I am one of the rare “born and raised” Floridians you run into only occasionally in Palm Coast. Living in Florida for 30 years, I’ve been through so many major hurricanes than I’ve honestly lost count – let’s just say it’s more than 10. Hurricanes are just part of life down here. The official hurricane season runs from June 1st until November 30th – nearly half of the year! My husband and I have three large dogs that would make evacuation a challenge. We’re also experienced primitive campers who aren’t afraid to be without power, so we’ve always chosen to ride the storms out at home. Riding out a hurricane is a stressful experience even for storm-veterans and it’s tougher still to prepare when you have pets to consider. From Hurricane Andrew through Hurricane Dorian, I’ve picked up quite a lot of experience managing dogs and cats through the big storms. As we’re heading into the most active part of the season, I wanted to compile some useful tips to help you and your pets get through hurricane season safely.
Make a Potty Plan
One of the biggest challenges when riding out a hurricane with pets is providing them with an opportunity to go to the bathroom! The rain can last for days on end and it may be unsafe for your pets to go outside (if you can somehow convince them to go out in the downpour in the first place). For cats, it’s a pretty simple fix: have a litterbox and lots of extra litter onhand. For dogs, however, it’s a bit trickier. You can use potty pads indoors, but many dogs are uncomfortable using these in the house if they aren’t already used to them.
One of the cheapest and most ingenious ideas I’ve run across is using a retrofitted kiddie pool as a potty area for dogs. When a storm is on the way, simply fill a kiddie pool with some turf from your yard (you can purchase sod, if you don’t want to tear up your grass). This can give your pup a little patch of the great outdoors that’s accessible from the safety of your home. You should obviously consider the size of your pets when you purchase a pool, but the bigger the better in most cases. A well-trained dog may be hesitant to use the bathroom indoors, even with grass under their paws. If so, you might have better luck keeping the pool in the garage or taking it onto a covered porch as needed. You shouldn’t leave your pool-potty outside, even in a covered area, as the wind can easily turn something this light into a projectile. In a pinch, you can also purchase urine attractant spray, which serves as a “potty here” signal for your pup wherever it’s applied.
Stockpile Supplies
It never fails: a hurricane springs up out of nowhere and thousands of unprepared Palm Coast residents flock to Publix and clear the shelves of supplies. I can’t stress this enough to my fellow Floridians: Have a surplus of water and food on-hand during hurricane season! At the start of the season, I simply buy a gallon or two of water each time I make a shopping trip until I have enough for my family (pets included). If you’re wondering how much water you need, there’s a handy calculator that can help. Not only will this save you a huge headache if and when a storm is on the way, but it will also help the entire Palm Coast community by ensuring that there are enough supplies to go around for those who are unable to stock up in advance.
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While water is the most important thing to stockpile, there are other items you should consider keeping handy during hurricane season, including your pets’ food. I always try to keep an extra bag of my dogs’ kibble on hand and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have food for at least a week, come what may. As an added bonus, I never have to make a last-second Walmart trip after realizing I’m out of dog food at 9 pm. You should do the same with cat litter, treats, and medications as storm season heats up. Make sure you’re stocked up for a week or two on anything your pets might need because you might not be able to get to the vet or receive a Chewy delivery for a while, even after the storm has passed.
Provide Enrichment
When planning to ride out a hurricane with your pets, it’s easy to overlook the mental aspects of the situation. Safety and security obviously come first, but you should also think about how your pets will fare at home for days on end. You won’t be able to walk your dogs for exercise or take them for a drive to entertain them. You’ll basically be dependent on whatever you have in your house for days, so it’s worth including some useful and enriching items for your pets in that inventory. Puzzle toys are a great option for dogs, providing mental stimulation and a way to keep busy that doesn’t involve eating your furniture. Cats are a little easier to occupy (just ball up some tinfoil and watch them go!) but may still need some help staying calm. Hurricanes are stressful and scary, after all, and your pets definitely absorb some of your worries. Calming pheromone sprays and oils, such as Feliway, can help soothe nervous cats. There are similar sprays available for dogs, along with a wide array of calming chews and treats with ingredients like CBD and chamomile.
Have an Evacuation Plan
As I mentioned, I have never evacuated for a hurricane. However, I want to make it abundantly clear that I have never been in a mandatory evacuation zone. If you are ordered to evacuate, you should absolutely do so! I am confident in dealing with hurricanes, but I’m careful to never let my confidence turn into hubris. When a storm is coming, I always prepare to evacuate, even though I plan to stay. Part of my preparation process is ensuring that my suitcase is packed and my cars are filled with gas and ready to go. The bottom line is that these storms are unpredictable and you might be evacuated without much warning. I have heard far too many stories of stubborn Palm Coasters who made up their minds to stay in a mandatory evacuation zone, only to find themselves in danger when it’s too late to leave. I never panic during a storm, but I also take hurricanes very seriously. I have seen firsthand what kind of devastation they can bring and I implore everyone to have an evacuation plan in place.
Your evacuation plan should absolutely include your pets. Please, never leave an animal home alone during an emergency situation like a hurricane. Conditions may be unsafe for them and it could be quite a while before you are able to return. If you plan to evacuate to one of Flagler County’s hurricane shelters, you should note that only one shelter typically accepts animals and that they must be in a crate or kennel. As a storm approaches, keep up with shelter availability and specifics via Flagler County Emergency Management. If your evacuation plan has you leaving town altogether, make sure you call ahead to your planned accommodations to confirm that they accept pets. Many hotels relax their pet policies during emergencies, so don’t be afraid to call around to places that aren’t advertised as pet-friendly. If you can’t bring your pets with you to your accommodations, you may be able to find a local kennel or pet sitter near your final destination.
No matter what your evacuation plan entails, the important thing is that you think it through before you’re actually faced with a hurricane. Evacuation is stressful, but having a plan in place for you AND your pets will help everything go smoothely in the event that the worst-case scenario becomes a reality. Find out who to call and where to go if you need to evacuate and keep that information handy. And yes, you should do this even if you’re stubborn like me and plan to ride the hurricane out with your pets at home.
Xanadu Pet Care is here for you in good weather and in bad. If you have any questions about riding out a hurricane with your pets (or anything else), don’t hesitate to contact us!