Pets: After a Disaster

• If after a disaster you have to leave town, take your pets with you. Pets are unlikely to survive on their own.
• In the first few days after the disaster, leash your pets when they go outside. Always maintain close contact. Familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and your pet may become confused and lost. Also, snakes and other dangerous animals may be brought into the area with flood areas. Downed power lines are a hazard.
• The behavior of your pets may change after an emergency. Normally quiet and friendly pets may become aggressive or defensive. Watch animals closely. Leash dogs and place them in a fenced yard with access to shelter and water.

All information above is from the FEMA website.

For more information and resources on Pet Preparedness, please visit the web sites below.

US Department of Homeland Security – FEMA
http://www.fema.gov/

The Humane Society of the United States
http://www.humanesociety.org/

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
http://www.aspca.org/

Ready Gov
http://www.ready.gov/