Pets and Farm Animals Do you have an emergency plan in case of an earthquake, fire or flood? What will you do with your cats, dogs, turtles, fish, horses, cows, llamas, sheep, pigs, etc.? Below is some information and recommendations to keep you and your animals safe and calm before, during and after a disaster.

Keep a copy of shot records, and the vets phone number with the travel carrier. A photo such as this of Amy and her dog will be helpful if you need to prove that it is yours. Keep a good leash, a blanket and a duplicate favorite toy with the travel carrier. Canned food or the dry 5 or 10 lb. bags can be crammed in any where. Don't forget dishes for food and water. Kayopectate......this sounds odd, but some animals get loose bowels when they are nervous. Kayopectate, given expeditiously, can solve some problems. Cats will need a small litter box as well. A large square Rubbermaid^® or similar container works well. While this may be a bit crammed they will use it. Birds and many dogs seem to travel better in darkened carriers. Cats however may become more active in the dark.

Take water for your pet. If there is a change in water source, mix the water over time. Start with 1/4 "new" and 3/4 "original" water for a few days. Then go to half-and-half, followed by 3/4 and 1/4 to transition to 100% "new" water. Remember to do this again when going home.

Please don't leave your pets locked in the house or chained to a post if there is flooding or fire and you are evacuating. You could drown them. Or if in a high burn area, they could burn with the house.

Little Critters and Thing:
Pet Reptiles, Turtles, Snakes and Lizards, Tarantulas, Crickets, Ant Farms and insects travel well in plastic (not glass - breaking cause cuts and allow escapes) containers which have had time or treatment to remove the chemical smell. They present few problems in that they do not need much space for themselves or their food. The larger concern for these is sudden changes of temperature and direct sun, or sun shining through class onto them. Once in their temporary location, resume normal feeding and provide water brought with you. Contact a herpetologist or large pet store for more information.

Fish:
Tupperware^® like containers may be used to transport them with you in case you need to flee your home. There are battery operated air pumps and air-stones available at many sporting goods stores. If you take them be sure to take their food an extra container for them and whatever water treatment chemicals you need to change their water.

Birds:
Most "House Birds" may be transported in their own cage. "Yard Birds" may also be carried in cages. Take care not to mix aggressive birds in the same cage or to have too many together. If you need to move a lot of birds, old socks may be used. Cut a head hole, put them into the sock. This keeps them from trying to fly or walk. You have them in a kind of straight jacket.

In cold weather, wrap a blanket over the carrier and warm up the car before placing birds inside. During warm weather, carry a plant mister to mist the birds' feathers periodically. Have a photo for identification and list of leg bands ID's. Try to keep the carrier in a quiet area. Do not let the birds out of the cage or carrier.

If you must leave animals behind:
Post a highly visible sign (either on a window or a door) letting rescue workers know the breed and amount of animals which remain. Leave plenty of food and water in an adequate container that cannot be tipped over. Place extra food close to the animals so rescue workers may feed them daily. Do not tie the animals or leave them confined in an area that may be easily destroyed. Loose animals on roads or highways can be easily injured and interfere with emergency rescue vehicles, so the animals should be directed towards a safer area such as a pasture.

If your animals become lost:
Call or visit the nearest animal shelter or emergency command post. When deemed safe, return to your neighborhood to post and distribute lost animal posters, which include your name, address, phone number and a picture of the animal. Animals may stay hidden for weeks, so be patient and continue searching your area.

If you find a lost animal:
Please notify the local animal shelter as soon as possible and be prepared to give a full description of the animal (e.g., color, breed, sex) and its location. Remember that sick and/or injured animals can become unpredictable from the stress of injury, and should be handled by a professional familiar with proper handling techniques.

Barnyard Safety:
Your personal safety and that of those around you should always be your first concern. A pre-determined plan will help you remain calm and think clearly. Remember to communicate and cooperate with all emergency personnel. If you must leave the premises, let someone know where you are going. Try to remain in contact with that person.

Open all gates in order to allow the animals to seek shelter and move to higher ground. Many are lost because they are locked in. Cows are usually left to pasture. Anyone with a cow has pasture and it is out there. They must not tied nor left dragging a rope which may become tangled.

After an event has occurred, do not give up hope of finding your pet if not found in a few days. In California fires a few years ago, people had to leave their animals (dogs, cats, etc.,) out the door to fend for themselves because they couldn't take them with them. Some came back immediately, others after several days or even weeks had past. Going often to the shelters is a very important thing to do. When an animal is found, it is taken to nearest shelter which has space for it. That may be quite far away! Look every day for your animal at each of the shelters. The mostly volunteer staff at the animal shelter may not be in communication with the other facilities. Often good inter-shelter communication has not have been established. You can help in this effort by caring lists of found animals, donating and delivering food and have to them or other things while in crises.

Develop Barn Safety and Evacuation Plans:
Outline each type of disaster and determine scenarios suited for each situation. List your resources such as trucks, trailers, pasture and feed which might be needed in an evacuation. Designated person who will unlock gates and doors and make your facility easily accessible to emergency personnel.
        · Get to know your neighbors and their animals.
        · Post your plan in clearly visible places.
        · Familiarize those who lives, works, or boards animals with your plan.
        · Arrange for someone to assist should a disaster occur when you are not at home.
        · Learn to handle your neighbors' animals.
        · Identify those which have special handling needs.
        · Post updated phone lists (home and office) of all neighbors and anyone who boards at your facility.

Food and Water:
Water should ALWAYS be available to all animals. Animals (except birds), like people, can go extended periods of time without food, but can only last a couple of days at the most without water. Here are some approximate adult animal daily food needs. Sources of feed should be identified before a disaster.
In general most herbivorous animals eat approximately 1-2% of their body weight in some form of “roughage" (hay or hay-like products, pellets, cubes, hay, etc.,).

What can you do to help?
Help organize a neighborhood rescue group.
Join an animal rescue team and learn techniques to aid animals during a disaster.

Get your Veterinarian involved.
Join the Animal Rescue Kouncil (ARK)by calling (415) 883-4621, ext. 209. Prepare yourself and your family.

The following members of the REAL family offered help during Hurricane Floyd:
TONIDEAN@aol.com Toni in Columbus, Ga.
kernicksk1@aol.com Stephanie in ?
VHeard5100@aol.com Virginia in Power Springs, GA
Use the Feedback Form to send your name and city if you would like to be added to this list

Disaster Preparedness Plan for Large Animals
Do you have an emergency plan in case of an earthquake, fire or flood? What will you do with your horses, cows, llamas, sheep, pigs, etc.? Listed below are the Animal Rescue Kouncil's (ARK) recommendations to keep you and your animals safe and calm before, during and after a disaster.

Before Disaster Strikes: Be Prepared!
        · Reduce Hazards
        · Maintain a firebreak around all buildings.
        · Mow weeds and trim trees which reside close to any buildings.
        · Regularly clean roofs and gutters.
        · Repair exposed wires, rotten supports and blocked waterways.
        · Post No Smoking signs.
        · Clearly label all shut-offs.
        · Store combustibles such as hay, straw, wood, shavings and/or gasoline away from animal barns.
        · Remove overhanging trees that may fall on animals or buildings.
        · Keep an adequate water source near your animals.

Identify your pet.
Keep animal vaccinations current and photographs, papers and other identifying documents in a safe and easily accessible location. Brand, tag, freeze marking, tattoo or implant your animals with a permanent Microchip ID.

Prepare a Pet Disaster Kit.
Disaster preparedness depends on emergency equipment, knowing where it is stored, how to use it, and keeping it easily accessible. Your facility should be equipped with ladder(s) long enough to reach the roof, cotton ropes, shovels, rakes, water buckets, flashlights or lanterns, blankets and a minimum of 100 feet of hose. Restraining equipment such as cotton halters, cotton lead ropes, collars, whips, hot shot, hog snares, blindfolds, fence panels and hot wire kits may be appropriate depending on your animals. Keep an adequately stocked portable first-aid kit and a battery powered radio ready at all times.

Some fine sources of information are:

• Disaster Preparedness and Recovery - Animals by the Department of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering, O.S.U Extension, at The Ohio State University.
• Barnyard Animal Rescue Plan.
• American Red Cross -- Pets and Disaster: Get Prepared now for the day when you and your pets may have to leave your home.
• FEMA for Kids has your portable pet disaster kit!
• New Jersey Department of Agriculture tells how to Help Your Pet Survive a Disaster.
• Disaster Guidelines for Dog and Cat Owners provided by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.

Personal Preparedness (Start Page)	General Home Safety
Fire in the home	Earthquakes
Tsunamis	Landslides
Volcanos	Hurricanes - Coastal Hazards
Floods	Wildfire
Medical Emergencies	Snow, Cold and Avalanche
Tornadoes, Thunderstorms, Wind and Lightning	Y2K - How special is the year 2000?
E-Mail Lists, Newsletters, Discussion Groups	Y 2 K - The Problem And Your Options
Business Disaster Planning	Mental Health During Disasters
Clean up and Recovery	Community Involvement
Your Pets and animals	Personal accounts of experiences
Our Checklists:
Perminate list -- for the house	In the car
Ready for anything	Emergency Supplies -- until help can arrive.
Evacuation List of what you should take with you to a shelter.	Personal Needs for each person -- including medicines.