Family Preparedness Plans Must Include Pets

IEMA, local emergency management agencies to encourage pet preparedness throughout June

SPRINGFIELD – According to a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association, 67 percent of U.S. households include at least one pet. If your family includes a dog, cat, hamster or other furry, feathered or scaly friends, don’t forget to include their unique needs in your home emergency plans.

Throughout the month of June, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies will highlight the importance of emergency preparedness for pets.

“For many, pets are our family and that is why it’s important that we include their needs in our emergency planning,” said IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. “Emergency situations can be very stressful, particularly for pets who don’t understand what is happening. If your family includes a dog, cat, hamster or other furry, feathered or scaly friend, don’t forget to include their unique needs in your home emergency plans.”

Home emergency supply kits for people should include a three-day supply of such items as food, water, first aid kit, weather alert radio, flashlights, spare batteries and other items. Pet owners should also have a pet preparedness kit stocked with items such as:

• At least a three-day supply of food and water
  
• Extra supplies of pet medicines
  
• Copies of pet registration, vaccinations and other important documents
  
• Photo of your pet in case you are separated during an emergency
  
• Collar with ID tag, harness or leash
  
• Crate or other pet carrier in case of evacuation
  
• Pet litter and box, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach for sanitation
  
• Toys, treats or other familiar items to reduce your pet’s stress during the emergency
  

A disaster may require you to evacuate your home, sometimes with little notice. It’s important to take pets with you, as an evacuation could last several days, even weeks, and your pets likely cannot survive without care. Plan now for places you and your pets can stay following an evacuation, as many public shelters do not allow animals inside.

It’s also important to have a back-up emergency plan in case you can’t care for or evacuate your animals yourself. Talk to neighbors, friends and family to make sure someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.  

Additional pet preparedness and general emergency preparedness information is available on the Ready Illinois website at Ready Illinois Site.