CREATE AN EVACUATION PLAN FOR YOUR PETS

An evacuation plan is necessary for every home, especially if you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters are possible. Many homeowners create evacuation plans for their homes and practice them with their kids, but fewer have considered one for their pets. Take these steps to add your pets to your evacuation plan.

Assign pet evacuation to an adult. Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation, including assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence.

Keep evacuation maps and pet carriers readily accessible. If you need to evacuate, you should know precisely where every essential item is. If your pets require carriers, keep them in a place you can access easily.

Practice your plan. Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window may not be as simple as you think!

Be prepared in case you get separated from your pets. No matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, a dog or cat may run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to the area.