Emergency Preparedness Kit

The following should be in your Pet Disaster Preparedness Kit:

1. Emergency Contact Info (incl. your Vet’s info).
2. Portable radio and extra batteries (Listen to EAS, Emergency Alert System)
3. Pet carrier or portable cage for each pet.
4. One week’s supply of dry food and water
5. Non-spill food and water bowls
6. Medications, dosing instructions and medical records in waterproof containers.
7. Pet first-aid book and kit appropriate for each type pet.
8. Vaccination and medical records (may not be able to board them without this).
9. Newspaper, paper towels and towlettes.
10. Plastic bags for waste disposal, cleanser and disinfectants.
11. Current photo of each pet (may be necessary to reclaim or find pet).
12. Your birds should have a leg ring with I.D. Bring adhesive tape to write temporary address and phone on tags. Use spray paint or fingernail polish to write on the side of the animal if you have nothing else.
13. Votive candle and water-proof matches.
14. Flashlights and extra batteries.
15. Blanket (to carry injured animal, cover bird cage if cold, etc.).
16. In hot weather, carry a plant mister to cool down birds.  Use our Cuddle Blanket before the disaster to get your pet’s scent on it - it will give him great comfort.  If you must leave him at a facility, rub your hands on it to add your scent as well.  This is also a great blanket to cover a bird cage to keep warmer and less frightening.
17. Cash, credit card and your drivers’ license—be sure it has your current address or you may not be allowed to return to your home to retrieve your pets.
18. Tranquilizers, if possible.
19. Book or list of motels that accept pets; fairgrounds have stalls for livestock; ask feed stores for contact info for helpful ranchers for horses
20. Toys to distract them (they are even more terrified than you are).
21. Good walking shoes for you, layered clothes including hooded Gortex jacket, cell phone and address book, your medicines, your food and water and perhaps a tent and camp stove, and some form of protection.
22. Be sure your car/van is full of gas and that it can hold all your crates, cages and pets.
23. Be sure you have Bleach to purify water.  (Use only household liquid bleach to kill micro-organisms.  Use bleach that contains 5.25% sodium hypochlorite—Don’t use scented bleaches, color-safe bleaches or bleaches with added cleaners.)  Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water; stir and let stand for 30 minutes.  If the water doesn’t have a slight bleach odor, repeat the dosage and let stand another 15 minutes.  If you can boil water, it is the safer way to purify it—bring water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes.