How do you prepare your pets for a disaster?
Written by Andy Kruger
BuildSOS CEO5 min read
The short answer
Build a pet emergency kit (food, water, meds, leash, carrier, and vet records), make sure your pet is microchipped with current ID tags, and identify at least one pet-friendly place to stay along your evacuation route. Most shelters won’t take pets, so this is the one piece of planning that can’t wait until the last minute.
Why pet planning can’t be an afterthought
About 94 million U.S. households own a pet (APPA, 2025), yet fewer than half of pet owners in disaster-prone areas have a plan (ASPCA). That gap causes two kinds of tragedy: pets left behind, and owners who refuse to evacuate because they won’t leave a pet, putting themselves at risk too.
Planning ahead means you never have to choose.
Building your pet emergency kit
- Pack the essentials. Food, water, medications, a leash, collar with current ID tags, a carrier or crate, and a comfort item like a toy or blanket.
- Microchip your pet, and keep the ID tags current. This is the single fastest way a lost pet gets back to you.
- Identify pet-friendly places along your evacuation route. Most public shelters don’t accept pets, so know your options before you need them: a pet-friendly hotel, a boarding facility, or family who can take you both in.
- Keep vaccination records with the kit. Some shelters and boarding facilities require proof of vaccination before they’ll take an animal in.
- Write down care instructions. Feeding schedule, medication doses, and any behavioral notes, in case someone else needs to care for your pet.
- Plan transportation. Make sure you have a secure carrier that fits in your vehicle, ready to go.
Frequently asked
What if I can’t find a pet-friendly shelter nearby?
Expand your search to hotels and boarding facilities along your evacuation route, not just in your immediate area. Save two or three backup options.
Do I need a plan for multiple pets?
Yes. Repeat the kit and ID steps for each pet, and make sure your evacuation vehicle can fit all of them safely.
How often should I update this?
Check vaccination records and refresh food and medication supplies at least once a year, or whenever your vet updates a prescription.
Sources
About the author
Andy Kruger
Andy Kruger is CEO of BuildSOS, author of When the Storm Comes, and sits on multiple boards and advisory groups shaping disaster resilience policy and research.
About Andy