Pet Safety Protect Your Pack

It's National Pet Preparedness Month—let this be a reminder to get yourself and your furry family members ready should disaster strike.

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• Fire

If there's a wildfire and you need to evacuate, your pets should go with you. That means creating a plan with potential places to shelter that will take pets—you can't guarantee all evacuation sites will accept animals, so research now. If the fire is in your house, however, “Don’t go back in to grab your pet, as difficult as this is,” says Susan Anderson, senior director of disaster response at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Consider adding a pet alert decal to a window so first responders know of the pets in your home. Never let your pet near damaged property after a fire, and if air quality is poor, limit time outside.

• Tornado