We've all seen the videos coming out of disaster areas of pets being picked up either by boat or just good Samaritans. So it's important that ahead of time, you stay prepared and make sure your pets are prepared, too.
In the case of a hurricane, there are several days beforehand to prepare. But in any kind of disaster scenario, the Nebraska Humane Society's Pam Wiese recommends always taking your pet with you if you need to evacuate.
"I think the number one thing to think about is taking your pets with you. If you're leaving for an extended period of time, take your pets with you," Wiese says.
While most of the disasters we would face in the Midwest aren't quite as long lasting as a hurricane's effects, the preparations are the same.
"It's a good idea to just have a little go bag, for maybe 3 or 4 days, just to get you through that first 3 or 4 days, because by then, with us if a tornado hits, you're gonna be able to get somewhere that hasn't been affected, and get food and water and be able to shelter your pet," Wiese explains.
Many pet owners think to grab food and water for their pets, but some of the other everyday items get forgotten.
"Right away in that emergency, you're going to need the collar, the leash, the tags, the crate, and the initial litter pan and litter for kitty," Wiese adds.
It is also important for your pet to be wearing a collar with their tags, or at least have them micro-chipped. Wiese says to think of the tags as a seatbelt that provides initial protections, and the microchip as an airbag to add extra protection.
September is national preparedness month, and we're in between some of the severe weather seasons here in Nebraska and Iowa, so it's a great time to get prepared.
