Warnings and Alerts- What to Do

A WARNING OR ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED, WHAT DO YOU DO?

PHASE 2: ALERT

If a warning or alert has been issued, get everything ready to go in case it is upgraded to a evacuation. If there is a severe storm watch before you leave for work, contact a neighbour or someone trusted with access to your home to grab your pets in case you can’t get back in time. If you are home, be prepared to leave at a moments notice,( that means keeping the cat confined in advance so it can’t hide on you! ) Know of places where you and your pet will be welcome.

Keep your pet inside during severe weather. Animals are very sensitive to sudden changes in temperature. NEVER leave animals in crates, outdoors or tethered outside. If they must be confined a bathroom on the main floor is the best option.

FOR ALL EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS:  Identify all pets with ID and Microchip.   If emergencies are scary for us – imagine how overwhelming they are for pets!  In the case that your pet does run away out of fear, making sure their collar has a  current address and phone number is the best first step in finding them and bringing them back to you. Microchip your pets and keep the information up to date.  Know your animal’s identifiers: tattoo, microchip, tags and collar color. Have a picture on hand (most pet owners have at least one pet on their cell phones)

Below are tips for how to prepare your animals during different natural disasters:

Floods:

DO NOT LEAVE ANIMALS IN CAGES, BASEMENTS OR TETHERED IN FLOODS!

Floods are a serious threat and require immediate reactions. If you are in an area with a flood watch, pay attention and act accordingly. If there is a warning please consider taking the extra time to drop your pets somewhere outside of the warning area, in advance of an evacuation notice.

If flooding is severe be aware that it can take weeks to months for re-entry so please act accordingly. If you are going to an evacuation centre, make sure they cater for pets or use your pre- arranged family, friend, kennel, vet, hotel,etc.

Before a Flood:

  1. Bring pets along when you evacuate. If it’s not safe for you, it’s not safe for them.Never leave pets behind to fend for themselves in a disaster.
  2. Identify a place ahead of time to evacuate with pets. Many hotels and motels are pet-friendly, and those that aren’t often make exceptions during natural disasters. Think about taking animals to a family member or friend who lives outside the flood risk area until the risk has passed.
  3. Identify all pets with ID and Microchip. Affix a collar with ID tag containing mobile phone number to each pet so they can be more easily reunited if lost. Keep the microchip registration up-to-date and include at least one emergency number of a friend or relative who lives out of your immediate area.
  4. Assemble an animal disaster kit that includes food, water, medications, a leash or cat carrier for each pet and photos of each animal with family members to prove ownership if they are lost.
  5. Use the Buddy System<. If you are not home, allow a trusted friend or family member to access your home and evacuate your animals for you.

During a Flood:

If you can not evacuate with your animals or leave during a watch/ warning without them:

  • Bring all domestic animals inside ( do NOT leave them tied up or loose outdoors) and take them upstairs.
  • Move food, bedding and fresh water to somewhere safe and dry: on the highest level of your house
  • Ensure the animals can be free roaming
  • Leave toilet seats up
  • Ensure there is a pet emergency sticker or leave a note on the door indicating there are animals inside. Include Species and Number of Animals at minimum.
  • Call the municipal opened evacuation centre. Find out if there is an animal rescue team to assist and how to contact them.

After a Flood:

  1. Be aware that a pet’s behavior may change before, during and even after a disaster.

  2. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and your pet may become confused and lost.

  3. Always maintain close contact,keep pets on leash and look for hazards.

  4. Reintroduce food in small servings, gradually working up to full portions, especially if animals have been without food for a prolonged period of time.

Farmyard Animals:

Many farm animals are at high risk during floods.It is important to plan what you will do with livestock if there is a risk of flooding.

  • Move animals to high ground with adequate natural feed.
  • Untie animals so they have a chance to move to safety should floodwaters rise. Tethered or penned animals have no chance in a flood or storm surge. Animals are strong swimmers and untying them gives them a chance to survive. Additional feed may be required for stock stranded for extended periods.
  • Check whether local arrangements cater for relocation of livestock and plan where you will relocate your stock to, well before flooding begins. Working with neighbour farms can help you prepare this.
  • Keep tack and rugs off the floor.
  • Mark gates and water locations on a map of your property. Have this map available in case someone has to move stock for you.
  • Put your contact details on field/stable gates so you can be contacted in an emergency.
  • Coordinate relocation of domestic animals and livestock: with neighbours, friends or livestock associations as early as possible.
  • If an emergency warning is current, or on days of high risk, consider moving stock into a safe area before leaving your property for any length of time.
  • In extreme circumstances, the best option may be to cut fences so that stock can escape danger (and be collected later).
  • Ensure all animals have some form of ID even if its just animal safe spray painted on.
  • Once the area is secured, locate your animals. Immediately provide clean water and a high-quality forage with a protein and mineral supplement to offset stress.
  • Check animals for injuries:Have animals inspected by your veterinarian ASAP. Monitor animals for several weeks afterwards.
  • Report missing animals: Provide local authorities with the last known location, identification and disposition of any missing animals.
  • Provide safe pasture: Pasture animals safely away from areas that have flooded.
  • Provide clean water and feed.

Fires:

What happens in the event of a fire?  The effects of a fire – whether caused by natural or human factors – can be devastating, and animals are especially vulnerable. While we can’t always prevent the unexpected, we can take steps to create a disaster plan that includes pets.

Since the only way to minimize damage in the wake of a fire is to prepare.

Safe Guarding:

To help keep your home and land safe, use safe guarding measures such as clearing all debris, dead grasses, trees, branches etc. Structures such as barns, coops and kennels, as well as corrals and pastures, should be just as maintained as your home and its surrounding landscape.

If you see a wildfire approaching your home or in your community report it immediately!

Before a Wildfire:

Evacuation plans should include your pets, noncommercial and/or commercial livestock. Animals are very sensitive and will respond to a fire that is anywhere within their sensory range. Normal reactions range from nervousness to panic and aggressive escape attempts.

Identify evacuation routes, listen for reports and road closures, know your routes in advance.

Have a safety plan:

  1. Include your animals in your family’s disaster plan. If you have multiple pets, assign each family member responsibility of an individual animal. Share your plan: Family and neighbors should have a copy of your plan in the event you are not home when a wildfire evacuation is ordered for your area. Make sure everyone has all contact numbers (cell phone, work, home, etc.).
  2. Display a pet rescue sticker. The first thing that firefighters will see is your front or back door, and depending on whether you’re home when a fire happens, the firefighters may not have any way of knowing that there are pets inside. You can attach these stickers to a visible window or the front door.
  3. Ready your animals: At the earliest signs of a wildfire, your pets should be brought inside and/or kenneled and other animals brought into barns, pastures or coops. Once an evacuation notice is issued, put pets in individual carriers and load larger animals into trailers. Keep your pet carrier handy. If you are home when an emergency occurs, make sure you know where your pet carrier is located so that you can evacuate quickly. This will be crucial to transport your pet safely, especially when fire trucks or ambulances arrive and pets may become alarmed by the noise and volume of activity that will likely surround them.
  4. Identify all pets with ID and Microchip. Affix a collar with ID tag containing mobile phone number to each pet so they can be more easily reunited if lost. Keep the microchip registration up-to-date and include at least one emergency number of a friend or relative who lives out of your immediate area.
  5. Prepare emergency kits for pets and livestock: When building the kit, choose a container that is easily loaded into vehicles. Keep your emergency kits in an easily accessible, dry location where temperatures do not get hot or below freezing.
  6. Have a pet kit that includes things such as medications, leashes, food, water and bowls. Add items as you see fit, such as: a can opener for canned food, a current picture of your pet in case they get lost, toys and a bed, plastic bags for pet waste and a first aid kit.
  7. Have transportation: Keep stock trailers in good repair and make sure your vehicle is tow-ready.
  8. Know where to take your animals. Contact your local kennels, fairgrounds, equestrian centers and/or friends about their ability to shelter animals in an emergency.
  9.  Don’t wait! Leaving early is the best way to ensure human and animal safety.

Leaving your animals:

  1. If you cannot evacuate your pets, bring them indoors.
  2. NEVER leave pets chained or kenneled outdoors; the smoke and heat from flying embers are not only scary but dangerous to your pet’s health.
  3. Put pets in an easily cleaned room that has adequate ventilation but NO windows (utility room, garage or bathroom).
  4. Do not restrain pets.
  5. Leave dry food and fresh water in non-spill containers. If possible, let a faucet drip water into a large container or partially fill a bathtub with water.
  6. Put a sign on your house on or near entrances informing responders that there are animals inside.

After a Wildfire:

Once you are allowed to return; dress for safety and do an inspection of your property. Identify unstable trees and power poles, downed live power lines, spot fires, smoldering debris and ash pits.

Once the area is secured, locate your animals. Immediately provide clean water and a high-quality forage with a protein and mineral supplement to offset stress.

  • Check animals for injuries: Have animals inspected by your veterinarian ASAP. Monitor animals for several weeks afterwards.
  • Report missing animals: Provide local authorities with the last known location, identification and disposition of any missing animals.

Farmyard Animals:

If you cannot evacuate your non commercial and commercial livestock, turn them loose.

  • Provide ID for larger animals by using a livestock crayon or permanent marker to write your name, phone number and address on the animal or on their non-nylon halter. You could also shave your phone number into the animal’s coat, braid a temporary ID tag into their mane or attach a neck band.
  • Remove halters made out of nylon material as they can melt and injure your animals.
  • Close, but do not lock, doors and gates so animals cannot re-enter barns and pastures.
  • Hang a clipboard of important contact numbers in a highly visible area.
  • Firefighters may cut fences or open gates to free trapped animals, so providing identification on each animal is important.
  • Provide safe pasture: Pasture animals safely away from areas that may experience flash and post-fire flooding. Animals have a natural instinct to seek higher ground when flooding occurs; ensure maximum access to minimize injury and death.

Preventative measures are the best care:

  • Make sure candles are blown out when you leave the room
  • Make sure stove knobs are locked, to avoid any chance of pets brushing up against knobs and turning on the stove
  • Check for frayed wires
  • Turn off and unplug any beauty supplies or unnecessary appliances/ devices.
  • Have a fire extinguisher on hand
  • Keep yards clear of waste and debris especially things like pine needles and dead leaves that can act as tinder
  • Ensure tree branches are not touching any houses or structures

Tornadoes:

Identify a tornado-safe area large enough for the entire family and pets; often a basement or the most interior room of the house on the bottom floor.

Make the tornado-safe area pet-friendly by removing any dangerous items such as tools or toxic products. Keep family and pet preparedness kits in the tornado-safe area or close by.

Ensure that there’s a crate for every animal.

Before a tornado:

  1. Identify all pets with an ID tag and microchip.This is the best way to make sure you are reunited with your pets if you are separated. Be sure the collar is secure, the tag is legible and your contact information is current. Keep the microchip registration up-to-date. Microchipping is essential since collars often come loose during powerful storms.
  2. Keep small animals like dogs and cats indoors.This will better protect them if a tornado strikes suddenly and make it easier for you to round them up if you have to move to a safe location.
  3. Practice bringing your animals to your “tornado safety” location.Animals often become frightened and hide during extreme weather. Every few months, practice leashing dogs and crating cats and bringing them calmly to the basement or other location you have identified for tornado safety. This way, when the real thing happens, they will be less likely to freeze, hide or run away.
  4. Secure cats if a tornado watch is issued.

During a tornado:

  1. If an evacuation is possible, take the pets along. Take the pet preparedness kit and the pets’ identification.
  2. If evacuation isn’t possible: take the entire family, including pets (both indoor and outdoor), to a tornado-safe room. Put pets in crates or carriers in the safe room. If possible, place the crates under a sturdy piece of furniture.
  3. Move other caged animals to a safe location early. Rabbits, reptiles, rodents and other “pocket pets” can be moved to a basement or windowless room during a tornado watch, too. If you have an aquarium or terrarium that can’t be moved, put it under a table or desk or cover it with a mattress or other large, soft object.
  4. Carry photos of your pets and give copies to loved ones outside your immediate area. If you do become separated from your pets, photos will help you create lost animal posters or post messages to Internet sites. Include photos of you with your pets, which can prove ownership.

After the Tornado: use caution allowing your pets and other family members outdoors.

  • Exit only after the entire storm has passed. Assess the damage before bringing pets outside.
  • Keep dogs on a leash and cats in a carrier.
  •  Watch for objects that could cause injury or harm pets.
  •  Allow pets to become reoriented. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and cause your pet to become confused or lost.

Farmyard Animals:

  • Secure horses and farmyard animals in an outbuilding and identify them. If a tornado watch is posted, put horses and farmyard animals in a sturdy building on your property or bring them to a pre-identified safe location. Make sure each is identified with halters, neck straps, or name spray-painted on.
  • Keep animals away from food, water, and other liquids that could be contaminated from the storm.
  •  Keep animals away from downed power lines and debris
  • Know where to search for lost animals.When animals become lost during a disaster, they often end up at a local animal control agency or humane society. Keep handy the locations and phone numbers of the shelters in your area.

Hurricanes:

Bring pets along when you evacuate. Never leave pets behind to fend for themselves in a hurricane!

When a hurricane threatens, it is encouraged that residents to bring their pets with them when they evacuate. Animals left behind during hurricanes can get injured, fall ill, starve, drown from flooding, die, and affect human evacuation and rescue efforts.

Hurricanes may last a few hours, however recovery can take weeks, even months. Your home may be without power, water or other services making it inhabitable. You must prepare in advance especially if you are forced to evacuate your home. Pet-friendly hotels, boarding kennels, relatives or friends out of the area are all possibilities, but must be thought about in advance.

Suggested Tips:

  • Plan to stay wherever you are if you’re not in a recommended evacuation area.
  • Bring lawn furniture, trash bins and other objects inside so they don’t blow away.
  • Trim or remove trees that are close to your home.
  • Cover all your windows. We recommend permanent storm shutters, but plywood works in a pinch.
  • Close storm shutters.
  • Stay away from your home’s windows.
  • Crank up your fridge and freezer to the coldest temperature and only open it when completely necessary.

Before a Hurricane:

  1. Identify a place ahead of time to evacuate with pets. The best choice is to stay with friends or family outside of the impacted zone, or to make your own arrangements elsewhere. Many hotels and motels are pet-friendly, and those that aren’t often make exceptions during natural disasters. A database of pet-friendly accommodations is available at http://www.bringfido.com or www.petfriendly.caEmergency shelters are a last resort option. Note that many emergency shelters require pre-registration.
  2. Identify all pets. Affix a collar with ID tag containing mobile phone number or temporary contact number (such as the phone number of a hotel or relative) to each pet so they can be more easily reunited if lost.
  3. Assemble an animal disaster kit that includes food, water, medications, a first aid kit, a leash or cat carrier for each pet and photos of each animal with family members to prove ownership if they are lost.Stock your personal emergency kit and keep it close by for a quick exit.
  4. Tune into emergency channels and review your evacuation plan.
  5. Make sure your car is in working order and has a full tank of gas.

During a Hurricane:

  1. Keep your pets with you in a carrier or on a leash with a collar and ID tag.
  2. Keep calm and speak to your pet in a soothing voice.
  3. Evacuate as soon as the authorities tell you to.
  4. Do not enter flood waters. Even 6 inches can be dangerous.
  5. Stay off of bridges that are over fast-moving water.

If you can’t evacuate:

  • Keep your emergency kit in that room with you (food, water, litter, meds).
  • Know your pet’s hiding places. That’s where they may run; keep them with you.
  • Secure exits and cat doors so pets can’t escape into the storm.
  • If trapped in a flooded building, go to the highest level, but not into a closed attic.
  • If sheltering from high winds, escape to a safe room, storm shelter or small, interior and windowless hallway or room. Go to the lowest floor that isn’t flooded.
  • Only use a generator or other machinery powered by gasoline outdoors and away from your home’s windows.

After a Hurricane:

Make sure the storm has fully passed before going outside and assess damages before allowing animals out.

  • Keep dogs on a leash and cats in a carrier. Displaced objects and fallen trees can disorient pets and sharp debris could harm them.
  • Give pets time to become re-oriented. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and cause a pet to become confused or lost.
  • Listen to the authorities. Only return to your home when the authorities say it is safe to do so!
  • Assess the damage and watch for hazards to you and your pets.

Uncertainty and change in the environment affect animals, too, presenting new stresses and dangers. Your pet’s behavior may change after a crisis, becoming more aggressive or self-protective. Be sensitive to these changes, your pet will probably be very anxious at this time.

Farmyard Animals:

There is no great way to protect all animals from the wrath of hurricanes and if you evacuate you will likely not be able to take the barnyard animals. Best advice in this scenario is:

  • Move animals and valuable equipment out of barns. Most agricultural barns are not made to withstand more than 75-100 mile per hour winds with out some damage. Metal roofing material falling and flying around can be deadly. Normally open fields or pastures are much safer for both animals and equipment.
  • Animals out in the open have a way of avoiding danger most of the time.
  • Depending keeping smaller animals such as poultry, pigs and rabbits in a sturdy barn or garage, only if severe flooding is unlikely.
  • Move animals to interior, high level pastures or at least tie the gates open so they can move to higher ground if need be: so there are multiple fences between animals and the highway or neighbors. Move animals out of low lying pastures,
  • Identify animals: if they do wander out of your property, you can be notified of their whereabouts. Halters or collars and luggage tags can be used for horses. If nothing else is available, spray paint your name and phone number on animals, so they can be returned to you following a storm.
  • Pick up debris that might become high-wind hazards. Strap down feeders, trailers and other items that might blow around and injure animals or cause damage to facilities.
  • Move tractors, equipment, hay, or other stored items to highest ground.
  • Have enough hay and feed on hand for two weeks in case grass runs short from low areas being flooded.
  • Make sure drainage ditches are clean without blockage.

 

Earthquakes:

For pet-owners in earthquake-prone areas:

Certain animals can ‘sense’ upcoming seismic activity seconds before shaking starts. Have heightened awareness for an earthquake if your livestock, pets or wildfowl exhibit unusual behaviour.

If you feel shaking:

Drop, Cover and Hold On immediately. Let animals find a safe place to hide.

If your pet is nearby and comfortable being held, pick it up and hold it to your chest as you Drop, Cover and Hold On. If your pet becomes aggressive and struggles to get away, let it go and stay covered. If your pet is in a carrier or crate, leave it inside. It will be protected from falling debris.

Before an Earthquake:

  1. Identify all pets with an ID tag and microchip. This is the single best way to make sure you are reunited with your pets if you are separated. Be sure the collar is secure, the tag is legible and your contact information is current. Keep the microchip registration up-to-date.
  2. Provide ID for larger animals by using a livestock crayon or permanent marker to write your name, phone number and address on the animal or on their non-nylon halter. You could also shave your phone number into the animal’s coat, braid a temporary ID tag into their mane or attach a neck band.
  3. Create an emergency kit for each pet. Have a pet kit that includes things such as medications, leashes, food, water and bowls. Add items as you see fit, such as: a can opener for canned food, a current picture of your pet in case they get lost, toys and a bed, plastic bags for pet waste

During an Earthquake:

  1. If you are home – gather your pets and stay inside.
  2. Drop, Cover and Hold On immediately.
  3. Seek shelter under a sturdy table away from windows and glass doors. Many pets won’t want to be restrained during an earthquake Your pets will most likely find their own place to hide in the house and that is okay; wait until the shaking is over to find them and approach them carefully. If the animal is willing, put it in a crate or carrier to avoid paw injuries.
  4. If you and your pet are outdoors – go to an open area away from trees, buildings, walls and power lines and drop to the ground until the shaking passes.
  5. If driving with your pet – be sure to pull over to the side of the road and stop. Avoid parking near overpasses and power lines. Do not exit your car until the shaking is over.
  6. Create a plan for when you are not home – have a trusted neighbour (who is familiar with your pets) take them and meet you at a designated location. Make sure to give them a key to your home and show them likely hiding places where they may find your pets, as well as where their emergency kit is kept.

After the Earthquake Shaking Stops:

  • Count to 60 allowing unstable objects to settle.
  • When safe to do so, locate your pet if it sought its own shelter. Check animals over for injuries.
  • Depending on the severity of the quake, there may be sharp debris on the floor. If the animal is willing, put it in a crate or carrier to avoid paw injuries.
  • If the animal is skittish, allow it to stay in the safe place it found and clear the area around it.

Farmyard Animals:

  • Once the area is secured, locate your animals. Immediately provide clean water and a high-quality forage with a protein and mineral supplement to offset stress.
  • Check animals for injuries: Have animals inspected by your veterinarian ASAP. Monitor animals for several weeks afterwards.
  • Report missing animals: Provide local authorities with the last known location, identification and disposition of any missing animals.
  • Provide safe pasture: Pasture animals safely away from areas that are dangerous or where the earth may have split