Emergency Management

Pets have become an important part of many people's lives, and you must plan for them just as you would for the rest of your family. Pets do require some special considerations, however. Keep the following points in mind when planning for your animals and disasters:

1. All animals can be very unpredictable during and after a disaster.
   Never approach animals that you are not familiar with following a disaster. Animals will act strangely following disasters and may be very anxious or defensive. Since you have no way of knowing how an animal will react to your attempted aid, it is best to stay away from them. Also keep in mind that family pets and animals will be suffering from stress during disasters and may act differently. It isn't uncommon for pets to become aggressive or to run away. Do not assume that your pet is special; any animal can cause harm to you and you must take precautions. You can fit your pet with a muzzle, or approach it with a sheet to cover it's head before trying to move it or put it into a kennel.
    

   Wild animals may try to take refuge in your home during a disaster. Do not corner them and give them a very wide berth. Contact animal control at (307) 733-2331 for assistance in these situations.

2. Never leave your pets behind following a disaster.
   Even if you leave them with food and water, your pet's chances of surviving in your home alone during and after a disaster are very slim. Leaving your pet outside or setting it loose is a bad idea as well. Due to the stress of the disaster and the animal's unpredictability in a disaster situation, there is a good chance you will never see that animal again. If you have warning, bring pets inside before or during a disaster. The best thing that you can do is to plan ahead for your animal's sake.

3. American Red Cross shelters cannot accept animals.
   Aside from service animals (such as seeing-eye dogs), American Red Cross shelters cannot accept any animals due to health reasons. Additionally, they are not equipped with the proper food and accommodations for animals. Teton County relies on the American Red Cross for its mass sheltering, so if you are a pet owner you will have to make other arrangements for shelter if you must leave your home. Look into pet-friendly hotels in surrounding areas or consult with your veterinarian for ideas on pet sheltering during a disaster.

4. Make an animal-specific plan and kit.
   Just as you put together a 72 hour kit for your family, you need to do the same for your pets. This site from the American Veterinary Medical Association has great resources on kits for all types of animals, including livestock. But no matter how complete your kit is, it is useless without a plan. The American Red Cross website on Pets and Disaster has some thorough guidelines on disaster planning for your animals.

5. Make some neighborhood "pet buddies".
   There is always the chance that a disaster will strike when you aren't at home, but your animals are. Make arrangements with neighbors to watch out for one another's animals in the event that one of you are away when disaster strikes. Be sure to exchange information such as dietary requirements, medications required, etc.

6. Educate yourself.
   Your animals depend on you for many things, and during a disaster they will rely on you even more. Before a disaster strikes, educate yourself by checking these very informative websites on animals in disasters:

   • FEMA's Caring for Animals: has several sections on pets, livestock, and wildlife in disasters.

   • The American Veterinary Medical Association's "Saving the Whole Family": this is a very thorough site that covers all animals from reptiles to livestock. It has information on first aid kits, planning, and other animal disaster essentials.

   • Ready.gov's "Preparing Your Pets For Disaster Makes Sense" pamphlet: a brief PDF pamphlet with some basic ideas on pet disaster preparedness.

   • Ready.gov's "Preparing Your Pets For Disaster Makes Sense" website: once again, limited information but it does give a good basic overview of pet preparedness.

   • Take some online courses: this page lists 3 courses offered online by FEMA through the Emergency Management Institute. Two courses cover animals in disaster, and the third covers livestock in disasters.

   • And finally, be sure to watch this important video on how to prepare your family (including your pets) for a disaster below:

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FEMA Independent Study Courses for Pet and Animal Owners >
Click here for some great free online courses about animal disaster preparedness.

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