Hurricane Ian: Preparing for evacuation and keeping pets safe and healthy when returning home

(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) September 27, 2022—Millions of men and women in Florida are less than evacuation orders right now as Hurricane Ian bears down on the U.S. mainland, and quite a few of them will be evacuating with their animals.

The American Veterinary Professional medical Association (AVMA) has catastrophe preparedness and recovery resources offered for pet house owners, which include tips on assembling a pet evacuation package, what to do if your pet is lost, and what to do right after a catastrophe. 

Pet evacuation kits

The AVMA advises pet house owners include things like the following in their pet evacuation kits:

• Food stuff and medication
  • 3-7 days’ worthy of of dry and canned (pop-top rated) food*
  • Two-7 days supply of drugs*
  • At minimum 7 days’ offer of drinking water
  • Feeding dish and h2o bowl
  • Liquid dish soap
• First help kit
  • Anti-diarrheal liquid or tablets
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Bandage tape and scissors
  • Cotton bandage rolls
  • Flea and tick prevention (if desired in your area)
  • Isopropyl alcohol/alcohol prep pads
  • Latex gloves
  • Saline remedy
  • Towel and washcloth
  • Tweezers
• Sanitation
  • Litter, litter pan, and scoop (shirt box with plastic bag works very well for pan)
  • Newspaper, paper towels, and trash baggage
  • Household chlorine beach or disinfectant
• Significant files
• Journey materials
  • Crate or pet carrier labeled with your get in touch with facts
  • More collar/harness with ID tags and leash
  • Flashlight, further batteries
  • Muzzle
• Comfort goods
  • Favorite toys and treats
  • More blanket or common bedding

Keep animals safe when returning home

After the storm passes and individuals get ready to return to their residences, the AVMA encourages pet homeowners to take ways to assure the wellbeing and effectively-currently being of their animals, in what could be potentially unsafe or tense environments.

When returning household with pets subsequent a catastrophe, the AVMA endorses the pursuing:

• Study the area within and outside the house your dwelling to identify sharp objects, harmful materials, harmful wildlife, contaminated water, downed electricity traces or other dangers.
• Do not allow pets to roam cost-free outside right until the space is protected for them to do so. They could come across harmful wildlife and particles if authorized exterior unsupervised and unrestrained. In addition, common scents and landmarks may perhaps have altered, and this can confuse your animals.
• Enable uninterrupted rest and sleep to give your animals time to recover from the trauma and strain of the evacuation and disaster.
• The disruption of regime routines can be the largest induce of stress for your animals, so test to re-set up a normal timetable as rapidly as you can.
• Comfort and ease each individual other. The very simple act of petting and snuggling can lower nervousness for each men and women and pets.
• If you see any signs of anxiety, irritation, or illness in your animals, contact your veterinarian to plan a checkup.

For more information and facts on pets and disasters, go to the AVMA web site at avma.org/PetReady.

To discuss with an AVMA specialist about maintaining pets harmless and healthier right before, during, and just after a catastrophe, get hold of Michael San Filippo, AVMA media relations manager, at 847-732-6194 (cell/text) or msanfilippoavma [dot] org.