Animals are affected by disasters. One may remember the hundreds of stranded, lost, and homeless pets seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many families prepare an emergency disaster plan, but not all of them remember to include their pets in these plans.
In the wake of recent hurricane and storm news, The American Red Cross advises the following when it comes to pets and emergency preparedness:
Learn first aid for pets.
Remember: if it is not safe for a human to stay in an area where there is a disaster, it will not be safe for an animal either. Learn which hotels in the evacuation areas allow pets and keep in mind that most emergency shelters for humans will not allow pets unless they are service animals.
Make a list of kennels, vets, and friends or family that can care for a pet in the event of a disaster. Have a copy of the pet’s vaccinations handy in case a pet needs to be boarded.
Run evacuation drills in a calm manner so a pet can calmly follow the routine.
Make an emergency disaster kit for the pet that includes a leash, pet carrier, food, water, bowls, any medications, a picture of the pet, a first aid kit, important pet phone numbers, and toys.
If there is a warning for severe weather, keep the pet indoors so he does not get lost, and make sure he is ready to go if there is an evacuation.
The American Red Cross Mountain Valley Chapter has begun offering free emergency preparedness classes to area residents. Many have found themselves not knowing what to do when disaster strikes. The classes teach the students how to prepare for an emergency situation and will show what to do in unusual circumstances.
Topics the classes cover range from setting up a shelter, to assessing damage, to helping others. The target audience of the classes are families and the classes are taught by different people in a range of fields. Brett Cross, a volunteer coordinator for this chapter of the American Red Cross pointed out: “The disaster courses are designed to help people who want to respond in emergency situations; the emergency preparedness classes help people become individually prepared.”
The disaster classes begin the first week of each month with volunteer orientation at the beginning of the week. Participants are not required to sign up as a Red Cross volunteer. Emergency preparedness classes are offered the last Thursday of every month at Brigham Young University. More on this story.
The staff of the Surry County Chapter of the Red Cross in North Carolina found they were the ones needing help this weekend. Pipes in the ceiling burst and flooded the whole building. Frigid temperatures caused the break in the pipes.
The executive director of the Red Cross Chapter took measures to prevent the break in the pipes by turning up the heat in the building. She also left the lights in the attic of the building on in hopes that the heat produced would keep the pipes warm enough. Nevertheless, leaving lights on in a building is not enough to prevent pipes from bursting. This was made obvious from the ceiling tiles and insulation that were destroyed by the water.
“Take a moment to imagine that there is an emergency, like a fire in your home, and you need to leave quickly. What are the best escape routes from your home? Find at least two ways out of each room. Now, write it down — you’ve got the beginning of a plan.”—The American Red Cross
This quote from the American Red Cross show what it takes to start an emergency plan. How ready are you? Find out by taking the Red Cross’ Readiness Quotient. Find out your score to see if you would know what to do if there was a disaster.
Families can work together in creating a safety plan with these worksheets. It includes tips on how to make an escape route, safety checklist, and games for children.
The American Red Cross has also made an instructional video, which is hosted by Cheyenne, a popular Latino singer. The video helps one know how to make a kit, a plan, and be ready.
