Are you prepared for an emergency that could put your family, including your pets, at risk? Weather emergencies and other natural disasters as well as man-made disasters can happen at any time. Having a plan to keep you and your loved ones safe is essential.
As we’ve now entered peak hurricane season, we hope you already have a plan in place. But if you don’t have one, now is the time to create one to keep you and your family safe. And because pets are important members of your family, make sure to include their needs in every aspect of your emergency plan, starting with:
If it’s not safe for you to remain in your home during an emergency, it’s not safe for your pets, either. DON’T LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND!
New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) offers comprehensive guidance for pet owners and people with service animals in the many aspects of getting prepared on its informative website at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/em/ready/pets.page. Here you’ll find a range of topics, including microchipping and other methods of identification for pets, evacuating with pets and service animals, transportation options, how to prepare for a scenario in which you’re unable to get home to be with your pet or service animal, how to prepare them for weather or health emergencies, and what supplies to gather for your and your pets’ Go Bags.
Additional guidance can be found in the Ready New York: My Pet’s Emergency Plan workbook that outlines important steps pet owners can take to ensure their pets are prepared for all types of emergencies. The workbook, as well as other valuable NYC publications that provide guidance in emergency preparedness, can be viewed online in a range of languages.
Emergency Sheltering with Pets in New York City
For more than a decade, New York City has allowed pet owners who don’t have more favorable options to bring their pets or services animals with them to City evacuation centers (once the City’s emergency shelter system has been activated). Pet owners seeking shelter with their pets are asked, if possible, to bring supplies to care for their pets, including food, leashes, a carrier, and medication, and supplies to clean up after their pet.
Transporting Pets in an Emergency
According to the NYCEM website, pets in carriers are allowed on MTA subways, buses, and trains. When an evacuation order is declared, pets too large for carriers will also be allowed, provided those animals are muzzled and controlled on a sturdy leash no longer than four feet. The City will announce when this policy is in effect. According to the MTA, customers with disabilities are permitted to bring their service animals into all MTA transit facilities.
Why Microchipping Your Pets is Essential
During an emergency, the likelihood that you and your pets will become separated is extremely high. Having your pets microchipped is one of the best ways to increase their chances of being reunited with you. To be effective, however, you MUST register the microchip with a microchip registry, and update your contact information whenever you change your address or phone number. Read more about microchipping your pets.
A registered microchip is extremely important as a permanent means of identifying your dog or cat. But we also recommend having a dog tag affixed to your dog’s collar that displays your current phone number. If your dog is found running loose, a Good Samaritan can quickly call you and let you know your dog has been found and make arrangements to be reunited with you. If you need more encouragement to microchip your pets, please watch this video.
September is National Preparedness Month
NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) will present its annual Pets and Service Animal Preparedness Fair on Thursday, September 12 in Union Square Park’s North Plaza, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. The fair will showcase the resources that city and non-profit organizations provide to ensure the safety of pets and service animals prior to and during emergencies. Service animal organizations will also be present to educate the public about the role of service animals and how they assist people with disabilities. Admission is free to all.
As a member of NYCEM’s Animal Planning Task Force since 2006, the Alliance has worked with the City of New York and numerous task force partners over the years to create and implement a comprehensive plan to keep New Yorkers and their pets safe when disaster strikes. We hope you’ll visit our Prepare Your Pets for Emergencies web page for links to a range of expert sources, including American Red Cross, American Veterinary Medical Association, ASPCA, Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), RedRover, and others to arm yourself with additional preparedness information.