# 5611
Katrina Headed For New Orleans
When Hurricane Katrina took aim at city of New Orleans in 2005, hundreds of thousands of people were told to evacuate on very short notice. Many of these evacuees were pet owners, and they quickly learned that evacuation busses – and most emergency shelters – were unable to accommodate their beloved animals.
For many, this led to an agonizing decision.
To stay and ride out the storm, or leave their pets behind with food and water for a couple of days, and pray they would be allowed to return in that time.
Something that we know, became impossible for most residents.
In the days and weeks that followed the storm, thousands of animals were rescued from miserable conditions by volunteers, such as those working for the North Shore Animal League.
In the wake of the tragic images and heartbreaking stories of loss coming from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita that year, Congress passed what is called the PETS Act, which amends the existing Emergency Assistance and Disaster Relief Act to:
“. . . . ensure that State and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency.
The PETS Act authorizes FEMA to provide rescue, care, shelter, and essential needs for individuals with household pets and service animals, and to the household pets and animals themselves following a major disaster or emergency.” - PETS Act FAQ
Which means that most counties now have some availability of Pet-Friendly emergency shelters . . . but space is always limited, some require advance registration, and not all pets owners can be accommodated.
A quick look at my own county’s (Pasco, Fl Pop. roughly 500K) plan last year showed that they `will designate one of its schools as an animal shelter. Pet owners, however, will stay at a separate, nearby shelter The shelter is for dogs and cats only.’
And neighboring Pinellas County (pop 900K) had plans for 3 pet-friendly shelters (pre-registration required), which they believe will accommodate a total of about 700 dogs and cats.
Which means you can’t count on getting into a pet-friendly shelter at the last minute. These shelters should be your last resort, not your first option. You need to be planning now on how you will provide for your pets during a disaster.
May 14th was National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, and FEMA asked that you take the time to develop a plan.
Here is a link to some FEMA resources for Pet owners before, during, and after a disaster.
Information for Pet Owners
If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND! Pets most likely cannot survive on their own; and if by some remote chance they do, you may not be able to find them when you return.
For additional information, please contact The Humane Society of the United States.
You’ll find a lot of information at the above link, including a link to a video Animals in Emergencies for Owners , developed by the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP)/FEMA, which is intended to help pet and livestock owners prepare to protect their animals during emergencies.
From the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), we get this advice:
June 1, 2011
Disaster Planning for Pets, Family
How to prepare for earthquakes, floods, storms
It's been a dangerous spring. Storms have pummelled the southern and midwestern states. And in late April, the most dangerous tornadoes to hit the U.S. struck states such as Alabama, Mississippi, and Missouri. The storms and flooding haven't let up: The residents of Joplin, MO, are among the latest victims of the many natural disasters that have taken place this spring.
And from the American Red Cross, we get this checklist for keeping your pets safe during and after disaster.
(Click image to Load PDF)
And lastly, I’ve found a couple of sites that attempt to provide state and national contact information for pet owners looking for evacuation information.
While I’m sure the following sites make every attempt to be accurate and up-to-date, you’d be well advised to confirm the availability of any pet-friendly services in your area, since local plans can change.
Note: I offer these sites without personal recommendation.
For Floridians, a county-by-county list of pet-friendly evacuation shelters:
FloridaPets.net 2011 Pet-Friendly Emergency Shelter Guide
Another site with good information, and a national listing of contact information for pet-friendly emergency shelters is:
Pet Evacuation, Pet Friendly Emergency Shelters, Disaster Preparedness for Pets
To find out more information about the disaster resources for pets in your area contact your county Emergency Management Office, or local animal shelter.
But do it today.
If you wait until a hurricane is on your doorstep, or some other disaster is imminent, you may find your options severely limited.
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