DIY Disaster Preparedness Kit for Pets #PetPrepared

This post is sponsored by Hill’s 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. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

I’m a bit of a beach bum as I was born and raised at the beach. I can’t 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. I’ve lived through my fair share of hurricanes and it can be so scary! What’s even more scary is not having a disaster preparedness plan for your family and pets.

In Virginia Beach and other coastal cities, you’ll 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 can’t 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. It’s 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, you’ll 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 you’re 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 don’t 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, it’s good to have an old school backup. Don’t forget the poop bags! Chuy’s 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 won’t 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 pet’s 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 pet’s medical records, contact information, and current pics.

To sum everything up, here’s a fun GIF that shows all of the supplies we talked about!

Hill’s Disaster Relief Network

Thank goodness for companies like Hill’s. Have you heard of the Hill’s 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 Hill’s 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 Hill’s 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!

Hill’s 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 Hill’s 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 you’ll prepare your pet in case of a disaster.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hill’s® Pet Nutrition, Inc. The opinions and text are all mine.