Does your family have an emergency preparedness plan? Hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, floods, and other natural disasters affect everyone in their paths, including animals. It’s important to have a plan for your family, and you’ll want to include your cat or dog’s welfare in the plan as well. It’s important to be prepared for emergencies, natural or man-made. You want to make sure that every family member is covered including your pets.

The National Climate Data Center reported that just in 2024, natural disasters caused over $180 billion worth of damage. Even though it’s a pretty low likelihood that you’ll be severely impacted by these, everyone is at risk for some type of emergency. Even smaller scale situations like house fires can cause major life disruptions.

There is no way to guarantee that you’ll never have an emergency. But being prepared can help you lessen its impact. You will want to prepare your family for dangerous events, and don’t forget your pets when creating your emergency plans.

7 Pet Emergency Preparedness Tips

It’s terrifying to even think about something bad happening to your pet. Getting prepared ahead of time can help emergencies be a little less worrisome. There are some actions you can take to make sure your family and your pet are ready for emergencies.

1.     Prepare a “pet emergency” kit.

It may seem obvious, but make sure to gather some pet emergency supplies to store with human supplies. If you need to evacuate your home because of a natural disaster, you may not have time to pack a bag. Keep emergency kits handy, including a pet emergency kit. You’ll want to keep it ready, packed, and stored in a convenient location for a quick getaway should the need arise.

·         Pet Food. Pack several days’ worth of pet food to give yourself plenty of time to purchase more if needed. Just like you, your pet will be stressed. You’ll want to keep his diet as consistent as possible.

·         Water. Stock up on bottled water since water can be scarce during a natural disaster.

·         Collor, ID Tag and Leach. Your pet may instinctively want to flee during an emergency. Keep an extra collar and leash handy to be sure you can secure them. Remember that their ID tags should be attached to the collar in case they get free. You may want to consider having them chipped as an extra precaution.

·         Medicine. If your pet has existing medical conditions that require medication, make sure to include a few days to a few weeks’ supply in your pet emergency kit.

·         Medical Records. Put a copy of your pet’s medical records and documents like city registration and purebred papers in your pet emergency kit.

·         Pet Care. Include dog wipes or cat wipes in your pet emergency kit. These along with a Pawer Pet Towel can ensure you can remove any dust, dirt, or dangerous substances from your pet’s fur or skin if they contact it during a natural disaster.

2.     Learn about the natural disaster risks in your area.

There are some emergencies you just can’t prepare for, such as a house fire. You can be better prepared if you know the types of emergencies that often affect your area. For instance, you may live in a flood prone area, or an area that has frequent tornadoes or wildfires. Knowing what natural disasters are common in your area helps you know what to expect and how to prepare.

3.     Avoid dangerous environments.

You can avoid many pet emergencies through simply avoiding some situations. For example, if you know your dog doesn’t get along with other animals, it’s probably good to avoid dog parks. You can also ensure your house
is safe for pets. Make sure window screens are secure, for example. Make sure kitchen drawers and cabinet doors can’t be opened by curious cat’s paws. Don’t leave food out and make sure your house plants are non-toxic to animals.

4.     Prioritize your pet’s health.

There is no way of knowing when an emergency might happen, but you can still take some action. It is a bit of a responsibility to keep your pet safe. But you shouldn’t wait until an emergency happens to take your furry family member’s health seriously. Visit the vet regularly and make sure they are up to date on vaccines. Early detection and prevention can help you avoid pet health emergencies in many cases.

5.     Purchase pet insurance.

You want to make sure your cat or dog stays healthy, right? Then you will also want to consider how you would be able to afford an unexpected veterinary bill. Pet health emergencies, from accidents to illnesses, can be expensive. There are times when pet owners can’t afford the proper treatment, which means a pet may have to go without receiving life-saving care. Talk to your vet about pet insurance to avoid this type of situation.

6.     Update emergency contact information.

Do you already have an emergency contact list? If not, you’ll want to make one. The list should include phone numbers for family members, neighbors, doctors (and veterinarians), and local emergency services. Make sure to keep these somewhere that is easily accessible. You’ll also want to keep them updated on your phone. Make sure to keep a hard copy in handy in case you cannot reach your phone.

7.     Practice emergency drills.

Your pet may not be able to understand emergency plans, but you can practice some of the most important parts with them. Take time to do some home evacuation practice runs with your pet. It will help you remember what to do in an emergency. Practice with everyone and every animal in your home so that everyone is familiar with the drill. Share the details with everyone such as where emergency contact information nis located and a safe spot for meeting if you need to evacuate quickly.

You may not be able to prevent an emergency or disaster, but you can be as prepared as possible.

About the Author: Fiona

Fiona is the current President and CEO of Pawer Lab. She makes sure everything is running purrfectly and oversees the day-to-day operations. When Fiona is not working, she enjoys chasing lasers, snacking on treats, or taking long naps in the sun.