Quick! What will you do when a disaster happens?
You may have noticed that the question above was “when” a disaster happens, not “if” a disaster happens.
The best answer is “I won’t panic, because I’m prepared and I’ll take action.” Excellent!
If that is your answer, you might be in the minority of citizens. many of whom just don’t want to think about a disaster, let alone invest the resources, energy, and time and to prepare.
Okay, think about this: When everyone else is in the same predicament, who do you think will be there to take care of you?
The purpose of this small web page is to help you start the process of identifying what you can do ahead of time so that you’ll be better prepared to take action on behalf of your family -- and especially your pets -- when the time comes.
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This site is intended primarily with one small aspect of disaster preparedness: how we will deal with our pets. However, this is only one small part of the “big picture” and is best seen in that context. Please refer to the links on the left for more detailed information.
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“Disaster? What disaster?”
Preparing for every possible type of disaster is a huge task. Too big. Most of us realize that here in Southern California, we are far less likely to have blizzards, hurricanes and tornadoes and far more likely to have earthquakes, wildfires and tsunamis. And, of course, ‘terrorist attacks’. Start by preparing for the more likely problems. At least then you’ll be ready for that!
“Where’s Waldo?”
No matter the disaster, we’ll likely be faced with one of two ‘where’ decisions: Dig In (stay home) or Bug Out (evacuate).
Dig In
*Security: safety of surroundings, roll call/head count,
*Supplies: a place for everything; Make sure that you have at least one week’s supply of food, water and any needed medications for your pets; First aid supplies; a muzzle for dogs; crates.
*Shifts: who does what, and when;
*Emergency phone numbers (Vet. Clinic)
Bug Out
*Have a ‘ditch bag’ with first aid supplies and any needed medications.
*Crates in vehicle
*Food, water, bowls,
*Leashes & collars, muzzles
*Blankets, shade
*Shot records! We keep a copy of our dogs’ shot records in a notebook which is always kept in the vehicle.
“Do I have to?”
Some owners get mighty defensive when someone suggests that a dog be muzzled. Think about it: dogs can’t talk, and when they are injured or in pain, the basic instinct -- even for the most docile dogs -- is to defend itself. It is a safety issue for everyone. In a mass disaster there are probably plenty of people who would gladly ‘defend’ themselves with firearms if an injured dog snaps at them.
Protect your dog and yourself: have a muzzle available!
The same goes for crates. Inside a vehicle or at an evacuation center, the safest place for a dog is in a crate.
So, no, you don’t have to. But if you care about the safety of your dog, you will.
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The above should be considered the bare minimum of preparation for your pets in case of a disaster.
In addition, you should familiarize yourself with (and practice driving) likely evacuation routes in case you have to leave. Do you know the one(s) you’ll take if there is a tsunami**? a wildfire? an earthquake? a nuclear power plant accident? Do family members have a planned meeting place in case they can’t all get home? These are tough questions which should be discussed ahead of time.
**Do you know the elevation of your home, work, or school?
Get out a calendar and schedule goals and target dates to accomplish some of the following:
Prepare Yourself:
~Take a class and get certified in CPR, Basic First Aid, Wilderness First Aid.
~Evaluate your physical fitness, diet & health -- in the event of a disaster, would you be “the weakest link”, or could you take care of yourself and your loved ones?
Prepare Your Place: (home and vehicles)
~First Aid Kit & medications
~Extra food & water
~Important documents (Identification,medical records, blood type, etc.)
~ Clothing for cold, wet, heat
~Communications: cell phones charged, radios ready
Prepare Your Mind:
Fear of the unknown -- what might happen -- is best dealt with ahead of time. Eliminate as much of it as you can by planning, preparing and practicing!
Step one - “Make it fun”: Schedule a mock evacuation on a weekend. Let everyone in the house know what their assigned duties will be and have them describe how they’ll accomplish their part and how long it will take. Then, on the agreed upon day, RING A BELL (or blow a horn) and have everyone begin. The exercise ends in success when you all reach your destination and take inventory and call the roll! Celebrate & evaluate.
Do it again in a week or two. Were you faster? more efficient?
Step two - “Make it through”: Perform an unscheduled drill. “I’m too tired” is not an excuse! Disasters happen when we least expect them. Be READY 24/7!
What do we learn from this exercise? That it’s not ‘fun’ when it’s inconvenient! But survival and preventing the anxiety that accompanies lack of preparedness is worth whatever temporary discomfort we need to endure during the practice.
Ask yourself:
“Do I want to be a victim or a victor?!”
