I've talked about disaster readiness before, and it's time to revisit the topic. (Has nothing to do with the fact that I'm in Florida and this morning the weathermen finally decided to tell us that all this rain we've been having is a tropical "disturbance" sitting on top of us. Nah. Got a bridge I'll sell you too.) Seriously though, we are in the most active portion of the Atlantic hurricane season, and a storm can easily effect not only those living on the Gulf or Atlantic shores, but far inland as other storms have shown in the past with rain-induced flooding.
A few basics, I call them the five "P's": People, Pets, Pictures, Papers - PRONTO! Do NOT hesitate to evacuate if the authorities tell you it's time to go. Especially if you live in an area prone to flash flooding. Know your options - unless your pet is a service animal (or in some states, a service animal in training) then it will not be allowed in a public disaster shelter. Find a friend, relative, or a hotel to go to. (Many hotels will ease pet restrictions during evacuations.) Also, many communities now have emergency pet evacuation shelters set up by local emergency and animal services and veterinarians. Contact your local emergency management department for more information on the closest one to you, the requirements of having your pets stay there, and even think about volunteering to help out. Remember, local vets and animal shelters most likely will NOT accept pets that cannot be taken on evacuations. Most of them will be too busy trying to evacuate their own animals to safer ground. And if you wouldn't stay, why would you leave your animals in harm's way? (You can even evacuate your fish - invest in a portable bait system at a local tackle shop to keep them alive.)
Make sure your pet's vaccinations are up to date and that you have copies of all current shot paperwork. Have a recent photograph of you with your pet, and have close-ups of your pet to get any distinctive markings, scars, etc. Most importantly, make sure your pet has a well-fitting collar with a CURRENT ID tag. And look into micro-chipping your pets in case you are separated from them. After Hurricane Andrew, literally tens of thousands of pets were lost, killed, injured, or euthanized. Tattooing isn't a bad option either, but micro chipping is relatively painless, fast, and is quickly becoming the preferred method of alternate id.
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