How to build a hurricane-preparedness kit for your pets

Hurricane season is here, which means it's time to make sure both you and your pets are prepared in case any storms come your way.

Hurricanes are slow movers, but once alerts are issued for your area or evacuation orders are in effect, it may be too late to fully prepare the furrier members of your family for the incoming storm.

Step 1: Assemble your hurricane preparedness kit

Having supplies specifically set aside for emergencies like a hurricane means you are less likely to get caught unprepared when a hurricane impacts your area, whether that means power outages and water disruptions or evacuations.

A preparedness kit should have everything your pet needs to survive for at least a few days, including the following:

• Food stored in an airtight, waterproof container
• Clean water and a bowl
• Medicine your pet takes regularly, again, in a waterproof container
• First aid kit (ask your vet what you should ideally pack!)
• Favorite toys to keep your pet occupied and happy, which I’m sure they will agree is a need to survive

If you live in an area that may be evacuated due to a storm, it can also be a good idea to make two kits: one for sheltering in place and one that’s more portable in case you need to evacuate.

Step 2: Make a plan for emergency travel

If you do have to evacuate, having a plan in place that includes your pets is a great way to reduce stress in an extremely stressful situation.

If your pet needs to go into a carrier, make sure you have one ready. You can help your pet be more comfortable with it by leaving the carrier out in common spaces with the door open (and maybe a few treats by the door and inside).

Take the time to identify a few options for pet-friendly places to stay, including hotels and friends’ or family’s homes. If you have options, you will be less likely to get stuck with nowhere to go.

Reminder: Make sure everyone is considered

Remember: It’s not just your smaller pets (dogs, cats, birds, gerbils, snakes, bearded dragons, tarantulas, etc.) that need to be ready for hurricane season.

Larger pets and animals that live outdoors also need to be considered, whether you’re sheltering in place or evacuating. If you have animals such as horses, goats or pigs, it can be a much bigger process to get everyone ready for hurricane season.

You need to start getting ready long before a storm is even on the horizon, because it’s always better to be ready and have nothing happen than it is to not be ready and end up scrambling.

Sara Tonks is a content meteorologist with weather.com and has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Georgia Tech in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences along with a master’s degree from Unity Environmental University in Marine Science.