Including Your Pets In Your Evacuation Plan

Oklahoma has some crazy weather! From frightening thunderstorms to flash flooding and tornadoes, we really have it all. You may have even taken cover in your storm shelter recently! For some pet owners, it was the first time they thought about making sure ALL of their loved ones were safe, including the four-legged ones! A friend of mine told me a hilarious story about getting their 85 lb boxer in their storm shelter for the first time. I can sum it up by saying, "He was not having it!" Luckily my friend and her family practiced over the weekend before there was an actual need to get in their shelter. They realized that spending some time coaxing their boxer down the stairs with treats was a lot more effective than trying to carry him down! Had they not practiced beforehand they may have been in real danger when the tornado came through a few days later.

No matter where you live, you should have an evacuation plan. Especially if you live in an area where tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, flooding, and other disasters are a possibility (like we do!). Some homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their pets. You may be thinking that having a plan is going to be a lot of work but it doesn't have to be. Just practicing it ahead of time will help you (and your four-legged loved ones) remember what to do when the time comes.

Take these simple steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan.

1. Assign pet evacuation to an adult.

Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation, and that includes assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence.

2. Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily accessible.

If you need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If your pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily.

3. Practice your plan.

Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window or into a storm shelter may not be as simple as you think! Have treats with you to help encourage them to do their part.

4. Be prepared in case you get separated from your pets.

No matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, it’s possible that a dog or cat will run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to the area.

5. Pack for your pets too.

If you have some notice and start packing for yourselves make sure to pack for your pets too. They'll need food and water of course, but having their leashes, harnesses, medications, etc. packed will really help when it's time to go. If you keep emergency human food in your storm shelter, consider adding emergency pet food (and treats) to your stash.

Stay safe my friends!