While you can’t exactly pencil an emergency or disaster into your calendar, you can take steps to prepare for these types of situations as much as possible before they occur. When you create a disaster plan for your family, including collecting and storing evacuation supplies, make sure you think about your pets, too.
Creating a pet evacuation kit is an essential part of a solid disaster plan, and it’s especially useful (and lifesaving!) for disasters like wildfires and flash floods, where you typically have enough time to grab your kit before exiting your home. Your “grab bag” may also come in handy for other disasters and emergencies, too, so it’s a good idea to have one fully stocked at all times.
Store your grab bag close to an exit
When a wildfire spreads or a flash flood hits, you don’t want to be left searching for supplies, so keep your pet evacuation kit near an exit in your home. (Think the coat closet by the back door – easy to grab and go!) Store other animal evacuation essentials in the same place, like pet carriers, crates, and leashes. Make sure anything you need to take with you is clearly labeled (for example, “in case of emergency, take this!”) so it’s easy to spot by you and your family, or a neighbor or first responder if someone else is gathering emergency items on your behalf. If you have multiple pets, it may be helpful to color code items specific to each animal for easier identification when you’re ready to use your kit.
What to put in a pet evacuation kit
You can use whatever container works best for you to store evacuation kit materials in – a duffel bag, backpack, or suitcase; the number of pets you have and their individual needs will likely dictate the size required. Pick something waterproof and easy to carry.
Make sure you have everything you need in case of emergency by checking out the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) comprehensive list of supplies to pack in a pet evacuation kit.
Our veterinary experts named their must-have grab bag items:
- Three to seven days’ worth of food
- Seven days’ supply of water
- Two-week supply of medicine
- Trash bags and basic cleaning supplies (for cleaning up messes)
- Probiotics (emergencies are a stressful time for animals and probiotics can help improve the gut microbiome and ward off stress-related conditions)
- Bedding (for each animal)
- Collapsible food bowls (they’re lightweight and take up less room)
- Litterbox for cats
- First aid kit*
Keep your pets’ prescriptions refilled – you don’t want to run out of medication in the middle of an emergency situation – and refresh food and probiotics in your grab bag whenever they expire.
You should also keep your animal’s medical records easily accessible digitally, so you don’t have to worry about grabbing physical copies in a pinch. This includes their medical and vaccine records, rabies certificate, microchip information, and a list of any health conditions and associated medications. Take a photo of any medical history printouts provided at your pet’s latest vet visit and store it in a special folder on your phone for easy retrieval later. Photos of your pet are helpful for identification if your animal gets lost (and found) during an emergency. Also ensure their microchip is registered and their pet tags are up to date and legible. Consider also keeping printed pet records in an “in case of emergency” folder that’s easy to access.
Having a ready-to-go pet evacuation kit is just one part of preparing an emergency or disaster plan for your family and animals. While the AVMA provides comprehensive advice on preparing for disaster, Dr. Danni Scott offers some quick tips on evacuating with your pet in case of emergency or disaster:
*A note on first aid kits: The AVMA lists first aid essentials to include in your pet evacuation kit, which should be easy to find at your local pharmacy or drug store. Seeking veterinary care is always the first recommendation in the event of an injury or illness, but if you can’t make it to the vet due to the nature of the emergency, having first aid supplies on hand can help in the interim. While some of these items may be self-explanatory, our veterinary experts recommend:
- Cleaning wounds with saline (NOT alcohol or alcohol wipes)
- Using antibiotic ointment or petrolatum jelly (like Aquaphor) for burns, cuts, or wounds for protection from dirt and bacteria
- Using tweezers to pull out anything stuck in your pet’s paws, fur, or skin
- Applying cotton rolls and/or bandage tape to cover minor cuts and abrasions (don’t wrap too tightly!)
- Using Dawn dish soap to easily wash oil and potential toxins off your pet
- Wearing latex or nitrile gloves to administer first aid to your animal