Emergency Planning For Pets

Imagine the fear and uncertainty of evacuating your home during a hurricane and being forced to leave your pets behind.  That's exactly what happened to residents in central New Jersey when Hurricane Floyd ravaged their neighborhoods with floods and fires 5 years ago.

    Now imagine the frustration of animal control officers (ACOs) who volunteered to help, but were turned away from the barricades surrounding the hardest hit towns because they were not deemed "essential" emergency personnel.

    "We knew there were pets in there that needed help, but there was nothing we could do," recalled one St. Hubert's ACO who was on the scene.  Two days after the storm hit, a team of St. Hubert's animal control officers was permitted to help and assisted in rescuing approximately 100 dogs, cats, birds, snakes and turtles from the disaster area.

    "As soon as we crossed the barricades, people came rushing up to us with information about where they lived and what kind of pets were still in their homes.  Many were noticeably shaken," recounted the ACO.  Rescued pets were transported to a temporary shelter and eventually to foster homes until they could be reunited with their owners.

    Since hurricane Floyd wreaked havoc on the Eastern seaboard in 1999, federal, state, and local agencies have been addressing the specific needs of animals in their emergency plans and procedures.  While efforts had already been underway in New Jersey, widespread flooding in the wake of the hurricane took such a huge toll on farm animals, pets, shelter animals and wild animals that government agencies and animal welfare professionals began reevaluating their plans with animals' needs in mind.

St. Hubert's Joins Emergency Preparedness Team

    The best way to avert a crisis is to plan for one and that's exactly what St. Hubert's has been doing as a member of the New Jersey Animal Emergency Working Group.  St. Hubert's is now poised to help pet owners should a local or national emergency occur - and to help them prepare in advance to minimize their pets' distress when faced with an emergency of their own.

    "In the event of an emergency, whether it's natural, accidental, or intentional, we need to be prepared to care for animals' safety and welfare," says St. Hubert's President Elizabeth McCorkle.  "It goes without saying that people's lives are the top priority, but we cannot forget about the animals in a crisis.  We cannot leave them to fend for themselves when we know they depend on us."

    Moreover, because many people refuse to separate from their beloved animal companions in an emergency, they may actually put themselves in jeopardy unless they know that arrangements are being made for their pets' safety and well-being.

    As a member of New Jersey's Animal Emergency Working Group, St. Hubert's role is three-fold.  As a humane organization, it is working to ensure that emergency plans and procedures at all levels address the needs of pets and other animals.  As a shelter, it will serve as an animal evacuation site.  And with its strong base of dedicated volunteers, it will help identify individuals with the kind of skills that would be in demand in the event of an emergency.

    Carolyn Currey, St. Hubert's Director of Community Services, serves as co-chair of the group's Volunteer Recruitment Committee.  She is responsible for identifying knowledgeable, well-trained volunteers who would be able and willing to serve if needed - and in what capacity.  If, for example, 25 pets were displaced due to a fire, officials might call on St. Hubert's volunteers experienced in providing foster care for homeless pets.  "When disaster strikes, people want to help," Currey says.  "It's up to us to be organized to make the best use of the outpouring of help - especially skilled, experienced help."

    Last summer, authorities in New York City asked St. Hubert's to serve as a temporary shelter for companion animals should any event requiring evacuation take place during the Republican Nation Convention.  The animal shelters and Dog Training School were available to provide emergency housing in the event of a disaster.  

    "The best plans make provisions for the unexpected," Currey says.  The emergencies addressed in the plan include terrorist attacks as well as natural disasters, like the recent floods along the Delaware River, and accidental disasters, like the propane leak and subsequent explosion and fire in Newton last summer.  "We owe it to the animals to be prepared for anything."

Will You And Your Pets Be Prepared If Disaster Strikes?  

    Faced with a sudden emergency, what's a responsible pet owner to do?  "Remain calm," advises Currey.  "In an emergency, your pets need you to be their leader.  If you panic, so will they."  And the best way to prevent a panic is to be prepared.

    In any emergency, the first step is to get your pets out of harm's way.  The second step is to find shelter.  In some cases, evacuation may be required, but more often than not, people faced with disasters find shelter "in place" - wherever they happen to be when disaster strikes.  In either case, being prepared will simplify matters considerably.

    If you must evacuate, NEVER LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND.  Arrange for a safe haven in advance.  Although most emergency shelters do not permit pets due to health and safety regulations, reporting to a shelter with your companion animals will allow authorities to transfer them to an appropriate sheltering facility.

    But how to prepare when you don't know where you'll be or where you'll be going?  "It's important to understand how things work during emergencies," says Currey.  "There are well-defined plans in place to declare emergencies at all levels.  Ask your local police what radio station your municipality uses for official emergency broadcasts."  And write the station's call letters and frequency on a piece of masking tape and stick it on your radio.

    "In emergencies, people tend to forget the simplest things, which is why we advise having an emergency pet pack prepared and always ready so that you can grab it and go," Currey says.  The pack should contain a three-day supply of non-perishable food, water, medications, and up-to-date records and contact information, a spare leash and collar, and a few 'creature' comforts, such as a favorite blanket and toy.  If you have to evacuate, you're going to want you pet to be as comfortable as possible.  Something to snuggle with or play with can be comforting to him - and, indirectly, to you.

    For small pets, an old backpack makes an ideal emergency pet pack, since it can leave both of your hands free to handle a pet who may be anxious or agitated.  Whatever you choose, you need to know exactly where it is - as close as possible to the door you're most likely going to use - and that it's ready to go.  You may have to run out of the house in a hurry with a frightened animal, and that's definitely not the time to be searching for his food meds, and other essentials.  Your pet may even be evacuated by a neighbor or emergency worker if you're not at home, making it all the more important for your pet's pack to be easy to locate.

TIPS TO PREPARE YOUR PETS FOR AN EMERGENCY

1.  Crate train your pet.  A dog or cat who can rest comfortably in his crate will be less stressed if he needs to be crated during a crisis.

2.  Keep your pet well groomed and in good health.  If your pet is filthy, smelly, or afflicted with fleas, your options during an evacuation are limited.

3.  Socialize your pet.  If you pet is comfortable around people and other pets, he will be more welcome - and more comfortable - at an emergency shelter.

4.  Keep your pet's records up to date.  Keep current copies of his veterinary records and contact information in your pet's emergency pack.

5.  Keep an emergence pet pack ready.  Make sure it's always ready and always in its correct place - and that everyone responsible for you pets knows exactly where to find the pack.
    The pack should contain:

                    Current copies of your pet's records and contact information
                    A three-day supply of non-perishable food, water and medications
                    A spare leash and collar
                    A favorite blanket and toy

6.  Have a well-rehearsed emergency plan.  Have contingency plans to address emergencies when you're not home, or when your pet is not home.  Keep mini-emergency packs in other locations such as your car and office.  Have a plan to communicate with others responsible for your pets so you can arrange to be reunited afterwards.

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