I'm throwing this post together in the midst of preparing for Hurricane Irene, so forgive me if you find any grammar or spelling errors (I usually try to edit those out). I have to say, we were caught unprepared for this storm, but luckily with a Hurricane, you have days to prepare - or flee. The sad thing is, that is not the case with many emergencies, and I really should have been ready. In fact, after the horrors that occurred in Japan, I promised myself that as soon as I had extra time and/or money, I would start gathering items in case I needed to leave my home unexpectedly.
Well, about the only thing I got around to was buying some canned tuna and bottled water.
Had we had an earthquake, (apparently that can happen here), or a tornado, (which are happening more frequently), or a tsunami, (which they still say is highly unlikely for these parts), we wouldn't have the luxury of shopping for three days for supplies and having a beautiful day like today to pick up all the hazards from the back yard. And, not all disasters are made from Mother Nature...man made disasters can occur at any time. Gas leaks, house fires, chemical spills, or even something as bizarre as a vehicle driving through your front porch, can occur at any time, and the truth is, if you are prepared, you will be able to leave your house in a hurry, without worry.
Things you should do to prepare yourself.
Find out where your local emergency shelters are and which ones take animals. And then have a plan B as to where to go - since many of these shelters fill up quickly during a large scale emergency.
Make go bags for you and your animals.
Your bag should include important papers including; homeowners, life & automobile insurance info, copies of your deed, birth & marriage certificates, titles to vehicles, and some cash in small bills. It should also contain a few days worth of clothes & toilitries, wet wipes for sanitation, any medications you take, a first aid kit, enough non-perishable food for at least three days, a non-electric can opener, a flashlight with spare batteries, and if you have enough room left, a blanket.
Your pet's bag should contain at least 3 days of food per animal and any medications they might take. Along with this you should have a muzzle for each dog, as even the best dog in the world has the potential to bite during the stress of an emergency shelter. And you should have your vet records, especially your rabies certificates - many shelters won't allow any animals in without it. It is also a good idea to attach a photo to these records, and jot down any microchip numbers, and medication instructions in case you should become separated. You should also have portable bowls, and some bedding - or at least a towel for each pet. Finally, you should have a crate for every animal in your home.
That's right - every one of them. MOST shelters will not allow animals without crates. If you have cats, you need one roomy enough for a small litter box, unless you plan to leash walk them, (good luck with that during a stressful emergency).
Finally, you'll need bottled water for you and your pets; you should have three days worth - a good guideline is 1 gallon per day, per person or large dog.
Now that you have all this stuff handy and stored in an easily accessible place, you will be ready to flee at a moment's notice. So make sure to keep your vehicles gas tanks at least 1/2 full at all times, and if you have time to prepare in advance, (such as for a hurricane), fill your tanks to capacity before disaster strikes. Then, while the rest of your area is fighting over that last bottle of water or scurrying to buy the last D battery on the shelf, you'll have time to stay home and play with your dogs, hopefully tiring them out well before the storm - and keeping your own mind worry free.
Hope everyone makes it through Hurricane Irene safely and without too much damage to their belongings. I'll post again - once the power's back on!
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