High Tech Animal Disaster Preparedness Tips

Okay, I guess this week is going to be about Animal Disaster Preparedness Tips. I just can’t take the lack of preparation anymore!

As Hurricane Gustav moves on, the National Hurricane Center is tracking an eerie tropical storm line up (Hanna, Ike, Josephine). You can also follow storms from the internet using Storm Pulse.

If you didn’t download the Animal Disaster Preparedness Guide yet, just sign up as an email subscriber using the box to your right.

When I first published the guide for pet owners and pet professionals (1993) we were not so high tech. In fact, the Internet was still pretty new for most people.

Because of this and because of all the issues that come up during disasters (lack of electricity, phone and cell tower issues, etc.,) I didn’t include more high tech tips and so thought I should do it here.

But first, take this quiz to see how much you really know about Hurricane Karina recovery…and get an eye opening into that ongoing mess.

If you are a technophobe–get over it or get your kids to help you out. You can also visit the Wireless Foundation and read their disaster tips and hints.

1. Put your pet’s veterinary medical records and other important documents on a thumb drive (aka flash drive or jump drive). You can place this into your disaster kit or attach it to your key chain or pet’s collar. This is especially helpful in areas that may flood.

2. Do you have In Case of Emergency (ICE) contacts on your cell phone? If not add ICE1, ICE2, etcetera with those family and friends who will need to be notified. If you do this, emergency responders will be able to use the list and obtain vital information. Do you have the surrounding veterinary clinic numbers in there? Add them and those of clinics and animal shelters in the locations where you will evacuate.

3. Use your cell phone to take photos of regular family members and add them next to their numbers. For the furry family members, add them to the veterinary clinic number. These photos can be used to help the authorities locate your pets and to help make posters if they are lost.

4. When phone messages don’t get through, text messages often do. Txtmsgs move around disruptions and place lower demands on compromised resources during times of disaster. Make sure your animal owning friends and pet professionals are on the list.

5. Join location oriented social networks. I am pretty new on BrightKite but there are more services out there. In a crisis, one message can get word to everyone in your network. In my area most locals check out SoCalMountains.com for incident news. Look for similar resources in your locality.

6. Social media networks have been popular for real time geocentric information and situational awareness. Check out how these social media tools are used for hurricanes at Twitter, QIK (video streaming by phone), and Ning. Users put photos at Flickr of Hurricane Gustav where Yahoo news groups sometimes pool their resources as well. You can even find a 2008 Hurricane WiKi. Other Twitter folks of interest? Best Friends, HSUS, or search for more.

7. Subscribe to the National Hurricane Center feed with real-time information on hurricanes. (Just click on the orange RSS button in the sidebar or follow the link to get the whole scoop.)

8. Check to see if your local officials are clued up on the high tech tools that can help during emergencies. If you volunteer with any animal services see if you can get them implement strategies after checking out what PC World had to say about LA Fire Department’s savvy.

9. Find a Amateur Radio Relay League network in your area but a Bellsouth 22-Channel Family Radio Service (FRS) Walkie Talkie Set can keep your connected locally. This is especially great for horse people who depend on each other during evacuations. Get FRS tips at National SOS Radio Network. For ideas you can also check out the DC Emergency Radio Network.

10. A Portable Briefcase Solar Charger is a good emergency tool to keep your laptop and other small electronics working when the electricity is out. Community Wireless Services posted a video by David Stephenson on how to create a neighborhood disaster network with a laptop disk.

11. Satellite radio services are a good idea for getting the latest emergency news. Check out Sirius or XM for emergency stations in your area. Here in the mountains we are isolated and often use wind up emergency radios and flashlight kits to get the local news.

12. Finally, keep an eye out for more high tech emergency video tips by David Stephenson.

Thanks to BlobSchmog: Disaster in a Connected Society for the inspiration for this post.

Do you have other tips or links you want to share? Let me know below.

Animal Disaster Preparedness Guide

Okay, I am releasing a preliminary version of my revised Animal Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners & Pet Professionals in PDF format today.

I’m still working on adding photos and other interesting information but the 53 page guide has valuable information needed by pet owners and animal professionals.

Why am I releasing it now?

I am getting sick of seeing stuff like this:

We heard people with pets were being turned away from evacuation buses (because they didn’t have pet carriers!), our team responded with three thousand pet carriers to be sure those folks could evacuate with their pets. (From Best Friends Animal Rescue)

To get a copy of the Animal Disaster Preparedness Guide, you just need to be a subscriber here at Ark Animals.

We are revising the site and it will be available once that is done after you confirm you’ll get the download page password.

Disaster Resources for Veterinarians and Pet Owners as Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, Josephine and Ike are excellent examples of why National Preparedness Month, held every September, is so important. Preparation is the best defense.

Here is a preview of the Animal Disaster Preparedness Guide Table of Contents:

About this Project

Expect the Unexpected

Examples: flooding, earthquake, fire

Animal Disaster Preparedness?

Are you Prepared?

The Beginning: Questions to Ask

The Next Step: More Questions & Action!

Does Your City/Town Have A Disaster Plan Program?

You Need an Evacuation Plan

Animal Needs

Animal Rescue (Disaster) Kits

Do it Yourself Animal Disaster Kit (Dogs & Cats)

Avian Collections & Birds

Injured Bird Tips

Equine & Large Animals

Horse Kit Items

Importance of Horse Training

Livestock & Fire

Earthquake Warning Behavior from Animals

Cats, Dogs, Horses & Livestock, Birds

Other Animals

Post Disaster Animal Behavior

Cats, Dogs, Horses & Livestock

Post Disaster Problems

Hazards

Always Take Your Animals With You!

Desensitization & Other Training

Other Resources

Appendix of Animal Behavior & Needs

Moving Livestock

Other Animals

Dog Emergency Care Sheet

Cat Emergency Care Sheet

Bird Emergency Care Sheet

Horse Emergency Care Sheet

Emergency Care Sheet for Sheep, Goats, Llamas

Cattle Emergency Care Sheet

Swine Emergency Care Sheet

Appendix of Historical Animal Behavior

Animal Behavior Precursors & Locations

Resources & Recommended Reading

Appendix of Animal Disaster Agencies, Training & Equipment

Disaster/Search & Rescue Dogs

About Diana L Guerrero

I’d love it if you would promote this free resource on your websites or blogs. You can find the codes for the banners below or on the Resources page.

 

Hoping that we can be part of the solution so we see less news stories about animal disaster victims!