Pets and animals are impacted by emergencies. It is critical to include their needs in your family’s preparedness efforts. Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling an emergency supply kit for yourself, your family and your pets, is the same regardless of the type of emergency. Always remember that any first aid administered to your pet should be followed by immediate veterinary care. First aid care is not a substitute for veterinary care, but it may save your pet's life until it receives veterinary treatment.
Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies
Makes Sense. Get Ready Now.
Your Family Emergency Plan should outline what you will do with your pets if you have to evacuate. Since you will not know how long you will be gone, you must take your pets with you. When you go, they go! If you are going to a public shelter, pets may not be allowed, so it is important to plan where you will go in advance.
Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.
Talk to your pet’s veterinarian about emergency planning. Discuss the types of things you should include
in your pet’s emergency first aid kit. Get the names of vets or veterinary hospitals in other cities where you might
need to seek temporary shelter. Also talk with your veterinarian about microchipping. If you and your pet are
separated, this permanent implant for your pet and corresponding enrollment in a recovery database can help a
veterinarian or shelter identify your animal. If your pet is microchipped, keeping your emergency contact informa-
tion up to date and listed with a reliable recovery database is essential to you and your pet being reunited.
8 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Dog in the Summer
- Never, ever leave your dog in the car;
- Make sure your dog has unlimited access to fresh water;
- Make sure your dog has access to shade when outside;
- Take walks during the cooler hours of the day;
- When walking, try to stay off of hot surfaces (like asphalt) because it can burn your dog's paws;
- If you think it is hot outside, it is even hotter for your pet – make sure your pet has a means of cooling off;
- Keep your dog free of external parasites (fleas, ticks) and heartworms – consult your veterinarian about the best product for your pet;
- Consider clipping or shaving dogs with long coats (talk to your veterinarian first to see if it is appropriate for your pet), and apply sunscreen to your dog's skin if she or he has a thin coat.
Video: Get Prepared with Bo and Sunny
Tornado | Rain and Floods | Earthquakes | Lightning | Volcanoes | Winter Storm
EPAP for Patients - phe.gov
The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program, or EPAP, helps people in a federally-identified disaster area who do not have health insurance get the prescription drugs, vaccinations, medical supplies, and equipment that they need. This program helps people and communities better cope with a disaster and reduces stress on the healthcare system.
People who are eligible for EPAP can file a claim at more than 72,000 retail pharmacies across the United States and its territories for prescription items that were lost, stolen, or destroyed because of a disaster.
If you have questions about using EPAP during a disaster, call the EPAP Hotline at 1-855-793-7470.
Extra Measures for People with Special Needs
- Write down your specific needs, limitations, capabilities, and medications. Keep this list near you always–perhaps in your purse or wallet.
- Find someone nearby (a spouse, roommate, friend, neighbor, relative, or co-worker) who will agree to assist you in case of an emergency. Give him or her a copy of your list. You may also want to provide a spare key to your home, or directions to find a key.
- Keep aware of weather conditions through whatever means are accessible to you. Some options are closed captioning or scrolled warnings on TV, radio bulletins, or call-in weather information lines.
Disaster Safety Plans
Download Emergency Preparedness Checklist
A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.
Make sure your emergency kit is stocked with the items on the checklist below. Most of the items are inexpensive and easy to find, and any one of them could save your life. Headed to the store? Download a printable version to take with you. Once you take a look at the basic items, consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets, or seniors.
Checklist on Emergency Preparedness
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Danger Rangers
Seven animal heroes called the "Danger Rangers," their robot Fallbot, and their artificial intelligence called SAVO teach children about safety through examples, such as environmental hazards and unsafe places.