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Make sure they can be identified
Put a tag with your phone number on every collar and check that the microchip registry has your current address and number. A photo of you with the pet helps prove ownership if you are separated.
Hour zero
Care for pets in an emergency
Pack a pet kit, keep their ID current and list the places that take animals, so you can leave together.
Time60 min
LevelEasy
Steps6
Official sources1
Pets depend on you completely in a storm or an evacuation, and many shelters for people cannot take them. A little planning means you never have to choose between leaving and leaving them behind.
What you need
Gather these before you start.
- Pet food in a sealed container: at least 3 days, up to 2 weeks
- Water for each pet: 3 days or more
- Medicines and copies of vet records: 2 weeks of medicine
- Leash, harness and a carrier or crate: 1 per animal
- A recent photo of you with each pet: 1, in the kit and on your phone
- Litter and tray, or bags for waste: several days
- Collar tag with your phone number
- Microchip registered to your current details
Step by step
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Pack a pet kit
Put food, water, bowls, medicines, records, a leash and waste supplies in one bin next to your own kit. Add a favorite toy or blanket to calm them.
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Find a place that takes animals
List pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation routes, friends or family outside the area who can host, and boarding kennels or vets. Ask your local emergency office whether any shelters accept pets.
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Agree on a backup
Ask a neighbor you trust to collect your pets if a disaster hits while you are away, and give them a key and the kit's location.
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Take them with you
If you leave, take your pets. Bring them inside early when a storm is coming, because frightened animals hide or run.
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Watch them afterwards
Keep pets leashed or carried after a disaster. Familiar smells and landmarks may be gone, and fallen wires, debris and floodwater are dangers to them.
The numbers
| What | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pet food | At least 3 days, up to 2 weeks |
| Water per pet | 3 days or more |
| Medicine | 2 weeks |
| Leash, harness and carrier | 1 per animal |
| Medicine date check | Every 6 months |
Ready.gov, Pets
Stay safe
- Never leave a pet tied up outside during a storm or flood.
- Keep pets away from floodwater, downed power lines and debris.
When you're done
| Result | A grab-and-go pet kit, tagged and chipped animals, and a list of places that will take them. |
|---|---|
| Keep it ready | Rotate the pet food and water when you rotate your own, and check medicine dates every six months. |
Questions people ask
What goes in a pet emergency kit?
Food in a sealed container and water for at least 3 days, 2 weeks of medicine, copies of vet records, a leash and a carrier, and litter or waste bags. Add a favorite toy or blanket to calm them.
Where do you take pets during an evacuation?
Many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside, so list pet-friendly hotels on your routes, friends or family outside the area, and kennels or vets. Ask your local emergency office which shelters accept animals.
Should you take your pets when you evacuate?
Yes. If local officials ask you to evacuate, your pet should go too, because pets left behind can end up lost or injured.
Sources
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