CREATE AN EVACUATION PLAN FOR YOUR PETS
An evacuation
plan is a necessity for every home, especially if you live in an area where
fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are a
possibility. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and
practice them with their kids, but far fewer have considered one for their
pets. Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan.
Assign pet evacuation to an adult. Everyone should know how to
act during an evacuation, and that includes assigning one parent or adult to
the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part
of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment
when time is of the essence.
Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily
accessible. If you
need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If you
pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily.
Practice your plan. Include your pets in your
home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make
changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window may not be
as simple as you think!
Be prepared in case you get separated from
your pets. No
matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, it’s possible that a dog or cat
will run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or
a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to
the area.
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