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Pets in emergencies: pet emergency kit and evacuation plan

Pets depend on you in a crisis, and they are safest when they stay with you. This page shows you how to build a pet kit, plan for evacuation, and make sure your pet can be returned to you if you are separated.

If you only do three things

  1. If officials tell you to evacuate, take your pets with you.
  2. Pack a pet kit with food, water, medicine, and documents.
  3. Make sure every pet has an ID tag and a microchip with current contact details.

Build a pet kit

Ready.gov advises preparing two kits: a larger one for sheltering at home and a lighter one you can carry if you leave. Tap each box as you pack the item.

  • Food and water for several days, in airtight, waterproof containers
  • Bowls for food and water
  • An extra supply of any regular medicine
  • A pet first aid kit, with items your veterinarian suggests
  • A carrier or crate for each pet, big enough to stand and turn around in
  • A spare leash, harness, and collar with an ID tag
  • Copies of vaccination records, registration, and your vet's phone number, in a waterproof bag and saved on your phone
  • A recent photo of you with each pet, to help prove ownership
  • Litter, a litter box, paper towels, and trash bags
  • Familiar toys, treats, or bedding to reduce stress

Check the kit every few months. Replace food and medicine before they expire.

... note "Water for pets" Ready.gov suggests one gallon (about 4 liters) of water per person per day. Pets need drinking water too, so pack more than you think. Ask your vet how much your animal needs.

Make a plan before you need one

Many public shelters and hotels do not accept pets, so find a safe place for your animals ahead of time.

  • Ask hotels along your route if they allow pets during emergencies
  • Ask friends or relatives outside the area if they can host your pets
  • Look up boarding facilities and vets that can take animals in a disaster
  • Set up a buddy system with a neighbor who can care for or evacuate your pet if you cannot
  • Ask your local emergency office which shelters accept pets

Service animals are generally allowed in shelters. Rules differ by country, so check with local officials.

Evacuating with pets

If it is not safe for you to stay, it is not safe for your pet. Animals left behind can be hurt, lost, or trapped.

  1. Leave early. Pets are harder to move in a rush.
  2. Put each pet in its own carrier, or on a leash or harness.
  3. Take the lightweight kit, medicines, and documents.
  4. Keep pets inside the car or carrier. Frightened animals can bolt at doors.
  5. Never leave pets alone in a parked car.

Get your pets used to their carriers now. Leave the carrier open at home, add a treat and a familiar blanket, and let your pet go in on its own. A pet that already accepts the carrier is much easier to move.

Cats, dogs, birds, and small animals

Cats are often the hardest to catch, so know where yours hides and keep the carrier close. Dogs need regular toilet breaks and may be anxious in new places. Birds, rabbits, and small pets should travel in secure carriers, covered to keep them calm and out of drafts. Keep reptiles warm and secure.

Large animals

Horses, goats, pigs, and other large animals need extra planning. Ready.gov recommends leaving early, and mapping a main and a backup route to a safe place that can take them. Make sure trailers are ready, and that each animal has some form of identification.

ID tags and microchips

If you and your pet are separated, identification is how you find each other again.

  • Fit a collar and tag with your name and a phone number
  • Have your pet microchipped
  • Register the chip and keep the address and phone number up to date
  • Add an emergency contact who lives outside your area
  • Keep a clear photo of each pet on your phone

Ready.gov notes that all animals, including large animals, should have some form of ID.

After the emergency

Pets may be stressed, and the area around your home may have hazards such as debris, standing water, and wildlife. Keep pets on a leash or in a carrier at first, and watch for signs of illness. Call your vet if your animal is injured, or is not eating or drinking.

For hurricane specific pet advice, including shelters and evacuation planning, see hurricane.guide/pets.