flu germs.
· Purchase
plastic and duct tape to cover windows, doors and
vents. Ahead of time, cut to fit each opening and store. This is to
seal your home, to prevent the air born virus from coming
into your home.
· During and pandemic,
wash
hands at every opportunity.
· You may
consider getting vaccinated for pneumonia (Pneumovax).
Most people who die from the Avian flu, died with
pneumonia. The vaccine would be given to you now and
then you are revaccinated at age 65 (check with your
doctor).
· It is
also advised to become vaccinated every year with the
flu vaccine. Some experts believe that the Avian Flu
will mutate to a humane form when a human that already
has the flu also becomes infected with the Avian flu
simultaneously.
So
to recap:
At the first hint of
disaster, act to protect you, your family and your pet.
· Leave
early -don’t wait for a mandatory evacuation order. An
unnecessary trip is far better than waiting too long to
leave safely with your pets.
· Call
ahead to confirm emergency shelter arrangements.
· Check to
be sure your pet disaster supplies (including food,
water, medications and other essentials) are ready at a
moment’s notice.
· Bring all
pets into the house so that you won’t have to search for
them if you need to leave in a hurry.
· Make sure
that all pets have collars, ID and medical information,
and temporary tag with temporary information.
For more information
on Disaster Planning click on or contact:
Dorinne Whynott has
been in animal welfare since 1978, is the owner of
Professional Pet Sitting Etc., the founder of the Animal
Care and Education Center of New Hampshire, the Animal
Angels Network, the NH Pet Sitters’ Association and a
co-founder of the NH Pet Expo.
Ms.
Whynott is certified for Animal Disaster Response by the
American Humane Association, Humane Society of the
United States and FEMA. She is also the head of the
response team in Hillsborough County for the NH Animal
Disaster Response Team (NHDART).
If
you are interested in becoming part of the
NH Animal
Disaster Response Team (NHDART), go to the website or contact our office at
603-888-8088, we will give you information on where to
go and what you need to do.
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