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: Disaster Pet Preparedness and Saving the Whole Family
Build a Kit
Include basic survival items and items to keep your pet happy and comfortable.
- Food. At least a three-day supply in an airtight, waterproof container.
- Water. At least three-day supply of water specifically for your pets.
- Medicines and medical records.
- Important documents. Registration information, adoption papers and vaccination documents. Talk to your veterinarian about microchipping and enrolling your pet in a recovery database.
- First aid kit. Cotton bandage rolls, bandage tape and scissors; antibiotic ointment; flea and tick prevention; latex gloves, isopropyl alcohol and saline solution. Including a pet first aid reference book is a good idea too.
- Collar or harness with ID tag, rabies tag and a leash.
- Crate or pet carrier. Have a sturdy, safe crate or carrier in case you need to evacuate. The carrier should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn around and lie down.
- Sanitation. Pet litter and litter box if appropriate, newspapers, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach.
- A picture of you and your pet together. If you become separated, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you. Add species, breed, age, sex, color and distinguishing characteristics.
- Familiar items. Familiar items, such as treats, toys and bedding can help reduce stress for your pet.
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
Basic Disaster Supplies Kit
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
A Family Communication Plan A Family Communication Plan - Spanish Version All-Hazards Preparedness Guide Backpack Emergency Card Backpack Emergency Card - Spanish Version Emergency Kit Checklist Emergency Kit Checklist - Spanish Version Family Communication Plan Template Pet Emergency Kit Pet Emergency Kit - Spanish Version Additional Emergency Supplies
Consider adding the following items to your emergency supply kit based on your individual needs:
- Prescription medications
- Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
- Glasses and contact lenses solution
- Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream
- Pet food and extra water for your pet
- Cash or traveler's checks
- Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records saved electronically or in a waterproof, portable container
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
- Complete change of clothing appropriate for your climate and sturdy shoes
- Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper to disinfect water
- Fire extinguisher
- Matches in a waterproof container
- Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
- Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
- Paper and pencil
- Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children
Maintaining Your Kit
After assembling your kit remember to maintain it so it’s ready when needed:
- Keep canned food in a cool, dry place
- Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers
- Replace expired items as needed
- Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family’s needs change.
Kit Storage Locations
Since you do not know where you will be when an emergency occurs, prepare supplies for home, work and vehicles.
- Home: Keep this kit in a designated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is kept.
- Work: Be prepared to shelter at work for at least 24 hours. Your work kit should include food, water and other necessities like medicines, as well as comfortable walking shoes, stored in a “grab and go” case.
- Vehicle: In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car.
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Public Downloads - Español (Spanish)
When available, we provide all our content with a Spanish version in our public download section. You can find additional material from sources listed in all our articles.
Educational Materials
Download Emergency Preparedness, People with Special Needs, Ready Wrigley, Natural Disasters and Severe Weather Activities
Download People with Special Needs Preparedness Planning Steps, Activities and Videos
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Educational materials in 23 different languages, including American Sign Language (ASL).
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100-Year Flood It's All About Chance 2-1-1 An Easy-to-remember Three-digit Number to Obtain Free Services and Resources 4 Seasons of Safety Tour 911 Call for Emergency Learning and Safety Activity Book A First Priority Evacuation Order Checklist Air Conditioned Shelter Emergency Evacutation or Use of Cooling Centers Air Filtration - Wildfire Smoke Factsheet - Indoors All-Hazards Preparedness Guide Alternatives to N95 Respirators and Understanding the Difference Child Safety Coloring and Activity Book DIY Face Mask Template and Easy and Quick Making a Mask_(Optimized) Emergency Financial First Aid Kit Emergency Financial First Aid Kit - Spanish Emergency Prescription Assistance Program and Medical Equipment in a Disaster Area Emergency Prescription Assistance Program and Medical Equipment in a Disaster Area - Spanish Emergency Prescription Assistance Program and Medical Equipment in a Disaster Area Infographic Emergency Prescription Assistance Program and Medical Equipment in a Disaster Area Infographic - Spanish Emergency Safeguarding Your Valuables Facilitator Activity Guide Emergency Savings Fitness Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future FAQ What is a Watch How to Use a Portable Fire Extinguisher Training Video Kids Injury Prevention and Safety Activity Book National Park Service Definitions for Fire and Wildfire Parents Prevent Lead Poisoning for Kids Coloring Book Saving the Whole Family Animal Disaster Preparedness Saving the Whole Family Animal Disaster Preparedness - Spanish What You Need to Know About EPAP Emergency Prescription Assistance Program and Medical Equipment What You Need to Know About EPAP Emergency Prescription Assistance Program and Medical Equipment - Spanish World Disaster And Emergency Preparedness Activity Guide Download Emergency Learning Videos
3 Steps to Prepare Your Finances for Natural Disasters 5 Weird Disasters in 60 Seconds 8 Tips to Cleanup Mold 8 Tips to Cleanup Mold - Spanish Don't Wait Emergency Preparedness. Electrical Fire Safety Emergency Operations Center Emergency Preparedness Video Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities Family Communications Plan and Emergency Kit Food Safety Video Have Two Ways Out Fire Safety - Preparedness Animated Video Health Sector Resilience Important Things To Know Before a Disaster Introduction to the Public Health Preparedness Capabilities PHEP 102 - Overview of the Capabilities-Based Approach Preparing for Disasters and Important Documents IRS Video Prepping A Go Bag With Supplies In Case Of An Emergency It is Scary Simple Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Recipe for Preparedness – Trick-or-Treat Severe Weather Preparedness Stay a Float in Flooding Tips to Prepare Steps to Recover Financially from a Natural Disaster We Prepare Everyday - Open Caption and Interpreter Preparedness Video Playlist: 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.
The Great Race
Worley the Weasel and his badger friends want to hold a secret race. Find out who wins this great race and how the Danger Rangers leap ...
