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Preparation for Evacuation


PartnersPal
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Hi everyone! We had a major rain here today and flooding conditions out close to where I live. I left work to go get the guys in and safe. In the process I got to thinking, what with all the Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados etc. that folks around the country have been experiencing over the past several years, that it was time to re-examine my families disaster preparedness' plans. For me, it is now just my wife, the 3 dogs and 2 cats. Luckily we don't live on the coast or in earthquake prone area but Texas has a large number of Tornadoes and windstorms as well as a lot of flash flooding. a little online research with the Humane Society and the American Red Cross indicates that (1) shelters will not take pets unless they are certified assistance animals and, in the event of a disaster, boarding kennels who can take animals on short notice or hotels that allow pets are few and far between. If you are unable to stay in your current residence and are forced to evacuate you may be faced with some hard choices concerning your pets (or no choices at all) unless you have planned in advance. the Weather Channels "Storm Stories" recently ran a story about a city hit by tornado in Nebraska where the citizens were forced to leave and could nto take their pets. One man was forced to leave a crippled Lab and two Dachshunds. Nearby cities animal control came to the rescue of many stranded pets, but many others died or went missing.

I have put together a disaster/evac kit for my family and my pets. The pet kit consists of a plastic box which contains the following:

Food for 2 weeks minimum.

Water for 3 days.

Bowls for food and water.

Towels (cloth and paper).

disinfectant/cleanser.

Blankets and bedding.

Poop bags and a couple of large garbage bags.

K9 first aid kit(another topic).

Toys and chewies. (It is important to keep pets calm as they can freak just like us humans.)

leashes, muzzles and tie out stuff.

A small ice chest with meds, (Synovi-G3 for Annie, heartworm med etc.) Vet records, pictures and descriptions of the guys in case they get lost. Important phone numbers etc.

 

I also keep several wire and travel crates that have collected over the years in the garage where I can get them easily in case we need to leave in a hurry. Of course they are used for trips to the park, vets etc. but are handy if need be.

In the event of a disaster, hopefully we would not have to leave our home but there may be significant damange to the roof or fence and I have sufficient repair materials to provide secure (fenced in) covered housing for the guys if the need arises. If we are forced to leave I am prepaired to camp out in my truck with the guys for as long as need be rather than leave them.

My worst case senerio is that something will happen while I am at work and I will not be allowed back into my neighborhood. Still working on that one.

So, whats in your kit? Anyone experience this situation who would like to share advice or story?

PardnersPal.

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I have an open offer to anyone on the coast who needs a refuge for their dogs or themselves, now that hurricane season has arrived again.

 

The farm will support quite a bit more stock short term, with many paddocks to keep things seperate. We have a lovely new barn with a complete second story that you could literally live in short term. I have a huge finished attic for those who aren't accustomed to roughing it.

 

Umm, I can't say we've ever discussed leaving if the need arose. I'm afraid we'd have to be those dumb people that decided to stay as disaster approached. We have a sizable basement where I've spent many a tornado warning with two kids and numerous dogs. I have a "Disaster Central" set up down there with several crates and suppies and I have plans to install a bank of small cabinet-type kennels very soon. that's the best I can do, I guess.

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There's just the 2 of us, plus Fergie. I made sure that this was another place on about the highest of local high ground. Can't do much about tornados - heck, all that anyone can usually do is head for a cellar or inside bathroom anyhow. And nothing works agaainst midnight ice attacks.

 

The biggest problem we have is loss of electricity - like a week or more. And that means either no heat or no AC, in mid winter or in the worst of our humid heat.

 

I know where the slides and photos, plus my amber and our important papers, are. So I can get what really matters into a car and head for a motel. I also know that Baymont takes pets (Ferg loves their elevators). And we are willing to drive as far as we have to go to get to an available room.

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Partner's Pal - what an interesting post. You have forced me to really sit down and think about what we would do. I think if there was nowhere that I could go with Dylan, I would camp somewhere.I couldn't leave him. And you remind me of a situation that happened here a few years ago - a volcanoe erupted on a small island and it was really devastating - all residents were pretty much forcibly evacuated to (mostly) Tokyo. A lot of them who had owned houses and property including a number of farmers were rehoused in city housing ( high rise accomodation ) and had to leave their pets and livestock behind. There was quite a lot of coverage of their plight. It was awful and long term. I'm afraid I don't know of their situation now - I got rid of my TV 3 years ago ! We are going to probably have a major earthquake in Tokyo sometime soon but as we live up a little way in the surrounding mountains, I don't think we will lose our house. But we did experience quite a big earthquake ( magnitude 5 ) a few weeks ago and the house shook quite a lot, so who knows.... We also have typhoons, but I don't think we would have such a powerful one here. I am going to get myself more organized and prepare emergency bags. I have emergency water / food etc, but it is all over the house.

Or maybe I'll just go and live with Rebecca !!! I worked on a sheep farm once for about 6 months and Dylan would love the opportunity !

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I ran from Hurricane Georges. I threw everyone in the van with all the dog food and a weeks worth of clothes and went on vacation to Hot Spring AR. Never been there before so it was great. Motel 6 & Red Roof Inns are usually very dog friendly. My recommendation: if there's enough warning, go on a forced vacation. I could have done that way cheaper and camped too, although at the time I didn't really spend more than $500.00 so not too bad. I was gone for about a week. I figured that if my stuff was part of a disaster area, that the mess would be there when I got home in a couple of days.

 

Here for earthquakes, we keep lots of water and MRE's on hand (food soldiers eat in the field-emergency rations). Candles, Matches, Batteries. There is no where to run from an earthquake so you have to stay and deal with it.

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I guess this is another good reason to live out of my truck! My Trooper's set up for travel all the time since I do it so much. I even keep extra clothes in there b/c I teach outside and the weather changes frequently. I could literally grab the dogs and their food bin, my clothes and such in under 5 minutes and be on the road out of town.

 

I would add regional/state road maps to your list (or just keep in cars). If there's an evacuation, the roads will be clogged (although some coastal states, like NC , have plans in place to open up all roads heading out, closing those heading in)... being able to consult a map for an alternate route may help you get out of town (and through strange towns) more quickly.

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Originally posted by rtphokie:

I guess this is another good reason to live out of my truck!

I hear ya! My van is basically ready to go, and the stuff I use for travel is near at hand since I am on the road so many weekends anyway. I do have to admit, though, that's it's a little more involved if I also want to take the chickens and cats (and now sheep) out of harms' way. Of course, now that I'm not living near the NC coast anymore, I don't expect to have need of making those Beverly Hillbillies moves anytime soon!

 

BTW, I have to go out of town next week for work and so am taking the dogs to my former housemate in Elizabeth City for looking after while I'm gone. What do I hear today but that he's preparing for hurricane Irene(?) and expecting 80 mph winds, just in case I want to change my plans.... Anyone want to shelter 6 border collies and a lovebird if it becomes impossible for him to take them?

 

I was just telling someone the other day that since moving from eastern NC I really don't even think about hurricanes any more, but when there, it was a really big deal....

 

J.

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Originally posted by Rebecca, Brook Cove Farm:

Right here Julie. I promise the lovebird will be the center of attraction with the kids.

And with the cats? Poor Benny has to hang from the ceiling in my house so the cats can't get to him. He has clips on all the doors to his cage so that he doesn't inadvertently get out, or should a cat get up there, they can't get in.... But he is hand tame and loves to get out and play with people. (BTW, I have labeled him a "he" because I have to call him *something* and since I didn't plan to breed lovebirds, I had no need to have him DNA tested to see what gender he really is. At least the name is suitably gender-neutral!)

 

Anyway, thanks for the offer Jenn and Rebecca. If Jake really thinks things are going to get bad in E. City then I might come knocking (of course I would still have to fly from Norfolk--ugh). Benny could actually stay at my house, but I don't like to leave him for more than a day or two without a human to play with him.

 

J.

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