Preparing Pets and Livestock for Hurricane Season

By: Wendy Burton-- Livestock & Natural Resources Extension Agent

Hurricane season is once again upon us and we have to ask ourselves how are we going to keep our family members safe and what precautions are we going to take?  According to the Humane Society of the United States , approximately 60% of all households include at least one animal and they are generally regarded as members of the family.  So now we must not only think about our human counterparts, but about those fuzzy, four legged type as well.  Whether they are dogs, cats, horses, cows, or any other type of companion animal, they too are in danger when hurricane type weather persists.  Having an action plan for your family and its pets is essential and knowing how to implement it can make evacuation methods much calmer.  

Dr. Greg Christy, D.V.M., ESF-17 Coordinator, suggests the following tips for preparing for the 2005 Hurricane Season.

• Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check pet policies and consider making reservations if you think you may have to evacuate.  You can always cancel.
• Check with friends and relatives outside the risk area to see if they would shelter you and your animals if needed.
• Make a list of boarding facilities and vet offices that board animals in times of disaster and include 24-hour contact numbers.
•  All pets should wear a well fitting collar or harness that includes the pets name, your name, your phone number, and an additional contact number if you cannot be reached. (An easy way to do this is to use a plastic baggie with the information enclosed and tape it on the harness with duct tape or another type of tape that will withstand water.)
• Prepare a disaster kit to take with you.  A waterproof container should include:
  • Medications and copies of medical records, if needed. 
  • First Aid kit
  • Leashes, food and water for at least three days, bowls, chew toys, cat litter and box, and a familiar blanket.
  • Current photos of you and the animal and descriptions.
• Carriers for all pets are also a great idea if you must use shelters, since this keeps your animals safe and comfortable.
• The best place for large animals such as horses and cows is out in the field Modify fencing and open gates so that animals may move to high ground during flooding and to low lying areas during high winds.
• Keep horses out of barns that are not safe.
• If you have boats, feed troughs, or other large containers, fill them with water to keep them from blowing away and this will also serve as a water supply.
• Prepare a disaster kit similar to the one listed above.  Make sure you include the following in a waterproof container:
  • Coggins tests, vet papers, medical history and conditions, along with emergency numbers.  A photograph of you and the animal also helps establish ownership if they get lost.
  • Keep halters ready with the following information.  Horse’s name, your name, phone number and additional contact number if you cannot be reached.
  • Basic First Aid Kit for scrapes, etc.

Having the proper materials ready-to-go and taking the appropriate steps is the best way to ensure safety of you and your fuzzy family members during hurricane type weather.  Having these kits in an area you can get to easily is just as important as having the kit itself, so make sure it is kept in a secure area.  One great place to keep this information is in a Rubbermaid container in the trunk of your car so it is ready to go.   Additions to this kit such as flashlights, extra batteries, a car cell phone charger, weather radio, and extra clothing are also essential items that will make your evacuation routine a little less hectic.  

For further information concerning pet shelters and preparing for hurricanes, please contact the Bradford County Emergency Management Office at 904-966-6336 or the Bradford County Cooperative Extension Office at 904-966-6224.

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