When an evacuation order arrives, a frightened cat may hide and an otherwise easygoing dog may refuse to settle. A packed bag cannot remove the stress, but it can keep you from searching for medicine, a leash or vaccination records when it is time to leave.

Prepare for hurricanes, flooding, wildfire evacuations, prolonged outages that make your home unsafe, and other emergencies that require temporary accommodation. Follow local instructions, take your pets with you when evacuating, and plan the destination before the emergency.

Build one labeled kit for each pet

Keep supplies together near the carriers, with a short last-minute list for medicines or other items you use daily. Include your name and phone number on the bag and carrier. Organize a portable kit for leaving quickly and additional supplies for the car or home. Several days of supplies are a starting point; the CDC's fuller disaster-kit checklist recommends two weeks of food, water and applicable medication for each animal. Ask your veterinarian how to meet that goal for your pet and how to store medicines safely.

The shared essentials for dogs and cats

1. Usual food in sealed, waterproof containers. Mark portions and feeding times. Add a manual can opener if needed. Plan for each animal separately, including prescription diets.

2. Drinking water and familiar bowls. Bring your own supply and refill only from a safe source. Floodwater and standing water are not suitable drinking water. Ask your veterinarian how much to plan for your pet's size, health and conditions.

3. Regular medicines and written directions. Keep labeled packaging, prescription details, the dosing schedule and the veterinarian's contact information together. Plan for refrigeration or other storage needs; ask about this before a storm threatens.

4. Veterinary and identification records. Pack copies of vaccination records, including rabies documentation, a medical summary, microchip information and proof of ownership or adoption. Keep paper copies dry and save secure electronic copies.

5. A recent photograph. Include a clear picture of each animal and one of you together. Record distinguishing marks and the pet's current description. Check that microchip registration contact details are current.

6. A secure carrier or crate for each pet. Choose the correct size, check latches and label it. Practice comfortable, short sessions before an emergency. A carrier should be familiar equipment, not something first introduced during an evacuation.

7. Identification and handling equipment. Bring a collar with an ID tag, a well-fitting harness where appropriate, and a regular leash with a spare. Check fit and condition before relying on them.

8. Bedding and one or two familiar comforts. A washable blanket, towel or favorite toy gives the animal something familiar. Bring spares if the bedding may become wet or soiled.

9. Cleanup supplies. Pack waste bags, paper towels, disposable gloves, spare bags for dirty items and suitable cleaning supplies. Keep cleaners secured away from pets, and follow product and shelter directions.

10. A veterinarian-approved first-aid kit. Include supplies your veterinarian recommends and a pet first-aid reference. First aid is a bridge to professional care. Do not give human pain medicines, sedatives or other new drugs without veterinary direction.

11. Care instructions and emergency contacts. Write down feeding, medication, behavior and handling needs. Add your usual veterinarian, an emergency clinic near your planned destination, a backup caregiver and an out-of-area contact. A printed copy helps if your phone cannot be used.

12. Practical supplies for the person caring for the pet. Keep a flashlight or headlamp, charged phone, charging cable and suitable backup power with your household kit. You may need to clean up, read labels or locate supplies in poor lighting.

Add these for dogs

Bring enough waste bags, a familiar walking harness and a regular leash that lets you keep the dog close. Pack absorbent pads if your dog uses them, and a washable mat for resting. Keep your dog leashed outside secure enclosures, even if recall is normally reliable. Stress, unfamiliar animals and changed surroundings can alter behavior.

For a dog with mobility limitations, ask your veterinarian about a suitable support harness and practice moving the dog safely. Write down any triggers or handling precautions for a backup caregiver. Do not assume a shelter can provide specialist equipment or constant individual supervision.

Add these for cats

Pack a portable litter tray, the cat's usual litter, a scoop and disposal bags. Add absorbent carrier liners and a familiar towel. Keep the carrier securely closed during transport. At your destination, use a secure, enclosed area and follow staff instructions before opening it; never open it in a busy parking lot.

Bring the carrier indoors well before departure and know your cat's hiding places. Practice calmly getting the cat into the carrier. A towel draped over part of the carrier may provide privacy, but leave ventilation unobstructed and watch for heat. Keep cats separated from unfamiliar animals.

Before going to a hurricane shelter

Do not assume every evacuation shelter accepts household pets. Check your county or local emergency-management office for the shelters actually opening for the current event. Confirm whether registration, vaccination records, a crate, identification or other supplies are required, and ask about species or capacity restrictions. Requirements differ by location.

Ask whether pets stay with their owners or in a separate area, who provides daily care, and when owners may visit. For example, Hillsborough County describes pet-friendly emergency shelters where animals stay in a separate area and owners provide care during scheduled visits when conditions allow. That arrangement should not be assumed elsewhere.

Have a second destination: a pet-friendly hotel, a willing friend or relative outside the affected area, or a boarding facility that has confirmed it can accept your animals. Ask about fees, size limits and availability before traveling. Arrange a trusted backup person who can collect the animals if you are away when an evacuation begins.

When it is time to leave

Follow official instructions and leave early enough to move your family and animals safely. Secure pets for transport; do not let them roam loose in the vehicle. Take the kit, carriers, household emergency supplies and last-minute medicines. Never leave a pet in a parked vehicle while checking into a shelter or hotel. If immediate danger requires leaving, do not delay evacuation to complete a shopping list.

After returning home, inspect for debris, exposed wiring and spilled chemicals before letting pets explore. Keep dogs leashed and cats contained until the surroundings are safe. Changed smells and damaged fences can make a familiar property confusing or unsafe.

Make the kit useful before you need it

Choose a regular review date, replace expired supplies, update photographs and records, and practice loading everyone into the vehicle. The test is practical: can the people responsible find each pet, lift the supplies and leave with the required equipment? Adjust the plan while there is time.

This article provides general preparedness information and does not replace care or individualized advice from a licensed veterinarian. For illness, injury, breathing difficulty, collapse, suspected poisoning or other urgent concerns, seek veterinary help promptly. Follow current emergency instructions and the receiving shelter's requirements.

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