You can always help ease an already scary situation by preparing for it. In fact, your chances and your dog’s chances of survival increase with disaster preparation. Here’s how to prepare your dog’s survival during an earthquake, tornado, fire or flood – four example situations that could eliminate access to shelter, fresh water, food, and power for weeks at a time.

Set Up The Basics

Always keep at least three days worth of dog food and water in sealed, waterproof containers. Three ten-pound bags of dog food and three gallons of water should suffice. But don’t give the food a chance to rot. Always switch one bag of stored food with each new bag of purchased food.

Set Up A Safe House

Since the majority of emergency shelters don’t allow animals, you’ll need to set up a safe location for your pet if you need to evacuate your home. A boarding kennel can serve this purpose well, but you’ll also want a sizable list of alternatives in the event that your chosen kennel is full. Keep a list therefore, of all the animal shelters in the area, nearby dog-friendly hotels and motels, and even neighbors or family members who are willing to care for your pet in an emergency.

Set Up A Crate

Crates aren’t solely used for training or traveling. In emergency situations, they make great temporary shelters. Depending on the situation, a boarding kennel or some other refuge may demand that your dog use one. Of course it won’t be very effective if your dog isn’t used to it. Encourage your dog’s use of a crate periodically with treats and training. Her survival could very well depend on her cooperation.

Set Up A Disaster Kit

An adequate disaster kit should store your dog’s medications, vet phone numbers, id tags, grooming tools, toys, and photos. Include an extra leash and collar, a bottle of water, and a small bag of food. Since an emergency shelter may not allow dogs without a recent medical history, be sure to include documents that verify your dog’s latest vaccinations.

Set Up Multiple IDs

In our article about dog identification we introduce various methods to identify your dog. ID tags could get lost during an emergency, so consider using all the methods we described.

Set Up Kit Location

It doesn’t make much sense to set up your emergency equipment in areas that they’re not needed. It would make better sense, to place all the aforementioned items in the areas that you, your family, and your dog will go to during an emergency. During a tornado for example, your emergency equipment should already be in the basement. During an earthquake, your emergency equipment should be in a window-less room. During the threat of a fire, this equipment should be in the trunk of your get-away car.

Set Up Emergency Drills

Some additional steps you should take include practicing disaster preparation, outlining and going through an established evacuation route, and making sure all your fire alarms work. Regularly check your windows and doors to ensure they easily open, and verify at least two ways to exit each room in the house.
Last but not least, practice quick evacuations with your family AND your dog!