HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN BE PREPARED FOR A DISASTER.

Whether you are preparing for a hurricane, tornado, wildfire, or other natural disaster the basics are the same…for humans and pets. We need the essentials of shelter, food and water to survive. There needs to be a plan in place before you face this situation. You can do one of two things: shelter in place or evacuate.

Shelter in place: In this situation it’s imperative to let someone know you will be remaining. Have crates for your pets as they will be scared. Make sure there is enough food and water for ideally three weeks. It used to be three days that was recommended but in some of the more recent disasters it has become obvious that individuals may be on their own for a long time. Generators will allow you to cook, boil water and create heat or cooling depending on the situation.

Evacuation: Make sure you have a pet-friendly place to go. That could be friends or family, a hotel, or a pet-friendly emergency shelter. If you can’t take your animals, make sure that there is someone you trust prepared to watch them or a boarding facility that will remain staffed throughout the disaster.

Regardless of what you decide to do, you will need some basic things with your pets. Identification, vaccine records, medications, food and water. Identification can be in the form of marked collars, tags with your name/address/phone, or microchips. There are even GPS tags now that can be purchased for your pet and tracked on your smart phone! It would be best to have several forms of identification. Collars and tags are most easily read and might quickly return your pet; however, they can be lost or removed. Microchips and tattoos are permanent means of identification that cannot be altered. They are registered in a database and in power outages may result in slower recovery of information but should reunite you with your beloved family member.

Proof of vaccination is important to keep on hand so that you won’t have to revaccinate and can show proper care in the event there is an incident, such as your pet fear biting someone in a scary situation. Medications to last through the projected duration of the event are important, some moreso than others. Plan ahead. Food and water is imperative and it’s less stressful and easier on your pets if they can maintain the same diet throughout the event. Changing food can result in gastrointestinal problems, distress, and diarrhea.

MAKE SURE YOU CAN CONNECT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO UPDATE YOUR STATUS AND MARK YOURSELF SAFE DURING A STORM.

You can do this through phone calls, text messages, emails and social media.

BE PREPARED:

Ready.Gov 

NOAA

Red Cross 

Additional information on preparing your pets for disasters can be found at these links:

ASPCA

Ready.Gov

HSUS 

PET FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATIONS:

Bring Fido

Pet Friendly Hotels

Pet-Friendly Hotels in the US

PROTECTING YOUR FINANCIAL ASSETS IN A NATURAL DISASTER

With the upcoming hurricane season approaching quickly, time must be dedicated in developing and implementing a Plan to protect your families Financial Assets. Trying to chase down important documents in a crisis only creates additional stress for all concerned. We all put things like this off until the last moment, but it is imperative that it be done with a cool head and with your family involved well before the next crisis occurs.

The Important Documents should include the following:

• Driver’s License and/or Personal Identification, Military ID,
• Passports/Green Card or Naturalization Papers,
• Social Security Cards,
• Health and Medical Insurance Documents, Disabilities Services Documentation,
• Marriage Certificates, a Will and/or Power of Attorney,
• a Deed or Lease to show proof of residence,
• Vehicle Registration / Title / Proof of Insurance,
• Property Insurance and Life Insurance Documents

Other Financial Information should include:

• Bank Accounts for both Checking and Savings,
• Brokerage Accounts & IRA’s,
• A list of all current Credit Cards,
• Health and Medical Insurance Accounts and your Mortgage Company.

Miscellaneous items: an Inventory of Household Items, Backup Computer Files, your List of Telephone Numbers and Contacts for Banks, Insurance Companies, Financial Institutions and your Primary Doctor and Dentist (not Financially related but important obviously).

Most important of all would be CASH in the event your area loses power for several days or weeks.

Banks, Gas Stations, Stores and ATM Machines might be closed due to the lack of power for several days or even weeks. Without electricity nothing will operate. You will not be able to pump gas, use an ATM machine to get cash or even go to the bank. Having Cash in advance is extremely important.

All of these important documents need to be packed in a water proof container during the disaster situation. These are some of the Major Financial Areas you and your family need to address well BEFORE the next crisis comes around the corner.

Additional Resources Supporters Recommend:

Ultimate Guide to Disaster Preparedness on a Budget (recommended by Boy Scout Blake Stevens)

Public Health, Safety, and Emergency Preparedness Information (recommended by Maine student volunteer, Sarah