Disaster PreparednessEmergency planning shouldn’t be done in the eye of the storm! In the wake of the Midwest floods and Florida’s inundation by Tropical Storm Fay—and with Hurricane Gustav now on its way—September, National Preparedness Month, is the right time to get ready for a possible emergency.
To get started, check out our lifesaving tips from last week’s live chat with ASPCA Disaster Preparedness Manager Tiffany Mahaffey. It’s full of practical advice to help prepare for and handle pets in all kinds of emergencies, from cats in earthquakes to dogs in tornadoes.
Here’s a sample:
My dog really doesn’t like strangers. How do I get him prepared for the fact that a stranger might be handling him during an emergency?
Just like people, dogs and other animals may react differently in high-stress moments. I’ve seen dogs whose owners said they will bite be only too happy to jump into rescue vehicles during flooding or wildfires. Well-trained rescuers understand this. In the meantime, socializing your pet in a variety of new places is one way to prepare him for the people and environments he may be exposed to in the event of a disaster.
Check out the rest of the chat here. For more emergency planning tips and a brochure on pet-friendly evacuation, visit the Disaster Preparedness section of our website. And don’t leave kids out of the equation! We’ve got some practical ways to get them prepared to leap into action should disaster strike.
