PREPAREDNESS TIPS FOR PET OWNERS AS HURRICANE ISABEL
NEARS EAST COAST
WASHINGTON (September 15, 2003) - The Humane Society of the United
States (HSUS), the nation's largest animal protection organization, is
urging pet owners in the potential path of Hurricane Isabel to make
plans now to protect their pets.
"Pets are a part of our families too, and we need to prepare immediately
for their safety and well-being. Even though we don't know where Isabel
will hit, it's better to get ready now than to be caught unprepared and
put them at risk." said Anne Culver, director for Disaster Services at
The HSUS.
The HSUS suggests that all pet owners have an emergency supply kit for
their pets. This kit should include:
* A three-day supply of food and water, as well as bowls, cat
litter and litter box, and a manual can opener.
* Current photos and descriptions of your pets to help others
identify them should you and your pets become separated. Pets should
wear up-to-date identification, including the phone number of someone
out of the area in case your pet becomes lost while you're not at home.
* Medications, medical records and a first aid kit stored in a
waterproof container.
* Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and carriers to transport pets safely
as well as blankets or towels for bedding and warmth. Carriers should be
large enough to comfortably house your pet for several hours.
If the need arises to evacuate an area, keep your pet with you. If it
isn't safe for you to stay in the area, it isn't safe for your pets.
Pets that are turned loose or left behind to fend for themselves are
likely to become victims of starvation, predators, contaminated food or
water, accidents, or exposure to the elements.
Many evacuation shelters do not accept pets, so it's best to plan in
advance where you will go. "No Pet" restrictions at hotels and motels
might be lifted in an emergency, so it's best to ask. Check with
friends and family members who live outside your area to see if they can
shelter you or your pets if needed.
For more information on emergency preparedness for your pets visit
www.hsus.org/disaster.


 now alter this and apply it to rats....

I so agree with this.  We dont live in hurricane places.  But where I live, we get tornados.  Its so important to include the pets in your  evacuation plans.  We have a kennel for the cat, tiny kennels for the rats.  Food for us, pets in the car all summer long.   Becouse if the sirens go off, we are out the door.  Of cource, my kids are my main priority.  But, enough warning, I will take the animals with me.  (and have taken them to the shelter)  

It doesnt take much, even a rubbermaid bin with a snap on lid with some holes in it.  just have it on hand for emergencys.  I keep mine in the living room closet all summer long, pack it up in the garage for winter.  

Thanks for the information, kim. I had never thought of this, but I'm going to put a kit together this week. Here in California we're more worried about earthquakes than hurricanes, but the basic necessities are the same. Even though a disaster is unlikely, if one does occur I'll be grateful that I took care of things beforehand.

i'm getting all paranoid about this hurricane and i'm not even near the coast. but we're supposed to get a good bit of wind and rain, not enough to cause major damage, but trees down and power outages, etc.

and i'm figuring, given the way things have been going lately, that i'm bound to get stuck at work.

so i'm getting ready, getting food for me, getting the poodle's meds assembled (she goes with me). i am also going to take odo, the rat i'm having to syringe feed, along to work with me, so if i do get stuck there, he'll still get all the care he needs.

everybody else has to fend for themselves  

Meowy,  I don't know where you are but I'd be doubtful of a 2 day power outage!!  We were in the middle of Hugo near Charlotte, NC at the time and our power was out 9 days!  We were only supposed to get a little wind, HA!  Fran caught my mom in Raleigh and hers was out a week, so I'd be prepared for the worst, then if the worst happens (no matter what they predict) you'll be ready, and if the worst doesn't happen, great!

This will be my first storm a with rattie    Hope things go okay.

Kim, Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention.  We need to be ready!  Hoping we all come through safely!

I just read that it's heading for North Carolina.

And while you're stocking up on food and litter, be sure to fill some jugs with fresh water. You never know when a storm may knock out fresh water supplies further upstream - or if you have an electric pump on your well - or any other bizzarre circumstance may limit your access to fresh water.

Oooh I'll keep you and your sister (and zoo) in my prayers too!!

But think of it this way.. is better that she had gall bladder attack *now* rather than on Thursday during the storm.. (Or whenever it's set to hit you guys).  A friend's sister is also in the hospital, but I'm glad she is there.. so they can care for her rather than worrying that she is home alone and unable to get through 911 if her heart acts up again.

We have unbelievably clear skies the last two days.  The only two days this entire year so far that are so nice.  Not very humid even.  If I wasn't so stressed out, I'd break out my soleil paints and white fabric and have at it, spreading fabric all over the lawn to sun-dry

I might still do that.  I ran out of rooms to clean, laundry to do, dishes to wash.. and I haven't gotten stressed enough to actually wash windows but I'm getting there *laughs*

Heather I know what you mean and I am guilty of not being ready. I consider myself very fortunate that we don't get forest fires, floods, some tornadoes that usually go out on the lake and pass us or go to the north of our city, and also no hurricanes. As I said in a previous post here, the last hurricane we had was 1954. So I am embarassed that I have become so non chalant about thinking it couldn't happen here. The one thing I can say that I am prepared for is family emergencies, like my sister going to hospital. I was totally unprepared for that blackout we had. So no water, no elevator, and no air conditioning. Since then I have bottled water, a battery operated radio, a camp lantern, and TONS of batteries. Also a manual can opener and some food that doesn't need heating or cooking. It just took once to wake me up. I also have extra provisions for my pets like food, bedding and food for the ratties, and pellet diet for my budgies. So thanks everyone for this thread cause if Isabelle gets rowdy up here I think I'm ready for her.  

that's a great idea but i dont think a hurricane while ever hit where i live

I didn't see this til now.  But it's great to post!

I have travel cages by all my cages in case of a fire- they can all be tossed in tiny cages just to get them out of the house.  I'm vulnerable to tornados however, living in a trailer.  Before the hurricane I had enough time to move all caged pets to a solid building so I wouldn't have to evactuate them all if the hurricane had sprouted any tornados.

Anyways- working in a pet store, I was surprised to see the amount of business we did the week before the hurricane- but at the same time I was SO happy to see it.

We sold out of all our travel crates except the huge ones.  Even the wire crates were going out the door. One woman got a huge wire crate for her cat- all because they were evacuating to mom's house, who wouldn't let kitty wander around the house...so kitty got a HUGE crate. I mean bigger than MY dog's crates!

People who usually got 5lbs of food got 20lbs.  Puppy pads were flying off the shelf. (One woman said "If I walk my chihuahua in that storm,