National Preparedness Month: Get your pups prepped!
San Diego is largely immune to many natural disasters that occur in other areas. While we do deal with wildfires and the occasional bad storm, some parts of the country are constantly watching out for volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, flash floods, deadly heatwaves, and more.
All told, we have it pretty good!
But that doesn’t mean we can’t take precautions to protect our pets from some of the disasters we may need to contend with. Specifically, those are most likely going to be earthquakes and wildfires—no blizzards, hopefully. We’ve discussed how to keep your pets safe from wildfires and wildfire smoke previously (to the extent that it’s possible), but given the change of seasons, it doesn’t hurt to recap some broad safety tips, either.
The San Diego Humane Society evidently read our minds, too, because at the beginning of September, it put out a list of tips for National Preparedness Month (which is September, if you didn’t know!). While we humans should obviously do our best to be prepared for emergencies, too, we shouldn’t forget our pets and animals.
“Our pets can’t plan for emergencies — that’s our job,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society, in a statement. “A little preparation now can save their lives when every second counts.”
So, what does the Humane Society suggest? Here’s its list, verbatim:
Create a pet emergency kit: Pack at least a two-week supply of food, water and medications in a sturdy container. Include bowls, bedding toys, veterinary contact information, vaccine records and a secure crate or carrier.
Practice getting pets ready to go: Make sure your pets are comfortable entering carriers or trailers, and know their hiding spots when they’re scared. If you have livestock or large animals, keep trailers ready and work with neighbors do identify safe holding areas, especially large open spaces that can provide refuge during fires. Practice loading and unloading your animals so it’s second nature in an emergency.
Never leave pets behind: If it isn’t safe for you, it isn’t safe for them. Take your pets with you whenever you evacuate — their lives, and the lives of potential rescuers, depend on it.
Make sure every pet has identification: All pets — even indoor-only animals— should wear collars with up-to-date ID tags and be microchipped.
Have a backup plan: Identify a trusted neighbor who can get to your pets if you’re away when disaster strikes.
All told, it’s a solid list. And while everyone will need to work with what they have—you may not have a trusted neighbor, for example—you should try to figure out some contingencies for pet care to the best of your ability.
What types of disasters are a threat to San Diego?
As for what sorts of disasters we in San Diego or the surrounding areas are most likely to run into? Well, we’ve already discussed them, and you can probably name them off the top of your head. Wildfire is at the top of the list, followed by earthquakes. There are three major fault systems in Southern California, and though earthquakes don’t strike frequently, they are a threat.
You can also throw heatwaves and extreme heat into the mix. While we don’t deal with high humidity in the region (thank goodness!), it does get hot, and that can pose health risks to humans and animals alike. Related, drought can be a problem, and though it may seem unrelated, flooding can also be a problem—parched, dry land has a difficult time absorbing water, so when it does rain, that rain slides right off, and can cause floods. Anyone who was here in early 2024 may remember.
Finally, tsunamis and landslides could be an issue, too. Again, don’t be scared, be prepared!
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