Ready for Anything: Hurricane and Wildfire Prep for Dogs (Free Emergency Checklist)
Ready for Anything: Hurricane and Wildfire Prep for Dogs (Free Emergency Checklist)
Hurricanes, wildfires, floods and severe storms can turn an ordinary day upside down in a matter of hours. When an evacuation order comes, there is no time to search for leashes, medications or vaccine records, and no time to wonder which hotels will take a 70 pound dog. The families who get through emergencies most smoothly with their pets are almost always the ones who planned ahead.
This guide walks you through hurricane and wildfire preparation for dogs: building a pet emergency kit, making an evacuation plan, finding pet friendly shelters and hotels, ID and microchips, smoke and air quality safety, what to do if you have to shelter in place, how to keep your dog calm and how to care for your dog after a disaster. It is written for dog moms and dads in hurricane zones, wildfire regions and anywhere severe weather can strike.
Hurricane season in the Atlantic runs from June through November, with peak activity from August to October, and wildfire season in many western regions peaks in late summer and fall. September is also National Preparedness Month in the United States, a perfect reminder to get your dog's plan in place. A little time now can make a huge difference later.
Why do dogs need their own emergency plan?
Pets are often forgotten in emergency plans. Many families have plans for themselves but not for their pets. During past disasters, thousands of pets were left behind, lost or separated from their families. Planning ahead means your dog is part of your family's safety plan from the start.
Never leave your dog behind. Emergency experts agree: if it is not safe for you to stay, it is not safe for your pets. Pets left behind can be injured, lost or killed, and you may not be allowed to return home for days or weeks. Always plan to take your dog with you.
Evacuations happen fast. Wildfires in particular can spread with little warning. Hurricanes may give a few days of notice, but traffic, closed roads and crowded shelters can make last minute evacuations stressful and dangerous. Having a plan and a packed kit means you can leave quickly.
Stress is easier to manage with a plan. Emergencies are frightening for people and pets. Knowing exactly what to grab and where to go helps everyone stay calmer.
What should be in my dog's emergency kit?
Food and water. Pack at least a five to seven day supply of your dog's regular food in airtight, waterproof containers, plus a manual can opener if you use canned food. Pack at least one gallon of water per day for a large dog, and more in hot weather. Bring collapsible bowls.
Medications and records. Include at least a two week supply of any medications, plus copies of vaccine records, medical history, prescriptions and your vet's contact information in a waterproof bag. Store digital copies on your phone or in cloud storage too.
Gear. Pack a sturdy leash, harness, collar with ID tags, a crate or carrier labeled with your contact information, a blanket or bed, poop bags, cleaning supplies, paper towels and garbage bags.
Comfort and first aid. Add a favorite toy, a chew, a recent photo of your dog with you, a pet first aid kit and a muzzle in case your dog is hurt and scared.
How do I make sure my dog can be identified?
Microchip your dog. A microchip is a permanent ID that cannot fall off. Make sure your microchip is registered and your contact details are current. Our guide on dog microchips and id tags explains how to check.
Use ID tags. Make sure your dog wears a collar with an ID tag showing your phone number at all times. Consider adding an out of area emergency contact.
Take photos. Keep recent photos of your dog, including photos of you with your dog, which can help prove ownership.
Write it on the crate. Label your dog's crate with your name, phone number and an emergency contact.
How do I make an evacuation plan for my dog?
Know your evacuation zone. Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone, wildfire risk area or flood zone. Sign up for local emergency alerts.
Choose where you will go. Identify several places you can stay with your dog, such as friends or family outside your area, pet friendly hotels or pet friendly shelters.
Plan your route. Know several routes out of your area in case roads are closed.
Leave early. Leave as soon as an evacuation is recommended, or even earlier if you have pets. Waiting until the last minute can make it harder to find pet friendly places.
Where can I stay with my dog during an evacuation?
Pet friendly hotels. Research pet friendly hotels along your evacuation routes. Some hotels waive pet restrictions during emergencies. Call ahead and keep a list.
Friends and family. Ask friends or family outside your area if they would host you and your dog.
Pet friendly shelters. Some public shelters accept pets or have pet shelters nearby. Check with your local emergency management office.
Boarding and vets. Boarding facilities and vet clinics outside the danger zone may be able to house your dog.
What if I am not home when disaster strikes?
Set up a buddy system. Arrange with a trusted neighbor, friend or pet sitter to evacuate your dog if you are not home.
Share your plan. Give them a key, your dog's kit location and your evacuation plan.
Use a rescue alert sticker. Place a sticker on your door or window listing your pets, so rescue workers know animals are inside.
Keep contact info current. Make sure your buddy knows how to reach you.
What should I do when wildfire threatens?
Prepare early. Wildfires spread quickly. Keep your dog's kit packed and ready during fire season.
Keep your dog close. When fire is nearby, keep your dog indoors and on a leash or in a crate so you can leave quickly.
Leave early. Do not wait for an official order if you feel unsafe.
Watch the air. Smoke can be harmful even far from the fire.
How does wildfire smoke affect dogs?
Smoke can harm dogs. Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles that can irritate eyes and airways and affect the heart and lungs.
Watch for signs. Coughing, gagging, trouble breathing, eye irritation, nasal discharge, tiredness and reduced appetite can be signs of smoke irritation.
Limit outdoor time. On smoky days, keep walks short and avoid hard exercise.
Keep air clean indoors. Close windows, use air conditioning on recirculate and consider an air purifier.
What should I do when a hurricane is coming?
Monitor the forecast. Hurricanes usually give some notice. Use this time to prepare.
Refill medications. Make sure you have enough medications for at least two weeks.
Plan to leave early. If you are in an evacuation zone, leave early.
Secure your home. Bring outdoor items inside and secure fences, but never leave your dog behind.
How do I keep my dog safe in floods?
Never let your dog wander in floodwater. Floodwater can contain chemicals, sewage, debris and dangerous currents.
Move to high ground. If you must shelter in place, move to the highest level of your home with your dog.
Keep your dog leashed or crated. Panicked dogs can run off.
Rinse after contact. If your dog touches floodwater, rinse them with clean water and watch for illness.
What if we have to shelter in place?
Choose a safe room. Pick an interior room without windows on the lowest floor that is safe from flooding.
Bring your kit. Keep your dog's kit, food, water and medications in the safe room.
Keep your dog close. Keep your dog leashed or crated.
Stay informed. Use a battery powered radio to monitor updates.
How do I keep my dog calm during an emergency?
Stay calm yourself. Dogs pick up on our emotions.
Use familiar items. A favorite blanket, bed and toy help.
Keep routines. Feed and walk your dog at familiar times as much as possible.
Offer chews and lick mats. These are calming. Our guide on thunderstorm anxiety in dogs has more tips.
How do I care for my dog after a disaster?
Check for injuries. Look over your dog carefully.
Watch for hazards. Debris, downed power lines, broken glass and contaminated water can be dangerous.
Keep your dog leashed. Familiar landmarks may be gone, and your dog may get lost.
Watch behavior. Dogs may be stressed or clingy for days or weeks. Be patient.
What if my dog gets lost during a disaster?
Contact shelters and rescues. Check local shelters, animal control and emergency pet shelters.
Post online. Share on local lost pet groups and social media.
Update your microchip. Report your dog missing.
Keep looking. Many pets are reunited weeks after disasters.
How do I plan for senior or special needs dogs?
Extra medications. Pack extra medications and special diets.
Mobility aids. Bring ramps, slings or carts.
Comfort items. Seniors may need extra bedding. Our guide on caring for a senior dog has more tips.
Plan for extra time. Leave early.
How do I plan for more than one pet?
One kit per pet. Pack supplies for each pet.
Enough crates. Have a crate or carrier for every pet.
Practice. Practice loading all pets into the car.
Find places that take all your pets. Some hotels limit the number of pets.
Should I practice my evacuation plan?
Yes. Practice loading your dog, kit and family into the car.
Crate training helps. Dogs who are comfortable in crates are easier to evacuate. Our guide on crate training a new puppy explains how.
Time yourself. See how long it takes to get out the door.
Practice yearly. Review your plan every year at the start of the season.
When should I start preparing for hurricane and wildfire season?
Early in the season. The best time to prepare is before the first storm or fire appears on the news. For hurricane regions, aim to have your dog's kit and plan ready by early June. For wildfire regions, prepare in late spring, before the hottest, driest months. Getting ready early means you can shop calmly, compare hotels and practice without pressure.
Check your kit every few months. Food, water and medications can expire. Every three to four months, or at the start and middle of each season, check expiration dates, swap out old food and water, refresh medications and make sure records are up to date. A simple trick is to check your kit whenever you change your smoke detector batteries or the clocks change.
Update after big changes. If you move, adopt a new pet, change vets or your dog starts a new medication, update your kit and plan right away. Our guide on moving house with your dog has tips for updating details after a move.
Watch the forecast closely during peak months. From August to October, keep an eye on weather alerts and fire warnings. When a storm is forecast or a fire is nearby, move your kit to the car, fill your gas tank and charge your phone.
How do I get my car ready for an evacuation with my dog?
Keep a crate or seat belt harness ready. In an evacuation, your dog should be secured in the car with a crash tested harness or a crate. Loose dogs can be injured in sudden stops and may bolt when doors open. Practice short trips so your dog is comfortable riding this way. Our guide on traveling with your dog has car safety tips.
Keep the tank at least half full. During hurricane and wildfire seasons, keep your gas tank at least half full. Gas stations may close or run out during an emergency, and long lines can cost valuable time.
Store a mini kit in the car. Keep a small bag with water, a bowl, a spare leash, poop bags and a few days of food in the car during peak season. If you are away from home when an emergency hits, you will still have basics.
Plan for heat. Evacuations often happen in hot weather. Never leave your dog alone in a parked car, and plan stops in shady, cool places. Bring a cooling towel and plenty of extra water.
What documents should I keep for my dog?
Vaccine and medical records. Many shelters, hotels and boarding facilities require proof of rabies vaccination and other vaccines. Keep copies in a waterproof bag in your kit and digital copies on your phone and in cloud storage or email.
Microchip and license details. Keep your dog's microchip number, the name of the microchip company and your local license number with your records.
Proof of ownership. Adoption papers, purchase records, vet bills and photos of you with your dog can help prove ownership if your dog is found by someone else or ends up in a shelter.
Emergency contacts. Include your vet, an emergency vet, your buddy contact, an out of area contact and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control number.
How do I keep my dog safe if the power goes out?
Plan for heat. Hurricanes often knock out power in hot, humid weather. Without air conditioning, homes can become dangerously hot for dogs, especially flat faced breeds, seniors and dogs with health problems. Have a plan to keep your dog cool, such as a cooler room, battery powered fans, cooling mats and plenty of water.
Keep water safe. Power outages can affect water supplies. Store extra bottled water for your dog, and never let them drink floodwater or water from unknown sources.
Protect medications. Some medications, like insulin, need refrigeration. Ask your vet how to store them safely during an outage, and keep a cooler and ice packs ready.
Know when to leave. If your home becomes too hot or unsafe, move to a cooling center, a friend's home or a pet friendly hotel. Our guide on keeping your dog safe in summer heat explains warning signs of heatstroke.
How do I include kids in our pet emergency plan?
Give kids a job. Kids can be in charge of packing the toy and blanket, checking the water supply or helping hold the leash. Having a clear role helps kids feel calmer and more in control.
Practice together. Make evacuation drills a family event. Time how long it takes to get everyone, including the dog, out the door and into the car.
Explain the plan simply. Talk about what the family will do in an emergency, in a calm, matter of fact way. Reassure kids that the dog is part of the plan.
Keep emergency numbers handy. Make sure older kids know how to reach parents, the buddy contact and the vet. Our guide on sharing dog care as a family has more ideas for involving kids.
How do I know when the air is too smoky for my dog?
Check the air quality index. The air quality index, or AQI, tells you how clean or polluted the air is. Websites and apps like AirNow show current readings for your area. When the AQI is in the unhealthy range, generally above 150, limit your dog's time outdoors to short potty breaks. When it is unhealthy for sensitive groups, between about 101 and 150, keep walks short and gentle for puppies, seniors, flat faced breeds and dogs with heart or lung problems.
Look and listen. If you can see or smell smoke, it is probably affecting your dog too. Watch for coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, panting more than usual, tiring quickly or trouble breathing.
Plan indoor fun. On smoky days, swap walks for indoor games, training sessions and puzzle feeders. Our guide on brain games for dogs has lots of ideas to keep your dog busy without going outside.
Call your vet if worried. If your dog has trouble breathing, a persistent cough, pale or blue gums or seems very tired after smoke exposure, call your vet right away.
How can I help other pets during disasters?
Foster or volunteer. Shelters often take in many pets during and after disasters. Fostering or volunteering helps animals in need and frees space for lost pets. Our guide on fostering a dog over the holidays explains how fostering works.
Donate supplies. Shelters often need food, blankets, crates, leashes and cleaning supplies during emergencies.
Share lost pet posts. Sharing lost and found posts on social media can help reunite families.
Check on neighbors. Older neighbors and people without cars may need help evacuating their pets. A quick check in can make a big difference.
Key facts about emergency prep for dogs
Never leave your dog behind. If it is not safe for you, it is not safe for them.
Pack a kit. Food, water, meds and records for at least five to seven days.
Update ID and microchips. It is the best way to be reunited.
Leave early. Pet friendly places fill quickly.
- Never leave your dog behind.
- Pack a go bag before the season.
- Microchip details must be current.
- Leave early, pet spots fill fast.
- Smoky days mean short walks.
Prepared, together
Emergencies are frightening, but a plan makes them more manageable for you and your dog. Pack a kit, update your dog's ID and microchip, know where you will go, set up a buddy system and practice your plan. When an emergency comes, leave early and never leave your dog behind.
From all of us at Happy Yay, stay safe and stay together.
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Frequently asked questions
What should be in a pet emergency kit?
Food, water, medications, records, leash, harness, crate, bedding, poop bags, first aid kit and a photo.
How much food and water should I pack for my dog?
At least five to seven days of food and one gallon of water per day for a large dog.
Should I leave my dog behind in an evacuation?
No. If it is not safe for you, it is not safe for your dog.
Do emergency shelters accept dogs?
Some do. Check with your local emergency management office and plan backups.
How does wildfire smoke affect dogs?
Smoke can irritate eyes and airways. Limit outdoor time and keep indoor air clean.
How do I find pet friendly hotels during an evacuation?
Research hotels along your routes ahead of time and call to confirm.
What if I am not home during an emergency?
Set up a buddy system with a neighbor who can evacuate your dog.
Should my dog be microchipped?
Yes. Microchips help reunite lost pets. Keep your details current.
How do I keep my dog calm during a disaster?
Stay calm, use familiar items, keep routines and offer chews.
When is hurricane season?
The Atlantic season runs June through November, peaking August to October.