National Preparedness Month reminds everyone to have disaster plan

Published on September 09, 2025

September is National Preparedness Month, and this year’s theme, "Preparedness Starts at Home," focuses on the basics of being ready when disaster strikes.

Keeping with this year’s theme, the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) identified four key actions individuals can take to prepare for any disaster:

Know the risk: Determine the kinds of disasters that could occur in your area, whether hurricanes, wildfires, or a factory explosion. Explore various disasters and emergencies on Ready.gov.
Make a family emergency plan: Disasters are costly but preparing for them doesn’t have to be. Create a free Family Emergency Plan or learn more about low and no-cost tips on how to be better prepared without spending a lot of money.
Build an emergency supply kit: Having enough food, water, and medicine can help people stay safe and comfortable until help arrives. Build a go-bag with all the essentials to help prevent making an evacuation situation that much more stressful.

Get involved: take a first-aid class or online independent study course through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute. Another option is to join a community emergency response team program and get trained in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, search and rescue, and team organization.

“Preparedness Starts at Home” is the theme of September’s National Preparedness Month.

For veterinary professionals, the AVMA Disaster Business Continuity Certificate Program provides information on creating a preparedness plan for your business. It consists of three modules aimed at making your business more resilient to any potential disruption.

Additionally, the AVMA Veterinary First Responder Certificate Program is a resource for veterinarians and veterinary students that offers pre-evaluated courses on disaster and emergency response, verifying that participants satisfy all core competencies required to respond efficiently and effectively to disasters.

Certified members of the program can allow the AVMA to provide their contact information to state agencies that may call on them during an emergency event.

Further, the Association offers disaster preparedness guides that veterinarians and veterinary technicians can give to pet owners and farmers on safeguarding their animals in the event of extreme weather events or human-made disasters.

"Save the Whole Family: Disaster Preparedness for Households with Pets" is a free, downloadable booklet filled with tips, checklists, and information for companion animal owners in English or Spanish.

Both the English and Spanish-language guides direct pet owners through making a plan, preparing to execute that plan, and staying informed before, during, and after an emergency.

The guides also advise pet owners to consider transportation options, necessary equipment to have on hand, and emergency contacts in case of a disaster or evacuation.

The AVMA has also published "Small Farm Preparedness: Disaster Preparedness for Owners of Farm Animals" with steps for safeguarding horses, poultry, and other farm animals in an emergency or natural disaster. The guide is also available in Spanish (Preparación para Granjas Pequeñas).

For owners separated from their animals during an emergency, there are tips for ensuring caretakers have the information they would need in case of a disaster and to increase the chances of being reunited with lost animals.

In addition to the full guide, several of the resources within it also are available as standalone handouts for veterinary clients:

Evacuation kit checklist: Horses and livestock (English and Spanish)
Evacuation kit checklist: Rabbits and poultry (English and Spanish)

Additional information about disaster planning and preparedness for animals can be found on Ready.gov. The AVMA offers further online resources on disaster planning for practices and clients.