Disaster Preparation for your animal(s)
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Sloshing through the flooded streets of New Orleans, USA in 95 degree heat and intense humidity, an IFAW Animal Rescue team goes door-to-door in search of lost and abandoned pets from Hurricane Katrina in the late summer of 2005.
Dressed in a royal blue and black dry suit and yellow life vest, IFAW rescue workers pulled a Zodiac through the dark brown floodwater, which ranged from six inches to four feet deep. The smell of the contaminated water, full of sewage, human waste, and oil, was overwhelming.
An eerie silence was broken by the distant sound of dogs barking, trapped in attics or rooftops for days without food or water. The teams approached the animals carefully, but most of the stranded pets were happy to see them. You could almost see the joy in their eyes that somebody was finally here to rescue them.
Minutes after a disaster strikes, you, your family, and your pets may need to leave home. Be prepared
…stay safe…and plan ahead.
Download Disaster Preparation Tips for You and Your Pets
In any disaster, emergency planning can save lives. Be sure to include your companion animals in your plans — they depend on you for protection. To stay safe, you’ll need a Family Disaster Plan, an Emergency Contact List, and a Pet Survival Kit. Use the Disaster Preparation Tips Checklist to be prepared.
IFAW and other animal rescue organizations are committed to helping wild and domestic animals at risk from disasters, but you are your pet’s most important lifeline. Be prepared!
Sincerely,
Fred O’Regan
President and CEO
