Pets Need Disaster Plan Too
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Pet Column for the week of May 15, 2000
Office of Public Engagement
2001 S. Lincoln Ave.
Urbana, Illinois 61802
Phone: 217/333-2907
By Carrie Gustavson
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine
"Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," says Dorothy, in the classic movie. But the
gentle twister that carried Dorothy and Toto to Oz doesn't compare to the one that ripped
the roof off Dr. Jo Ann Eurell's home in April 1996.
"It was very scary and happened very fast. I came close to losing my life that night," says
Dr. Eurell, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in
Urbana, who huddled in an interior bathroom with her three dogs while the tornado tore
through her home.
Dr. Eurell considers herself very lucky. "I was caught unprepared. I had no leashes and no
way to handle my dogs once the house was damaged. I'd encourage people to be prepared
with a disaster kit and a disaster plan for yourself and your pets," she says.
Coincidentally on the same April date as the 1996 tornado, Champaign-Urbana's sirens
rang out the first tornado warning of 2000. For those of us caught unprepared, this storm
was a wakeup call to dust off those unused Y2K supplies and add preparations for our
animal companions.
Think about how you will move your pet to safety in an emergency situation -- include
leashes or crates for your cat or dog and a totebag carrier or sturdy, lightweight container
for your bird, ferret, or rabbit. Dr. Eurell recommends keeping food and bottled water in
the kit. "In longer term disasters, you need to be prepared with food, water, and
medications for your pets."
In addition, a large blanket or thick quilt will help protect you and your pets from dangerous
flying glass or other debris in a tornado. Learn how to turn off the gas and electricity in your
home, and don't forget to include the proper tools in the kit. Dr. Eurell also suggests a
flashlight, weather radio, and cell phone with charger.
Pet owners may also want to include the book Pet First Aid, available through the Red
Cross. The Red Cross also offers a first aid/CPR class for animals. Contact your local
chapter for more information.
Pets should always wear a collar with the owner's name and phone number. This simple
step can dramatically increase the chances that you will be reunited with Fluffy or Fido if
you are separated in a disaster. On that note, microchipping may be something to consider
for people who lose sleep over just the thought of a lost pet.
Another good idea is to include copies of your dog's and cat's vaccination records. A copy
of your driver's license can be helpful in the event your wallet is lost in the confusion.
The next step is to make sure you pick a safe place for you and your pets to wait out a
tornado warning -- a basement, crawl space, area under a stairway, or interior room
without windows. "If there is a tornado warning and the sirens are blowing, don't wait to
see the tornado to get in your shelter," says Dr. Eurell. "Take the warnings seriously. You
may just twiddle your thumbs because the tornado goes somewhere else -- it may be
wasted time, but it might also save your life and your pets' lives."
Once you are ready for the next tornado, formulate plans for other possible emergencies.
"Fire is another potential problem," says Dr. Eurell. "Is the smoke alarm up and running?
Does the fire department have a way to know there are pets in the house?" Fire safety
stickers let fire crews know what pets might be in your home. They can be a lifesaver for a
pet trapped in a fire.
"Authorities will do their best to rescue pets," says Dr. Eurell. But often, people who
evacuate without their pets later seek to reenter their dwellings to retrieve animals left
behind.
"It can be a very unsafe situation for someone to cross police lines to rescue a pet. If you
are unable to take your pets with you, don't go back in on your own," says Dr. Eurell. "The
police, fire, and emergency personnel are there to make sure the gas lines are off and
dwellings are safe to enter. Once the area is determined to be safe, they will allow access to
the property."
If you travel to or live in other areas of the country, also consider emergency plans in the
event of a hurricane, flood, mudslide, or earthquake. "It is one of those things you don't
want to think about, but it's a good idea to have a plan in place for you and your pets," says
Dr. Eurell.
A significant obstacle that people with animal companions face in disaster situations is the
inability of disaster relief shelters to accommodate people with pets. "That was a dilemma
for me after the tornado," says Dr. Eurell. "I knew my dogs couldn't go to the Red Cross
shelter. But I felt it was important to go there to use the phone and register so that my family
and friends could find me."
Though it may seem unfair to pet owners, disaster relief shelters have good reason to turn
away animals. "Many people are allergic, the animals are highly stressed and may bite, and
if they are not particularly well-socialized, they may fight. It is in the best interest of humans
that pets are not allowed into shelters," says Dr. Eurell.
To help solve this problem, the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA) is
developing a plan to help shelter and care for animals in the event of a disaster. "We are
working on a plan that will allow animals to be housed in other ways and then be reunited
with their owners at the appropriate time, " says Dr. Eurell.
Contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov), ISVMA,
American Red Cross, or your veterinarian for more information on disaster preparedness
for yourself and your pets.