A survey conducted by Lake Research Partners and commissioned by the ASPCA reveals that more than one-third (35 percent) of cat and dog owners don’t have a disaster preparedness plan in place. Do you have a plan? If not, now is a great time to work on one. September is National Preparedness Month, when FEMA encourages citizens to take action by making an emergency plan with their families and their pets.

Emergency Kit

When a disaster strikes, you may not have time to gather up everything you need for your pets. A basic emergency kit ensures everything is in one place if you need to evacuate or that you have it on hand while stores are closed while you shelter in place. Collect the following items in a large bin or even a five-gallon bucket for easy storage:

Where to Evacuate

If you do need to evacuate due to disaster, where will you go? Check with your local emergency management agency to see if your local evacuation centers make provisions for pets.

If you need to leave your home in case of disaster, can you and your cat visit a friend or family member in another state? You can even be each other’s evacuation plan!

Keep in mind that if you need to go to a hotel or motel, many aren’t pet friendly. You can check on options at Go Pet Friendly so that you have an idea of places that might accept your four-legged family members.

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