In planning for the unexpected it is essential that you consider an emergency plan for your family. For example if disaster strikes then have you considered the safest route from the building or the supplies that you will need? You will also need to plan for the furry friends, your pets, who are also part of the family.
When many natural disasters strike, then sadly it is often the pets that are the biggest casualties as humans panic and evacuate the streets. When Hurricane Katrina hit the southern States large numbers of pets were found dead on the streets as the humans fled. This is a sad fact and so to ensure that you, your family and your pets all stay safe in dangerous situations then you will need to do some forward planning.
A pet first aid kit should be an important component of your home emergency evacuation kit. Pets cannot communicate in the same way as humans and will not understand what is going on. They may react violently, aggressively or unpredictably because they have no way of knowing the situation. You will need to plan ahead and make sure that you have lights on their collars, pet carriers and blankets. If there is a toy or a familiar blanket for the pet then this may also help to distract or calm them down in such difficult conditions. Food and water are also essential and you will need to factor in supplies of pet food with your survival kit. One guideline when planning in this way is to have a seventy-two hour supply of food and water so that your supplies will last should you need it.
Other items to pack in the pet first aid kit, along with the essentials of food and water are snacks and a leash so you can keep your pet close by. There may be situations when you need to control their movements, particularly in crowded evacuation centers and so a leash and also poop bags are an essential. Remember that there may also be sanitation issues with bringing a pet into centers such as these and so you also may need to have a back up plan for sheltering your pet. A pet carrier could be a lifeline for your pet if this is the case and your pet needs to stay outside of the building.
Pets really do become part of the family and planning ahead in this way will ensure that you do the very best for your whole family in an emergency. Image complements of PetsReady.
