How to ensure safety and wellbeing of pets during disasters

When disasters strike, the first instinct of most people is to protect their families.

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For millions of households, that family includes animals who depend entirely on human care. Yet pets are often overlooked in emergency plans, and many end up lost, injured or separated from their owners during floods, landslides, storms and other crises. Sri Lanka's recent extreme weather events have once again highlighted how vulnerable animals are and how crucial it is to plan for their safety as carefully as we plan for our own. Ensuring the wellbeing of pets during disasters is not just a matter of compassion. It is also a matter of public health and community resilience, because frightened, hungry or injured animals can create additional challenges in crisis situations.Protecting pets begins long before a storm or flood appears on the horizon. Preparedness is the foundation of safety. Every pet owner should start with a simple idea. If it is not safe for you to stay in your home during a disaster, it is not safe for your pets either. They experience fear more intensely than humans because they cannot understand what is happening. Loud thunderstorms, rushing water, strong winds and strange smells can cause panic that may lead them to bolt, hide or injure themselves. A clear plan helps prevent chaos in these moments.

One of the most effective ways to protect pets is to create a disaster kit specifically for them. It should contain several days of food and clean water, medications, a leash or harness, a carrier for smaller animals, sanitation supplies and copies of medical records. These items should be packed in a waterproof bag and kept in a place where they can be reached quickly. Many people assume they will have time to gather everything when an alert is issued, but disasters often move faster than expected. A ready bag avoids last minute panic and ensures no essential item is forgotten.