We all know hurricane season can bring strong winds, heavy rain, flooding, power outages, and rapidly changing conditions. For pet owners in Central Florida, preparing for a storm means more than securing your home and stocking up on supplies. It also means having a plan to keep your pets safe.
The best time to prepare is before a storm is approaching. Once a hurricane is on the way, stores may be crowded, roads may become difficult to navigate, and veterinary and boarding resources may be limited.
Here are some important steps you can take now to make sure your pets are ready.
Build a Pet Emergency Kit
Keep a dedicated emergency kit for your pets that you can quickly grab if you need to shelter in place or evacuate. Consider including:
- At least 7 days of food and drinking water
- Food and water bowls
- Medications and supplements, along with a current medication list
- A first-aid kit appropriate for pets
- Leashes, collars, and harnesses
- A secure carrier for cats and smaller pets
- Waste bags, litter, and a litter box
- Towels, blankets, and familiar comfort items
- A flashlight and extra batteries
- Copies of veterinary and medical records
- Recent photos of your pets
- Cleaning supplies and paper towels
- Toys or other familiar items to help reduce stress
If your pet has a medical condition, make sure you have enough medication to get through an extended period when your veterinarian or pharmacy may be inaccessible.
Tip: Keep your emergency supplies together in a waterproof container and check them at the beginning of every hurricane season.
Make Sure Identification Information Is Up to Date
A frightened pet may escape during a storm, even if they normally stay safely inside. Before hurricane season, check that your pet’s collar identification and microchip information are current.
Make sure your pet’s ID tag includes your current phone number. If you have recently moved or changed phone numbers, update your pet’s microchip registration as well.
It’s also a good idea to keep a few recent photos of your pet on your phone. If you become separated, having clear photos can make it much easier to create a lost-pet notice.
Know Where You Will Go If You Need to Evacuate
One of the most important parts of hurricane preparedness is knowing where you and your pets will go before you actually need to leave.
Never assume that a hotel, shelter, or evacuation center will accept pets. Research pet-friendly hotels, boarding facilities, friends or family members, and local emergency shelters ahead of time. Keep a list of several options in case your first choice is unavailable.
If you evacuate, bring your pets with you. Do not leave pets behind to fend for themselves. Flooding, debris, extreme heat, contaminated water, and structural damage can create life-threatening conditions.
If you have multiple pets, make sure you have a plan for transporting all of them safely.
Keep Your Pets Inside When a Storm Is Approaching
As conditions deteriorate, keep pets indoors. Even if they are accustomed to spending time outside.
Hurricanes can cause pets to become frightened and disoriented. Loud winds, thunder, unfamiliar sounds, and changes in their environment can cause even normally calm pets to bolt or hide.
Before the storm arrives:
- Bring outdoor pets inside.
- Secure doors, windows, and pet doors.
- Keep cats and dogs away from windows and exterior doors.
- Have carriers and leashes readily available.
- Consider keeping smaller pets in their carriers if conditions become particularly stressful.
- Make sure everyone in the household knows where the pets are and who is responsible for them.
Be Prepared for Anxiety and Stress
Storms can be stressful for pets, particularly when they are sensitive to loud noises or changes in their routine.
Give your pet access to a quiet, secure area away from windows. Familiar bedding, toys, and clothing that smells like you may provide additional comfort.
If your pet has a history of significant storm or noise anxiety, talk with your veterinarian before hurricane season. Your veterinarian can help you develop an appropriate plan, which may include behavioral strategies or medication when appropriate.
Never give your pet a medication that was prescribed for another animal or a person.
Protect Your Pet From Common Storm Hazards
Hurricanes can create hazards that remain long after the winds have died down. Floodwater may contain bacteria, chemicals, sewage, debris, or other contaminants. Downed power lines, damaged structures, sharp objects, and unfamiliar animals can also pose serious risks.
After a storm:
- Keep pets on a leash when outside.
- Do not allow pets to drink from puddles, standing water, or floodwater.
- Keep pets away from downed power lines and damaged areas.
- Watch for nails, broken glass, branches, and other debris.
- Inspect your yard before allowing your pet to roam freely.
- Be cautious around displaced or unfamiliar wildlife.
- Keep pets away from generators, fuel, and other emergency equipment.
Remember that your property may look familiar to you but be very different, and potentially dangerous, to your pet.
Know Where to Turn for Emergency Veterinary Care
Even with careful preparation, accidents and medical emergencies can happen during or after a hurricane. Before hurricane season begins, save the contact information and location of your nearest emergency veterinary hospital in your phone.
At Animal Emergency Hospital Volusia, Animal Emergency Hospital DeLand, and Animal Emergency Hospital Palm Coast, our teams are ready to help when an emergency arises*.
Knowing where to go before an emergency occurs can save valuable time when your pet needs immediate care.
Prepare Now Before the Next Storm Is in the Forecast
Hurricane preparedness is about giving yourself options. By assembling your pet’s emergency supplies, updating identification information, making an evacuation plan, and knowing where to seek emergency veterinary care, you can be better prepared to protect your pet when severe weather strikes.
Take a few minutes now to walk through your hurricane plan from your pet’s perspective: Where will they go? What will they eat? What medications will they need? How will you transport them? Where will you seek care if they become injured or ill?
A little preparation today can make a stressful situation much safer for you and your pet tomorrow.
*Animal Emergency Hospital Volusia and Animal Emergency Hospital DeLand are open 24/7/365. Animal Emergency Hospital Palm Coast is open evenings and weekends including holidays.