Disaster Assistance and Preparedness
The Marin Humane Society has organized a countywide animal disaster plan in the event of a disaster or emergency. Together with the Marin County Office of Emergency Services, the American Red Cross and other key agencies, the Marin Humane Society provides food, shelter, medication and transportation for those families who need help with their pets in the event of an emergency.
Update on Japan Disaster Relief
The Marin Humane Society is in contact with our international partners as discussions take place with the Japanese government to assess the needs of animals and determine the best approaches for responding to those needs. For more information on the Japan disaster relief and ways you can help, please go to the following websites:
International Fund For Animal Welfare
Humane Society International
World Society for the Protection of Animals
Your Disaster Plan
Do you have a plan for your pets in case of an earthquake, flood or fire? In the event of an emergency, a well-practiced disaster program will both reduce stress and save precious time and lives. Listed below are some recommendations to help keep you and your pets safe and calm during a disaster.
For House Pets
For Large & Farm Animals
Before Disaster Strikes
Identify Your Pet: Keep your pet's license current and make sure that a collar and identification tag are worn at all times. Consider getting a safe, permanent microchip for your pet. A microchip ID cannot be lost or removed.
Crate Train Your Pet: Train your cat or dog to enter a carrier on command. Do this by putting your pet's favorite treat in the carrier and sounding a bell at the same time. Repeat this process every day, until your pet comes running at the sound of the bell. Continue this routine often enough to keep it fresh in your pet's mind. This training will be extremely helpful in locating frightened pets and transporting them quickly to safety. Dogs should also be trained to come on command.
Secure Birdcages and Fish Tanks: Because these items may move and/or break during a disaster, securing them on low stands or tables will be helpful. Also, tighten the latch on your birdcage so that the door cannot be shaken open easily.
Develop a Neighborhood Plan: Get to know your neighbors and their pets. Keep an updated list of their home, work and mobile phone numbers (update every six months) and select a neighborhood coordinator who will be ready to assist should a disaster occur when you are not home. It is best that this person spends a lot of time at home or works within walking distance of the neighborhood. Select one or two back-up coordinators, in case the primary person is unavailable.
Prepare a First Aid Kit, which should include:
- Any special medication prescribed by your veterinarian
- Large and small bandages
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Q-tips
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Hydrogen Peroxide (to induce vomiting or for cleaning deep wounds)
- Elastic Tape to secure bandages
- Eye Wash (saline) and Ear Cleaning (ChlorhexiDem, Epi-otic) solutions
Following a Disaster
In Case of Evacuation: Red Cross shelters do not accept pets. So, prepare a list of back-up arrangements, such as homes of friends and family, hotels that allow pets, boarding facilities, veterinary hospitals, and/or animal shelters.
It is generally not recommended that you leave your pet behind when evacuating, but if you must, follow these guidelines to help ensure your pet's safety:
Post a highly visible sign in a window to let rescue workers know how many pets were left behind.
Leave plenty of water in a large, open container which cannot be tipped over.
Leave food in timed feeders (check local pet stores). These will prevent your pet from eating a week's worth of food in one day.
Do not tie or cage your pet as the chances for survival are greater if your pet can escape easily.
If Your Pet Becomes Lost:
Immediately call or visit the nearest animal shelter to report your missing pet.
When deemed safe, return to your neighborhood to post and distribute “Lost Animal” posters, which should include your name, home address and phone number (posters available at MHS or online).
Continue to search the area for your missing pet – a frightened animal may stay hidden for days.
Call neighbors or service workers, such as mail carriers, police, firefighters and/or utility workers, for leads.
If You Find a Lost Pet: Notify the local animal shelter as soon as possible and be prepared to give a full description of the animal (i.e., breed, color and/or sex) and its location. Remember that sick and/or injured animals can become unpredictable from the stress of an injury and should be cared for by professionals familiar with proper handling techniques.
Pet Disaster Kit
A prepared disaster kit, kept in a safe and easily accessible place, will enable you to provide immediate care to your pet in an emergency. A calm, well-trained pet who is either on a leash or in a carrier will be more welcome wherever you go. Items to include:
- Sturdy crate and/or carrier
- Identification tag and collar for both dogs and cats
- Leashes
- Food/water (7-day supply for each pet)
- If providing canned food – manual can opener/plastic lid
- Non-spill bowls
- Litter/litterbox
- Any special medication
- Copy of your pet's current vaccination history
- Recent photos of your pet
- Pet First-Aid kit (see content lists in this booklet)
- Pet First-Aid book
- Phone numbers of the local emergency veterinary clinic: (In Marin) Pet Emergency & Specialty Center of Marin in San Rafael (415) 456-7372
- Phone number of your local animal shelter; The Marin Humane Society provides emergency assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week: (415) 883-4621
- Long-term confinement equipment, such as portable caging, chains, cable runs and/or tie-out stakes
- Plastic bags for cat litter disposal and dog clean-up
- Newspapers and paper towels
- Emergency phone numbers
Before Disaster Strikes
Do you have a plan for your animals in case of an earthquake, flood or fire? In the event of an emergency, a well-practiced disaster program will not only reduce stress, but will also save precious time and lives. Listed below are The Marin Humane Society’s recommendations to help keep you and your animals safe during a disaster.
Develop a Barn Safety and Evacuation Plan
Your evacuation plan should outline each type of disaster and determine specific scenarios best suited for each situation. It should include a list of resources, such as trucks, trailers, pasture and/or feed, which might be needed in an evacuation, as well as a designated person who will unlock gates and doors and make your facility easily accessible to emergency personnel.
- Post your plan where it is clearly visible
- Make sure that everyone who lives, works or boards at your barn is familiar with the plan
- Get to know your neighbors and their animals
- Select a neighborhood coordinator who is familiar with your evacuation plan and will be ready to assist should a disaster occur when you are not at home
- Learn to handle your neighbors’ animals and identify those that have special handling needs (i.e., stallions)
- Post an updated phone list (home and office) of all neighbors and anyone who boards at your facility
Food and Water Requirements
All animals should be given unrestricted access to water. With the exception of birds, animals can go extended periods of time without food, but can only last a couple of days at the most without water. The values below are approximate per adult animal per day and may vary greatly with temperature, workload, stress and disease. Sources of feed should be identified before a disaster.
In general, most herbivorous animals eat approximately 1–2% of their body weight in some form of roughage. Roughage is hay or hay-like products (pellets, cubes etc.). In an emergency, grain products or other concentrates need not be given.
During and Following a Disaster
Your personal safety and the safety of those around you should always be your first concern. A pre-determined plan will help you remain calm and think clearly. Remember to communicate and cooperate with all emergency personnel. If you must leave the premises, let someone know where you are going and try to remain in contact with that person.
In the Event of a Fire
Contact emergency personnel immediately. Do not enter burning buildings as smoke inhalation can be deadly. Report changes in wind direction, speed and fire behavior. Post a lookout for possible dangers. Have your trailer hitched and pointed toward the road. Leave barn doors unlocked and keys in the ignition. Put halters on animals and keep gates unlocked but secure. If you believe that the barn will burn before emergency personnel arrive, release the animals to a safer location—animals will often return home on their own accord.
If you are caught out in the open when a fire hits, seek areas with sparse vegetation or bare ground. Lie face down in a depression and cover yourself with anything that will protect you from the heat. Avoid trying to outrun the head of a fire; instead, watch for slower burning flanks. Do not attempt to control the animals that are with you — let them go free as they will have a better chance of escaping the fire on their own.
In the Event of an Earthquake
During the quake, remember to drop, cover and hold on. Once the tremors have stopped, take a good look around. Do not enter buildings that may have become unstable during the quake. Like you, your animals will be frightened and need reassurance. If an animal has become injured or trapped, call emergency personnel immediately. Be prepared for aftershocks.
In the Event of a Flood
If you receive notice of rapidly rising waters, move all animals, feed and water to higher ground. Escape routes may be cut off quickly, so avoid leaving animals in standing water or in areas that may be cut off by the flood.
If You Must Leave Animals Behind
Post a highly visible sign (either on a window or a door) letting rescue workers know the breed and number of animals that remain. Leave plenty of food and water in an adequate size container that cannot be tipped over. Place extra food close to the animals so rescue workers can feed them daily. Do not tie animals or confine them to an area that may be easily destroyed. Be sure that the animals cannot get loose on roads or highways as this can lead to injury to both humans and animals, and can interfere with emergency rescue vehicles. Ideally, you will be able to secure your animals in a pasture.
If Your Animal Becomes Lost
Immediately call or visit the nearest animal shelter or emergency command post. When deemed safe, return to your neighborhood to post and distribute lost animal posters, which should include your name, address, phone number and a picture of the animal. Animals may stay hidden for weeks, so be patient and continue searching your area.
If You Find a Lost Animal
If you find a lost animal, please notify the local animal shelter as soon as possible and be prepared to give a full description of the animal, as well as its location. Remember that sick and/or injured animals can become unpredictable from stress and should be handled by a professional.
What Can You Do to Help?
- Help organize a neighborhood rescue group
- Join an animal rescue team and learn techniques to aid animals during a disaster
- See if there is a local animal care organization that can use your help
Reduce Hazards
- Maintain a firebreak around all buildings
- Mow weeds and trim trees that reside close to any buildings
- Regularly clean roofs and gutters
- Repair exposed wires, rotten supports and blocked waterways
- Post “No Smoking” signs
- Clearly label all shut-offs
- Store combustibles, such as hay, straw, wood, shavings and gasoline, away from barns
- Remove overhanging trees that may fall on animals or buildings
- Keep an adequate water source
Identify Your Animal
Keep animals’ vaccinations current and put photographs, papers and other identifying documents in a safe and easily accessible location. Brand, tag, freeze mark, tattoo or microchip your animals so that they have permanent identification.
Disaster Kit
A prepared disaster kit, kept in a safe and easily accessible place, will enable you to provide immediate care to your animals in an emergency.
Items to include:
- Ladder(s) long enough to reach the roof
- Shovels
- Rakes
- Non-spill bowls
- Water buckets
- Flashlight or lanterns
- Blankets
- Minimum 100 feet of hose
- Cotton ropes
- Cotton halters and lead ropes
- First-aid book
- Collars
- Animal handling equipment
- Blindfolds
- Fence panels
- Hot wire kits
- Portable first-aid kit
- Battery powered radio
For more information about disaster preparation, please call (415) 506-6209.
Resources
Marin Interagency Disaster Coalition
