Results tagged “Disaster plans” from Petfinder Blog

As of 12:00 PM Central Time, September 12, the Houston SPCA had activated its Animal Response Hotline. Operators will be accepting lost and found reports, rescue reports, and offering other animal-related information. The Animal Response Disaster Hotline, pictured at right, will be staffed Friday from noon to 6 PM, and 10 AM to 6 PM on following days. Call notes are available so those who call in after hours may leave a message which will be returned first thing the next morning. The TOLL FREE NUMBER is 877-661-0161 or 713-861-0161.

(Read more about the Houston SPCA Animal Response Hotline and rescue efforts after the jump.)

Petfinder urges residents of the Gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana, from Port Mansfield, Texas to Cameron, Louisiana--and including the towns of Galveston and Houston, Texas to prepare themselves--and their pets--for disaster. Hurricane Ike promises to be a savage storm, likely a Category 3 or 4 hurricane with winds of up to 130 m.p.h. and a storm surge of 20 ft. that will flood not just low-lying areas, but possibly parts of Houston, as well.

Visit our Disaster Preparedness page, where you will find a Disaster Plan and a Disaster Plan Checklist and many other tips and tools to help ready your pets and your family for the storm. Here, again are some steps you can take today to ensure your pets' safety.

Quick Tips for Disaster Preparation

-- Prepare your disaster plan and review it with all your family members.

-- Take photos of your pet with your cell phone. If you and your pet become separated, the pictures will help rescue groups reunite you more easily.

-- Have a pet carrier ready for your pet in case of evacuation. You will need a carrier for safe transport in your car and for any public evacuation transportation. Also, emergency shelters will not take pets without carriers. Write the pet's name and your cell phone number on the top of the carrier, in permanent ink.

-- If you do have to evacuate, take your pet with you. We learned from Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Don't risk your pet's safety and life.

Friday, August 29: 5:00 PM EDT--The Humane Society of the United States released a statement today urging Gulf coast residents to include their pets in any disaster plans they make as Hurricane Gustav bears down on the U.S.. Saying in part:

"As Gulf Coast residents mark the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, they are once again under the threat of a potentially very serious hurricane," said Scotlund Haisley, senior director of Emergency Services for The HSUS. "I urge residents to prepare now for the possibility of evacuation orders by preparing a pet disaster kit and making plans to evacuate with your animals. If it's not safe for you, it's not safe for your pet."

On our Disaster Preparedness page, Petfinder.com has a Disaster Plan, a Disaster Preparedness Kit Checklist and many other tools to assist in preparations for the storm.