Preparing Your Family and Pets
The first step in getting prepared is knowing your risks. Which hazards or disasters can happen in your community? You may want to find out from your local emergency preparedness office about previous hazards and disasters. It is also important to know possible risks in areas where you travel for business or for vacation. You may be away from home once a disaster happens, and you still need to be prepared.
Once you identify the risks, the second step is to have a well thought-out plan. Does your community have a plan? Can you obtain a copy of it? How often is it updated? What are the warning systems used in your community? Know how to find out about weather information (local news stations, news radio, etc.). Do you know evacuation routes? Even if your community does not have a plan which is distributed in your area, you still should develop your own plan. Your plan should include methods to reduce your risks as well as when and how to evacuate, if that becomes necessary.
Know your employer (workplace) and children's school emergency plans. Get a written copy if possible, and keep them with your important papers.
Family communication is extremely vital in times of emergencies. Your family needs an emergency communication plan. Sample plans can be obtained from http://www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org. Also important is that your family practice this communication plan on a regular basis. Does your family understand the importance and urgency of knowing what to do in case of an emergency or disaster?
If your family members get separated during the evacuation, would each member know where to meet? Who to contact inside and outside of your immediate area? It is important to have an out-of-town communication link, such as a relative or friend.
Extremely important is that each member of your family has an updated identification card. You can simply prepare one on an index card with information such as name, address, phone #, contact person's name, address, and phone number (in and outside of the immediate area). This might suffice for the adult and adolescent members of your family. Make sure family members and friends outside your immediate family have current pictures of all family members (including your pets). You can take digital photos and send them to family and friends via email. I was truly amazed after Hurricane Katrina of the number of children who were separated from their family and didn't know their age, or even how to get in contact with other family members. Parents, please take this very seriously!!
All of your children should have an identification card with their photo, age, important information (including vital health info), and distinguishing features or birthmarks. There are child identity kits that you can obtain from your local police department. Now is the time to get one for each child!! You may also want to include other important numbers on the identification card such as 9-1-1, local police, fire, and hospital numbers, and the Nationwide Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222 or http://www.poison.org).
Click here for a printable medical identification card. American Red Cross has a printable emergency contact card.
It is also a good idea to keep a copy of this information in your home, near the phones, in case of emergency.
Do any of your family members have "special needs"? This includes infants, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, severe health problems, etc. Do you have enough special needs items such as prescription medication, eyeglasses, contact lens, infant formulas, diapers, hearing aid batteries, etc.? Are there local agencies such as the Council on Aging which can assist you with your emergency planning? The National Organization of Disabilities at http://www.nod.org has good information to help you with preparing family members who have special needs. Also, there is an excellent resource from FEMA and the American Red Cross entitled "Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and Other Special Needs". You can obtain a copy here. There is a lot of good information for non-disabled people as well!
Now here comes the tough part - Are you willing to have practice drills with your family to see how really prepared they are? Emergencies can occur at any time and your family needs to be prepared. Does each member of your family know which important items to take with them in case of evacuation? Check out this video on preparing a disaster supplies kit:
Important papers to take with you - First, make certain that you are storing your important papers in a fireproof, waterproof container. You may want to purchase one of those fireproof boxes and place important papers in a waterproof container inside.
Consider making three three copies of all your important papers. Send one set to reliable family members outside of your immediate area- sealed and only opened if necessary. Place another set in a safety deposit box in your bank- but make sure you place all documents in a waterproof container, since banks may have safety deposit boxes which may not be waterproof. The third set have packed and ready to go when you evacuate. For those of you who are computer-savvy, there are software programs and scanning options which can make you more organized and allow you to bring less paper with you.
Consider having a home inventory. This video explains how you can create a home inventory in which you can store online:
Below is a list of important papers you should start organizing and have ready at a moment's notice :
• Bank account records
• Marriage certificates or divorce decrees
• Identification records (driver license, green card, passport, etc.)
• Titles, deeds, registrations for property and vehicles owned
• Mortgage and other loan information
• Insurance policies
• Investment records
• Credit-card statements
• Employer benefit statements
• Income tax information (copies of past returns, proof of estimated tax payments)
• Report of earnings from Social Security
• Credit reports
• Social Security card
• Trusts
• Wills
• Birth certificates
Write down contact information for :
• Police, fire, hospitals
• Poison Control Center
• Employer (do you have office, home phone #, and email addresses for your immediate supervisor?)
• Children's schools and daycare
• Banks and other financial institutions
• Insurance agents, also contact number for claims department
• Power, light, gas or other utility companies
(You may want to customize this list to meet your specific needs. Be extremely careful with your important papers you definitely want to prevent and discourage "Identify theft".)
What about insurance policies? Can you answer these questions?
• Do you really understand your policies? Do you have a copy of the entire policy, and not just the "declaration" pages?
• Do you know which weather-related emergencies are actually covered by your policy?
• Do you have enough coverage for building and contents? Do you review and update this information on a regular basis?
• Do you need additional insurance such as flood or earthquake insurance based on where you live?
• Do you know the specific procedure for filing a claim?
• Is there a time limit for filing a claim?
• What method of home inventory reporting is acceptable to your insurance company when you make a claim?
• In your circumstance, do you need to consider "condominium" or "renters' insurance" and what is covered?
• If you are a business owner, do you have business interruption insurance and what does it cover?
• What does your policy state about additional living expenses?
• Do you understand the options concerning your deductibles?
• Does your policy cover tree, fence damage, or damage to other structures on your property?
• Does your policy cover costs for debris removal?
• What is covered under your automobile policy? Will it cover the cost of renting a car if that becomes necessary?
These are just a few questions you should ask your insurance agent. Now is the time to ask these questions. I would get everything in writing to make certain that both you and your agent are in agreement.
Lastly, don't forget to take prepare for your beloved pets.
Preparing Your Pets
Your pets are part of the family, so do not forget to include them as part of your overall disaster planning. You need to consider what you will do if you choose not to evacuate (what you will need for your pets) and also what you need if you do plan to evacuate. It is always recommended that you take your pets with you if you evacuate. Please be aware that public shelters do not allow you to keep your pets with you, due to health, safety, and space concerns, unless they are service or guide dogs (please check with your office of emergency preparedness for more information).
You will need information on how to prepare your pets before a disaster strikes. Speak to your veterinarian or contact your local SPCA or animal shelter and inquire about specific information regarding emergency or disaster planning for pets. Do not assume that you can drop off your pet at the vet before evacuating. Ask about this. The vet may also be evacuating, and there may be no one there to take care of your pet. Make certain you have a copy of all vital medical information concerning your pet and bring with you when evacuating. Know when your pet needs to get vaccinations, health checkups, and make certain that all is up to date. Find out if there are animal shelters which will take animals during an emergency.
If you choose not to evacuate, or cannot evacuate, decide on safe locations in your home where you could leave your pet in an emergency. We recommend areas that are easy to clean with no carpeting such as a utility room or bathroom. Make certain there is enough fresh water for your pets. Also keep enough dry pet food on hand. Get really sturdy pet dishes which won't turn over easily. Remember to keep pets away from hazards such as windows. In case of flooding, the location should have access to high counters that pets can escape to. Set up two separate locations if you have dogs and cats.
If you plan to evacuate, we recommend that you purchase a pet carrier. Ask the sales person to assist you with purchasing the correct size. Your pet should be able to stand up and turn around insider the carrier. It is also advisable to train your pet to stay in the carrier so that it will feel comfortable there. Ask you vet how to handle pets on special diets or medications if you are not able to evacuate. If you will evacuate, make certain you purchase enough pet food and medications prior to leaving.
Your pet's identification is extremely important. You could have a "microchip" embedded in your pet with all of its vital information. This can be done at your vet's office. Or simpler, you can have an identification tag with your pet's name, your name, and a contact phone number (try to also have a second contact number outside of the area where you live, in case the phones are not working in your area). Use a nylon or leather collar instead of a "choke" collar if you are leaving your pet alone. DO NOT tie your dog to a fence during a storm. Another great idea is to purchase a dog tag which has a flash drive as part of the tag, which can be removed and placed in a computer (USB port) showing all of your pet's information. One such product is Top Tag Pet ID, which, for around $40, might be well worth the price.
Find out beforehand, motels and hotels outside of your area who will accept pets in an emergency. Here are good websites to find out more about pet-friendly hotels and motels:
www.petswelcome.com
http://www.pets-allowed-hotels.com
http://www.travelpets.com
Many times pets are aware of impending storms and you will see their behavior change. Be aware of this. Also know that pets can be just as afraid of storms as humans. Bring your pets in from outside, and once again, NEVER leave them tied up outside. It is recommended that you separate pets of different species (dogs and cats). Even though they may usually get along, in emergency situations, pets can get very anxious and may behave irrationally.
If you have pets other than dogs and cats, such as birds, reptiles, etc. please check with your veterinarian about how to prepare them for emergencies. Ask about how often they must be fed, if there are special food dispensers you can purchase, and any additional information about their cage or sleeping environment.
Some pets are unlikely to survive on their own for extended periods of time. In the first few days after the disaster, you may want to keep your pet on a leash especially when you put them outside. It is best to keep a close eye on your pets for the first few days after a disaster. Pets may become disoriented since familiar scents and landmarks may be altered due to the disaster. In addition, other animals, such as snakes, alligators, rats, may now have entered the area, especially in flooded areas. You want to keep an eye on your pets if there are any hazardous objects in your yard or near your property, such as downed electrical power lines, potholes, etc. Watch for any significant changes in your pet's behavior. You may need to report this to the veterinarian. Reintroduce their usual foods slowly. Make certain they have access to fresh food and water. The Humane Society of the United States offers disaster planning tips for pets, livestock and wildlife.
Remember to include with your disaster plan a list of emergency phone numbers for local agencies that can assist you concerning your pet's welfare - include your veterinarian, state veterinarian, local animal shelter, animal care and control, local agricultural or veterinary schools and the American Red Cross. These numbers should be kept with your disaster kit in a secure and easily accessible place.
Make certain that your pets' records (including vaccinations, medical, and medications) are all up to date. This video should help you prepare your pets for any emergency:
