Pets and disasters

Two men sit on a gym floor with their dogs in a disaster evacuation situation

Disasters can vary widely in scale, severity, and impact. No matter where you live, disasters and emergencies can and will occur. By being prepared with a disaster plan, you are helping advance your safety, the safety of your animals, and that of first responders.
Being prepared means:

Making a disaster plan for your family and pets
Preparing everything you need to execute that plan—such as putting together an evacuation kit for every member of your household (including all pets)
Staying informed about local animal disaster plans

Preparing for disaster

Considerations when making your disaster plan:

Locate and pre-arrange an evacuation site that would be outside the impacted area.
Know how you plan to transport your pets during an evacuation event, and practice evacuating with all pets and their supplies.
Assemble an animal evacuation kit. Keep animal equipment where rescue personnel, neighbors, and friends can easily find it.
Collect records to help care for your pet during a disaster, such as vaccination records, medical records, and proof of ownership, and know how to access them.
Consider including a signed veterinary medical treatment authorization with your evacuation kit. This will help your veterinarian provide care if your pet must be treated during your absence.
Designate a friend or neighbor to care for your pets in the event a disaster occurs when you are not at home.
Provide your friend or neighbor a letter signed by you that will release them from responsibility if a pet is injured during an evacuation and that tells them the location of your evacuation kit.
Be ready to reunite in case you are separated from your pet. Ensure your pet has proper identification and that microchip and other ID information is up to date.

Remember: Bring all pets indoors at the first sign of a potential disaster situation so all pets are accounted for if you need to evacuate.

Find all these tips and more in AVMA's Save the Whole Family disaster preparedness guide (also in Spanish: Salvar a Toda la Familia).

Packing your evacuation kit

Be prepared for a disaster with a pet evacuation kit. Assemble the kit well in advance of any emergency and store in an easy-to-carry, waterproof container close to an exit.

Food and medicine

3-7 days' worth of food*
Hand-operated can opener for canned food
Two-week supply of medicine*
At least 7 days' supply of water
Collapsible feeding dish and water bowl
Liquid dish soap

*These items must be rotated and replaced to ensure they don't expire

First aid kit

Antibiotic ointment
Bandage tape and scissors
Cotton bandage rolls
Flea and tick prevention
Isopropyl alcohol/alcohol prep pads
Latex gloves
Saline solution
Towel and washcloth
Tweezers

See all first aid kit tips.

Sanitation

Litter, litter pan, and scoop (shirt box with plastic bag works well for pan)
Dog poop disposal bags
Newspaper, paper towels, and trash bags
Household chlorine beach or disinfectant

Important documents

Identification papers including proof of ownership and microchip number, if applicable
Medical records and medication instructions
Emergency contact cards, including veterinarian and pharmacy
Photo of your pet (preferably with you)

Travel supplies

Crate or pet carrier labeled with your contact information
Extra collar/harness with ID tags and leash
Flashlight, extra batteries
Muzzle

Comfort items

Favorite toys and treats
Extra blanket or familiar bedding

Download a printable version of this checklist (also in Spanish: Kit de evacuaci ón para mascotas).

Making your emergency contact list

Prepare your emergency contact list now, before disaster strikes. You may need it during a disaster or while evacuating, and rescue personnel responding to a disaster affecting your pets may need it, too. Keep a copy with your evacuation kit.

Include addresses and 24-hour contact numbers, if available. If you use the Medical ID function on your mobile device, be sure one of the contacts is aware of your pet disaster plan.

A thorough emergency contact list includes:

Numbers where you can be reached
Location of your prearranged evacuation sites
Local emergency contact person if you aren’t available
Out-of-state emergency contact person
Your veterinarian’s name, clinic name, and phone number
Alternate veterinarian (30-90 miles away, provides boarding)
Boarding facility (local)
Boarding facility (30-90 miles away)
Hotels that allow pets (90-mile radius)
Local animal control agency
Local police department
Local fire department
Local public health department
Local Red Cross chapter
List of internet and social media “lost and found” animal sites
Local municipal animal shelter, local humane society, or local society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (SPCA)

Download emergency contact cards for pets and livestock (Spanish and English)

Recovering after a disaster

Follow these tips to help your pets recover after a disaster situation:

Survey the area inside and outside your home to identify sharp objects, dangerous materials, dangerous wildlife, contaminated water, downed power lines, or other hazards.
Examine your animals closely, and contact your veterinarian immediately if you observe injuries or signs of illness.
Remember that familiar scents and landmarks may have changed, and this can confuse your animals.
Release cats, dogs, and other small animals indoors only. They could encounter dangerous wildlife and debris if allowed outside unsupervised and unrestrained.
Release birds and reptiles only if necessary and only when they are calm and in an enclosed room.
Reintroduce food in small servings, gradually working up to full portions if animals have been without food for a prolonged period of time.
Allow uninterrupted rest and sleep to allow animals to recover from the trauma and stress.
The disruption of routine activities can be the biggest cause of stress for your pets, so try to re-establish a normal schedule as quickly as you can.
Comfort each other. The simple act of petting and snuggling can reduce anxiety for both people and pets.
If you notice any signs of stress, discomfort, or illness in your pets, contact your veterinarian to schedule a checkup.

What to do if your animals are lost:

Physically check animal control and animal shelters DAILY for lost animals. Some emergency response agencies may also use social media (Facebook, etc.) to post information about lost and found animals.
Post waterproof lost animal notices and notify local law enforcement, animal care and control officials, veterinarians, and your neighbors of any lost animals (utilize online resources for lost and found animals).
If your animal is lost and has a microchip, notify the microchip registry that your animal is missing.

Disaster resources for veterinarians

AVMA resources help veterinary teams be prepared for any kind of emergency.