The Atlantic hurricane season is active from June through November. Advance disaster planning for your family, including pets, is crucial to minimize panic and consequences, should a storm strike your area. This checklist will help you prepare.
Download a printable Hurricane Checklist for Companion Animals
Medical records: Ensure that your pet’s core vaccines are up-to-date.
- Digitize health records, including medical history, vaccine history and certificates, and store in a device you will take with you or have paper copies stored in your “go-bag.”
- Prepare an emergency contact list (to include veterinarian and backup caregiver).
Identification: Ensure each animal is wearing a collar and identification tag with owner’s name and phone number, at a minimum.
- Consider microchipping your pets if they are not already. If they are microchipped, revisit your registration to ensure owner contact information is current.
- Have photos of your pet available on a device you plan to take with you.
Security and Comfort
- Acclimate pets to housing in crates
- Have one sturdy carrier or crate available for each pet. The animal should be able to comfortably stand, turn around and lie down.
- Toys, leash, collar, waste bags, harness, muzzle, bedding, bowls, litter, etc.
- Disinfectant spray/wipes, paper towels.
Water: One ounce of water per pound of body weight daily (approximately a half to whole gallon per cat or dog per day). Plan for a 7-day supply.
Food: Store 7 days’ worth of each pet’s food & treats in watertight containers. If your pet is on a specialty diet, consider storing up to a month’s supply. Include a manual can opener for canned foods.
Medications: Have a list of medications and doses.
- Ensure any necessary medications are filled ahead of Hurricane Season. It is recommended to maintain a 7-day supply throughout the season.
- Consider extra refills ahead of an impending storm (all meds, flea, tick, heartworm prevention & sedatives/anxiolytics).
- Plan for refrigeration/cooling of medications that require refrigeration.
Emergency First Aid Kit
- Bandages (self-adhesive vet wrap, gauze pads in a variety of sizes, gauze rolls)
- Antiseptics and topical antibiotic ointments
- Scissors and tweezers
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Clean towel
- Cotton swabs
- Styptic powder/cornstarch
Evacuation: If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND.
- Know your area’s evacuation zone and follow local announcements on the opening of shelters. Pet-friendly shelters should be available in your area and have specific rules to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety.
- As part of your pre‑evacuation planning, identify hotels along your evacuation route that accept pets. Contact these hotels in advance to confirm their pet policies, including restrictions on species, size, number of animals, and any required documentation. Ask whether they are willing to waive “no‑pet” policies during emergencies. Keep an updated list of confirmed pet‑friendly locations along with phone numbers and addresses.
- If your evacuation plan includes a friend’s or relative’s home outside the affected area, confirm ahead of time whether they can accommodate your pet(s).
Evacuating with Other Pets
- Rabbits and rodents: Prepare a travel crate with fresh bedding, 7 days of stored food, and any medications or other essentials.
- Reptiles: Have a carrier or small container ready for travel. Snakes can be transported via pillowcase but must be transferred to more secure housing at the destination. Be prepared with 7 days of food and any other essentials.
- Fish and other aquatics: Most fish can be transported in large, fish-safe, plastic bags or 5-gallon plastic buckets. Fill only a third of the bag with water and the rest with air, and buckets should have a hole with a lid for a portable aerator. Stressed fish will not eat, so be prepared to slowly reintroduce food 24 hours after arriving at your destination.
- Birds: Transport in a hard-sided carrier for safety and transfer to a cage at the destination. Have at least two weeks of food stored.
