Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Disaster Planning for Humans and Pets #NatlPrep #PlanAhead

Watching the scenes  of devastation that are coming out of Texas is heartbreaking. We feel helpless, we want to give and somewhere deep within us, we are grateful that what we are watching is not happening to us. There are MANY types of disasters than can occur. Some are weather related some are not. As much as we do not want to think about it, a DISASTER CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT. YOUR LIFE CAN CHANGE IN A SECOND. ARE YOU PREPARED? If you are like me, you probably are not, but we CAN BE.

September is National Preparedness Month. On the heels of Harvey,  and with another storm (Irma), threatening, with the terror situation and the lunacy taking place in Korea, preparing for a disaster, ANY type of a disaster is something we all need to take seriously. The National Preparedness Month website has information divided by categories for each week of the month. of September.

WEEK ONE-SEPTEMBER 1-9
Make A Plan for Yourself, Family and Friends
Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area.  Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.

Build a kit. Include enough food, water and medical supplies for your needs in your emergency kit to last for at least 72 hours. Ready.gov/myplan.


PLAN FOR HUMANS
Sign up for alerts and warnings in your area.
Learn your evacuation zone and have an evacuation plan.
Check your insurance coverage and review the Document and Insure Property guide.
Plan financially for the possibility of disaster
How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
What is my shelter plan?
What is my evacuation route?

What is my family/household communication plan?


Purchase I.C.E. Wristbands (In Case of Emergency) for your entire family. ($1 of each sale will go to organizations helping with the Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort).  Bracelets will start shipping late September.






It is far too often while watching scenes of devastation on television, that we see and learn of large numbers of pets who were not planned for in the event of a disaster. It is our duty as responsible pet owners to

PLAN FOR OUR PETS


Our pets depend on us. Late last year we had what thankfully was a small fire in one of the units of our apartment/condo building. The entire downstairs filled with smoke. Was I prepared? Barely. I became full of anxiety. The ONLY things I managed to do was to grab Cody and Dakota, put Cody in his carrier, grab my cell phone (and my husband) and GET OUT.  All turned out fine, but what if it hadn't been?



PREPARING MAKES SENSE!!!
Be sure you have:
Important documents. Registration information, adoption papers and vaccination documents. Talk to your veterinarian about microchipping and enrolling your pet in a recovery database.
First aid kit. Our dear friend Denise Fleck features pet first aid kits for dogs and cats. (Dakota has blogged about them in the past)  Denise also has a book on Disaster preparedness  and a Disaster Preparedness Kit . Her First Aid Kits are featured below:

CAT FIRST AID KIT
Photo used with permission from www.petsafetycrusader.com

DOG FIRST AID KIT
Photo used with permission from petsafetycrusader.com


Cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors; antibiotic ointment; flea and tick prevention; latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solution are musts! Including a pet first aid reference book for cats and dogs is a good idea too.

Collar or harness with ID tag, rabies tag and a leash.
Crate or pet carrier. Have a sturdy, safe crate or carrier in case you need to evacuate. The carrier should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around and lie down.
Sanitation. Pet litter and litter box if appropriate, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach.
A picture of you and your pet(s) together. If you become separated, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you. Add species, breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing characteristics.

Familiar items. Familiar items, such as treats, toys and bedding can help reduce stress for your pet.



 MORE TO PLAN FOR
Remember, during a disaster what’s good for you is good for your pet, so get them ready today.
If you leave your pets behind, they may be lost, injured – or worse. Never leave a pet chained outdoors. 
Create a buddy system in case you’re not home. Ask a trusted neighbor to check on your animals.
Identify shelters. For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets.
Find pet friendly hotels along your evacuation route and keep a list in your pet’s emergency kit. Our friend Paris at Cat Tipper lives in Austin, Texas, and due to the possibility of her creek flooding, they chose to be pro-active and evacuated. Paris shared her experience in a fabulous blog post (Evacuating With Your Cat) that if you haven't read, it is a MUST read. 

If you are like me, you probably only consider taking your pet to your current Veterinarian or animal hospital. During a disaster, you may not be able to do so. It is important that you locate a veterinarian or animal hospital in the area where you may be seeking temporary shelter, in case your pet needs medical care. Add the contact information to your emergency kit.
Microchip your pet! Dakota  is microchipped (Cody is not and I must change that!), and make sure that you not only keep your address and phone number up-to-date, but that you also include contact info for an emergency contact outside of your immediate area.
Call your local emergency management office, animal shelter or animal control office to get advice and information.
If you are unable to return to your home right away, you may need to board your pet. Find out where pet boarding facilities are located.
Most boarding kennels, veterinarians and animal shelters will need your pet's medical records to make sure all vaccinations are current.
If you have no alternative but to leave your pet at home, there are some precautions you must take, but remember that leaving your pet at home alone can place your animal in great danger!
Download the FEMA app for disaster resources, weather alerts, and safety tips

ONE LAST POINT
We can't live our lives in fear, but we can't bury our heads in the sand either. Disasters CAN and WILL continue to happen, even in the most unlikely places. The advice offered in this post could save YOUR life and the lives of your pets.  It is our deepest prayer that NONE of us will ever have to use this information, but in the event that we DO need it. We will be READY!!


We were not compensated for any products/info shared in this post.
Acknowledgements:Pet video courtesy of fema.gov
Graphics, logos and other videos from ready.gov
Information is encouraged to be used from the ready.gov website

61 comments:

  1. This is so important! My human still needs to put together some kits for us - between fire hazards and earthquakes, we need to be ready!

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  2. Good advice. We live in Florida and have a storm approaching so this is exactly what my wife and I are preparing for now.

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    1. thanks! Yep we know, we are keeping Florida (we have family there too, in Miami and Plantation) and many other states on the coast in our thoughts and prayers. Praying Irma changes course!

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  3. Great advice!

    We have shared :)

    Purrs xx
    Athena and Marie

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  4. Excellent tips, Caren! I have been worrying over this exact topic and wondering how to start building a kit. We think we live in a pretty safe area, but you never know...

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    1. Thank you Roby! I am guilty as charged too, I need to start planning. Hate to be "Debbie Downer" but NONE of us are "safe" in this crazy world.......we might be safe from Hurricanes and tropical storms, but we are not safe from MANY other things.

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  5. Very timely post, Caren & Cody. And I love the cat and dog first aid kits. What a terrific gift idea! Thank you!

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  6. We've done this long ago. We would be fine. I would miss blogging though. Oh well.

    Great advice.

    Have a fabulous day. Big hug to you and tons of scritches to the boys. ♥♥♥

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  7. Great tips! Especially now with all the disasters going on lately.

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  8. We are somewhat ready, should an emergency come up. Carriers are available and easy accessed. The Hubby and I know our emergency routes. But, I do NOT have any veterinarian info stashed in a easy place, nor be able to pull together a first aid kit either. Good advice!

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  9. Thank you for all the great reminders - I just realized I have a first aid kit for Choppy, but not one for Schooner. I need to go order one so we are all covered in case of emergency!

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    1. You are welcome!!! I need to get my ducks in a row too!!! xoxo

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  10. Real good advice.
    As we live in the South of France, on a woody hill, the bigger danger is fire. It's real scary.
    It's also a place where an earthquake can happen. When my sister, who lives in San Francisco, was here at the beginning of August, she told me that we are crazy because we have nothing prepared in case of earthquake.
    Bonne soirée
    Nat à Chat

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    1. thank you!! Your sister is right! You should have something prepared, (but I am no one to talk, I need to take my own advice!!) xoox

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  11. Such a great post! While we don't have to worry about hurricanes out here in California, it is earthquake country. We do have our disaster bags packed and have ones for the animals too!

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    1. thank you!! I should have known that you would be organized! Come and organize ME please!! xoxo

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  12. Wow! What a great and informative post. Our mom is not this organized, so she better get to it! We're going to make sure she takes a lot of this advice.

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    1. thank you! My Mom isn't this organized either, but Dakota and I are telling her she needs to practice what she preaches!

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  13. Great info and a timely reminder. Hurricane Irma might come right over us the day after landfall. Hope not.

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    1. thank you! I have family in Miami and Plantation, Florida. Praying Irma changes course so NONE of you are affected!

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  14. OMCs this is a most wonderful and impawtant post. So many things to think of ahead of time to make us all safe
    Hugs madi and mom

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    1. Thank you so much sweet furiends! I need to get my act together!! xoxo

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  15. I've read about so many people who've had to choose between shelter and staying with his/her pet. And not just in the aftermath either! Last year, I read that public tornado shelters in Oklahoma banned pets. So a person shows up with his/her pet and has to choose between staying with the pet or shelter. That should NEVER happen! This is a great post - I'm saving it and hopefully it'll get my behind in gear. I haven't updated much since we got Ellie (I only changed the stickers on the windows to alert rescuers we now have TWO cats) - but I need to get on it.

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    1. Thanks so much and I need to get on it too! I do have one first aid kit and a few books, but I need to do waaay more!!!!!!

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  16. This is very important stuff and thank you for presenting a very timely post. We are very lucky as we are not in a low area or near water but that is something we need in an emergency. We have a well so have 40 gallons just in case. Dad is thinking of getting a generator as during the bad storms last year we were out for like 5 days. Something to think about
    Purrs
    Timmy and Family

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    1. You are welcome and thank you!!!! A generator is a great idea! I have to get on it myself!! xoxo

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  17. Very timely and important information. We worry about earthquakes and fires here so we try to stay prepared but tips are always welcomed.

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  18. What a great and timely post!
    This is something that should always be ready as we cannot predict
    or have warning of when an emergency occurs.
    Thanks!
    Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ

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    1. thank you! Sadly, that is so true! All I have is the carrier out, a first aid kit. I need to do A LOT MORE!

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  19. Excellent information. Thanks for sharing this...and reminding all of us to be pet prepared.

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    1. thanks so much! You are welcome! I need to get on this myself! lol

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  20. Very informative, if a bit scary. Still it's better to be prepared. Thanks for the summary. I never thought of the photos of you with your pets! Thanks. Ear scritches to Cody.

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    1. It is scary but sadly, we live in a scary world! You are welcome! I never thought of the photos of me with my pets either, who would think of that? Funny you said "ear scritches" Cody LOVES THEM!!

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  21. Oh wow, we never thought about Mumsy or CatDady Junior having to prove they own us! But we do got emergency supplies, including kibble and cans, in the cabinet in the bath under the stairs where we can get for tornados.

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  22. Excellent post that is so important.

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  23. Such a great and very topical post, Caren and Cody. This is a wonderful and important reminder for all of us!

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  24. Every year there seems to be new tips, so I'm sharing. I update my preparedness posts every year. It was a wake-up call after Sandy did major damage to our property. The big thing was having all the carriers with ID easily accessible.

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  25. It's so heartbreaking when we see people get separated from their animals, so this list of preperations is very needed and welcome, Cody and Caren! Pawkisses for a safe day :) <3

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  26. great post - we never think we will be hit by a disaster but you never know...

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    1. thank you! Sadly, you know all too well because you LIVED it. I will never forget what you and so many others went through. It was horrific.

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  27. Hiya Caren & Cody, your post today is just epic and full of amazing advice, thanks so much fur sharing it!

    Big hugs

    Basil & Co xox

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    1. Hi guys!! THANK YOU!!!! You made me smile. You are welcome and thanks so much! xoxoxo

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  28. I think this is one of the most important of all posts. And you are right. Disasters happen any any time, any place. Great information to help us prepare.

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  29. Thank you! I sure wish we didn't have to worry about all of these things!

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  30. This post is so, so important. Thank you for putting all of these fantastic tips in one place.

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  31. Great information ! What an important post ! Purrs

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  32. IT is so easy to assume you will have time but usually you don't in an emergency! Very smart to plan ahead!

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  33. Preparing makes so much sense, Caren. Love the photos with you and your fur babies.

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    1. Thanks so much Summer! I just came from your blog and LOVED all of the info you shared today! Just call me "fatty" LOL!! xoxo

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  34. TW worries sometimes cos even though we don't usually have flooding or bad storms here, the peeps don't have a car to evacuate. She especially worries about the Indian Point Nuke Plant and wishes they would shut it down. It's been one problem after another. We're not that close but still in the evacuation area.

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  35. Great post, and I ma rather guilty too...I was way more prepared when our boys were small and then I always had a to go bag at the ready to grab. And a similar one for the furs...but I have backslid and have jou=ined the ranks of the complacent...I need to change that, asap!

    Sending hugs and purrs and licks! And Pipo sends his headbonks, he is on the chair right behind me now bumping on me:)

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  36. We live in such a safe area (one of the reasons I'll never leave it!), that I don't think about this much. I can remember twice in my lifetime we were worried about big hurricanes hitting us, and nothing ever came of it.
    But, boy, do I feel for all of those in dangerous areas that do have to worry, and that's why it's important we all talk about it. Great post!

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