This post is sponsored by Hills Food, Shelter, & Love® Initiative and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping Promote National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, but we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hills Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
Im a bit of a beach bum as I was born and raised at the beach. I cant imagine ever living away from the coast! Something about the water and the sand puts my mind at ease. With all the surf and sand there is a downside to living the coastal life. HURRICANES! From June to November we stay tuned to the weather channel as hurricanes are a constant threat to our coast in Virginia Beach. Ive lived through my fair share of hurricanes and it can be so scary! Whats even more scary is not having a disaster preparedness plan for your family and pets.
In Virginia Beach and other coastal cities, youll see these Hurricane Evacuation Signs by all the major interstates. In case of an evacuation, the city will direct residents to follow the designated hurricane evacuation routes to help avoid gridlock during a disaster.
Having a pet adds another layer of complexity to disaster preparedness. It makes me so sad when I find out that people forget about the safety of their pets during a disaster like a hurricane. Mother Nature cant be stopped but the next best thing is to have a plan in place before something happens. A lot of shelters will turn you away if you bring pets. Its critical to find out where you can bring your pet in advance AND create a disaster preparedness kit for your pet.
DIY Disaster Preparedness Kit for Pets
I want to share with you how to create a do it yourself disaster preparedness kit for your pets. This DIY includes the bare necessities so you might need to tweak it based on the needs of your pet.
I recommend putting your prep kit into a plastic waterproof container. In case of flooding, youll be grateful you did this!
1. Food
Put at least 3 days worth of food into a waterproof container or zip lock bag.
2. Water
Just like food, put 3 days worth of bottled water in the kit.
3. Treats
Every dog wants treats, am I right?!
4. Medications
If youre pet is on medications, make sure they are in your disaster prep kit along with instructions and contact info from your vet.
5. Leash/ID Tags
Make sure you pack a leash and dont forget the ID tags! Chuy wears a collar at all times with his name and contact information. This is in addition to his microchip. In times of disaster, its good to have an old school backup. Dont forget the poop bags! Chuys are on his leash so we never forget them.
6. First Aid Kit
You can purchase a pet first aid kit or create a DIY First Aid Kit like this one.
7. Notebook & Pen
Chances are the power will go out during a hurricane. That means cell phones probably wont work. Keep a notebook and pen handy so you can take notes about shelter openings and closings. Plus, you can document any health issues your pet is having.
8. Collapsible Bowl
To save space, pack a collapsible bowl for your pets food and water.
9. Toys
You might be stuck at a shelter for awhile and pets get restless too! Pack a few toys to keep them busy.
10. Important Information
Use a waterproof folder to put a copy of your pets medical records, contact information, and current pics.
To sum everything up, heres a fun GIF that shows all of the supplies we talked about!
Hills Disaster Relief Network
Thank goodness for companies like Hills. Have you heard of the Hills Disaster Relief Network? It was established in 2013 as an extension of their Food, Shelter & Love® program. The network is positioned to quickly respond with shipments of pet food to communities impacted by disaster.
In the last three years, the Hills network has delivered free pet food to more than 60 different shelters and veterinary clinics across the country in response to 25 major incidents including floods in Colorado, fires in Idaho and Arizona, the fertilizer plant explosion in Texas, the mudslide in Washington state and tornadoes in the central and southern regions of the country.
In 2015, the Hills Disaster Relief Network assisted with three incidents, including the severe tornado damage in Moore, Oklahoma.
Save the Date!
Now is the time to make sure you have a plan in place for your pets in case disaster strikes. Save the date on your calendar as a reminder for the FEMA National Pet Disaster Preparedness Day on May 14.
Free Download!
Hills has created this handy dandy download with a checklist of what to do in case of a disaster. You can download or print the checklist here.
To learn more about a disaster preparedness plan visit Hills Pet Prepared. Get social and learn more about Hills on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Join the Conversation
Have you ever been involved in a natural disaster? Did you have a plan? Leave a comment down below and let us know how youll prepare your pet in case of a disaster.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hills® Pet Nutrition, Inc. The opinions and text are all mine.
DEBBIE says
Fabulous blog topic. I am inspired to get ready!!
Irresistible Pets says
Awesome!
Liz says
I have never thought about this before. My pets will have one now!!! Thanks!
Irresistible Pets says
Happy to hear that!
Tara says
After Hurricane Katrina, I saw the devastation of folks with no plan for their pets. I am hundreds of miles away and bus loads of pets were brought to my city to care for them.
Your article reminded pet owners to always be prepared. Thank you so much! I’m going to recheck my pet emergency supply kit tonight!
Irresistible Pets says
People don’t take it seriously until it’s too late. Yay for checking your kit again!
Ruth Epstein says
Great info and went and checked my bag for Layla π
Irresistible Pets says
Awesome, happy to hear that Ruth!
Chantel says
Great blog post. Thanks for the tips! We have one made for our dogs…I am still working on getting the first aid kit put together b/c I am making my own but besides that we are ready in case something were to happen.
Irresistible Pets says
That’s great! Being prepared is half the battle!
Cathy Armato says
Great job on this post, Amy! Such important information and Go Kit supplies for all pet owners to have on hand in the event of an emergency. I love all the photos of Chuy, he’s so adorable! I love the GIF you created as well, it provides a great visual of the supplies needed for a disaster preparedness kit.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Irresistible Pets says
Thanks Cathy!
JeanneP of bichonpawz says
Awesome tips here! Sharing on Twitter!
Irresistible Pets says
Thanks Jeanne!
Bee Prepared says
Pets are just as important as people. Indeed, it is also important to take care of their safety during emergencies. Thank you sharing your ideas and tips on how to keep our pets safe. This is very helpful!
Crossroads Vet Clinic says
Great ideas! Still, why exactly three days of water and food?
Irresistible Pets says
The recommendation is to have 3-7 days worth which is the estimated time that you could possibly be without access to either.
Pet Bandanas says
Excellent article! Each member of our family has a go-bag, including the dogs. We purchased doggie backpacks so they can carry their own (or at least part of it) – Hey! They are our family members, they gotta be prepared too!
Irresistible Pets says
That’s awesome that you are all prepared just in case!