For many people, pets are considered “part of the family,” and leaving a furry friend behind to take shelter in a storm is out of the question. But preparing for a storm with a pet involves some extra steps. 

Steve Carriere, an instructor with Florida State Animal Response Coalition (FL SARC), said having a plan is the most important thing for pet owners going into a storm. 

“There is a lot of personal responsibility that goes into pet ownership,” Carriere said in a phone interview. “And one of them is to be able to have a plan in place for when you need to bring your pet with you and evacuate from a disaster or emergency.” 

Lost pets become a concern during storms. Alachua County Animal Resources (ACAR) recommends keeping dogs on leashes and cats in carriers inside the house during a storm, because they could run away if the house gets damaged 

In case of separation, ACAR recommends ensuring all pets have collars with up-to-date information, including the owner’s name, phone number and any urgent needs. Microchipping a pet can ensure that such information is not lost. 

Ready, a national public service campaign to help people prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters, recommends creating an emergency supply kit for pets as well as people—one large kit for sheltering in place, and a lightweight version in case of evacuation. 

Such a kit should include pet food, water, a collar and leash with an ID tag, a travel bag or carrier, and sanitation items such as litter and a litter box, paper towels, plastic trash bags and household chlorine bleach. 

Alachua County does not advertise shelter locations until a storm is impending, but when it does, pet owners should look for the pet-friendly shelters where they can go. 

Carriere said if a disaster strikes and shelters are not prepared, pet owners sometimes put themselves in danger because they are unwilling to leave their pet behind. FL SARC works to prevent this by training community members across Florida on the requirements for a pet friendly shelter, and how to become FL SARC disaster responders. 

The Humane Society of North Central Florida is hosting two of these training sessions over the summer. The original date, in July, sold out, so the organization added another date on June 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is $35. 

To keep a pet out of the storm entirely, pet owners can look for a safe haven for their animals, such as a boarding kennel, hotels or motels that accept pets, or friends or relatives outside the immediate area.