They’re Depending on You: Protect Your Pets in a Storm | SERVPRO® of Clatsop, Columbia Counties

12/14/2020 (Permalink)

Lightning crashes and Fido is nowhere to be found. You search and search only to discover your pup in the basement, hiding between the water heater and the rat poison. Yikes!

When animals panic, such as during a storm or even a fireworks display, they can get hurt. Let’s talk about keeping your pet safe during a storm. In this blog, we’ll focus on indoor pets.

If You’re Staying in Place

Be aware that pets may run and hide—bringing them into contact with parts of the house where they don’t usually hang out. Know their hiding places so you can easily find them when a storm strikes.

Depending on the storm you’re threatened with, you may go into a sheltered location, such as in the basement or under the stairs. A pet that’s already frightened can resist the move or set up a ruckus once there. Be sure to get your pet used to your shelter room when the horizon’s clear.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Animals (ASPCA) suggests removing any hazardous materials, such as rat bait, from your family’s storm shelter. It might be a good idea to pet-proof your animals’ favorite hiding place, too.

If You Need to Evacuate

Again, your first step is to know your pet’s hidey-holes—this time, so you can quickly grab them in case of a flood or another situation where you need to evacuate quickly.

Like humans, pets need a “go bag” with basic supplies to carry in case of an evacuation. This can include medicine, a leash, medical paperwork, shot records and even a pet first-aid kit. The ASPCA even has a handy video tutorial to help you assemble your own pet first-aid kit.

From fire to storm to flood, disaster can strike at any time. If you’ve experienced storm damage, contact us at any hour for assistance.