If your family owns pets, be prepared to care for them if disaster strikes. Should the day come when a hurricane or other threat forces you to evacuate your home, plan to evacuate your pets, too.

• Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets and restrictions on number, size, and species. Ask if "no pet" policies could be waived in an emergency. Keep a list of "pet friendly" places, including phone numbers, with other disaster information and supplies. If you have notice of an impending disaster, call ahead for reservations.
• Ask friends, relatives, or others outside the affected area whether they could shelter your animals. If you have more than one pet, they may be more comfortable if kept together, but be prepared to house them separately.
• Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone numbers.
• Ask local animal shelters if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets in a disaster. Animal shelters may be overburdened caring for the animals they already have as well as those displaced by a disaster, so this should be your last resort.
• Assemble medications and medical records (stored in a waterproof container) and a first aid kit in advance.
• Add sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/or carriers to transport pets safely and ensure that your animals can’t escape.
• Keep current photos of your pets with you in case they get lost.
• Pack food, potable water, bowls, cat litter/pan, and can opener in the Pet Emergency Bag.
• Place information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian with the emergency bag in case you have to foster or board your pets.
• Place pet beds and toys with the emergency bag, if easily transportable.