This is a brief guide on how to help animals during the hurricane. The article will explain what all you need to know in order to be able to help these poor creatures, ways for us humans to contribute, and also strategies for human-animal communication at this time during natural disasters.
Contents
Hurricanes and Animals
Long before a hurricane strikes, there will be warning signs that appear. These include unusual weather changes such as heat waves or severe thunderstorms that may signal a hurricane is on its way.
If you live in an area that is frequently affected by hurricanes (and you are not an alligator!), you should store supplies in your home prior to the storm, and be sure that the water purification system is working. If it doesn’t work, you should do your best to make sure that pet bowls are clean and full of drinking water at all times.
Humans And Animals Communicate Best With Rationale Explanations
Animals are frequently victimized during a major hurricane. This happens for several reasons. When a major hurricane hits, many animals who live in the local area may be forced to leave their normal habitats. Other animals may also be tempted by the abundance of food and water that comes to flood-ravaged areas.
Animals are often disoriented by strong winds, flood waters, and even fallen trees. In many cases, these animals are unable to find their way back home (especially those without knowledge of regional landmarks) and become frightened and lost.
With animals, humans can communicate with them in a number of ways. First, you can communicate with animals through your thoughts. This kind of communication can take place telepathically, which is the most common way that animals are able to communicate telepathically with humans.
Deer are most commonly known for their telepathic abilities, and will often use telepathic messages to find lost members of their herd. This is also how dogs communicate with each other, and how humans communicate with them when they are in the presence of other dogs or canines.
The second way that humans can communicate with animals is through direct eye contact (which works best in the presence of other humans). This is known as visual communication, and is a form of nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication means communicating without words.
What Do You Do With Animals During A Hurricane?
Animal shelters are emptied by the hundreds within hours of the hurricane making landfall. Rescuers are then overwhelmed by the number of animals they are required to take care of, with the result that animals are left in cages on cement floors without food or water, forced to fight for their own survival with hundreds of other animals.
When it is over, animal control offices find themselves facing thousands of dead animals in their cages. Most people don’t even know where to begin helping after a major hurricane hits.
There are several things you can do to help. If you have a boat, you can form an animal rescue team, which is most commonly done with volunteers from the local fire department.
If there are no local shelters still operating, but there are people who need rescuing on the coast, your best bet would be to head inland (and not out to sea), and look for areas that may have been overlooked by first responders.
You should know that there is a serious lack of resources for animals after a major hurricane. In the aftermath, local area shelters often run out of supplies to care for pets and people alike, and animals can be at risk from exposure to flood water.
In the wake of a major hurricane, it is also important to make sure that any drugs or medications you bring with you are stored in a water-impermeable container, and sealed. Even your wet-weather gear needs to be stored in a waterproof bag.
How Can We Help Displaced Animals?
After a hurricane, it is imperative that you have the proper supplies to care for your animals. When it comes to caring for animals, you need to have plenty of drinking water, food, medications, special shelter beds for young animals who aren’t yet able to hold their heads up on their own. You also need to have pet carriers that are sturdy and easy to carry around.
All of these items can be bought at a pet store, but your best bet is to buy them before the hurricane strikes. When buying any pet supplies, it is important that you buy high-quality products immediately, and not wait until the last minute.
In addition to the above mentioned items, you should also make sure that any medications you plan on using are marked with an expiration date. In case of a hurricane, there is a serious lack of resources for animals after a major hurricane. In the aftermath, local area shelters often run out of supplies to care for pets and people alike, and animals can be at risk from exposure to flood water.
How Do I Protect My Pet From A Hurricane?
The best way to protect your pet from a hurricane is to keep them inside. If you live in an area that has experienced hurricanes before, or if you live close enough to the coast, you know how important it is to keep your pets indoors during a hurricane.
Even with your pet inside, there are still some things you can do to protect them. Even if they will naturally stop interacting with others after a major hurricane strikes, they still need stimulation and love to stay happy. So once you are done cleaning up, you can always take them out for a drive or do something fun together.
If your pet is used to being outside, it is still important that they are kept safe during a hurricane. Even with hurricane preparedness taken into consideration, there are things that have nothing to do with hurricanes that can be dangerous for pets. If you have any outdoor exercise equipment, keep it secure so your pets aren’t able to use it as a means of escape during a hurricane.
If you have any fences on your property, make sure that they are secured with a lock, or fastened with a rope that is tied to a secure object. This will prevent your pets from escaping during a hurricane. If you have any loose pieces of lumber lying around your yard, make sure to remove them. If you don’t know if they are loose, make sure to check the ground before going outside by stepping down on each plank and slowly pulling yourself up while holding onto the fence or lumber pile.
If your fences are decent, having them off the ground will keep your pets in during a hurricane. If you have any lawn furniture with fabric on it, you should either tie it up or secure it to the ground before an approaching storm strikes. You can do this by using wire to fasten the furniture to the ground, or by tying it down with rope.
If you don’t feel like there is enough time for this, bring all of your outdoor furniture inside and store it away from your pets. You should also remove any holiday decorations that are outside. It is very likely that they will get broken or knocked down during a hurricane, and your pets may ingest the broken glass.
Your Pet’s Happy Place
If you live in an area that has a high risk of hurricanes, you can use a small indoor container to keep your pet safe during a hurricane. Make sure that this container is large enough for them to fit in with their favorite toy or blanket.
Since most pets do not like to be left alone, you can either keep them with you or bring them home for the night after being sure that all windows are boarded up. It is also important that they have access to potable water at all times during a hurricane.
If you have access to a basement area that has an outside exit, this can be used as a safe place for your pets during a major hurricane. Even if your pets are used to being outside, you should never attempt to take them out during a hurricane.
If you have any kennels for your pets, make sure they are secure and strong enough to withstand wind and rain. A sturdy metal dog house can also be used as a safe place for pets during a major hurricane. Consider making this their “happy place.” This way, they will feel safer while remaining in the same surroundings that they are comfortable with.
Veterinary Hospitals
Most veterinary hospitals do not have the resources to care during a hurricane. They can be forced to close their doors if they are not funded by FEMA. If you have any plans to evacuate your pet or have them stay at a shelter during or after a hurricane, it is imperative that you call ahead so the veterinary hospital knows this information.
Veterinary hospitals may not be able to accept animals that are not their patient, and depending on the emergency situation, they may not be able to treat animals of non-patients. If you have a pet with a pre-existing condition, make sure you thoroughly communicate this information with the veterinary hospital before leaving your pet in their care.
If possible, you should say goodbye to your pet during the early stages of a hurricane. They may want to hunker down in your home or their kennel, but make sure that they are not blocking the door.
Food and Water for Pets During A Hurricane
Pet food can become inaccessible during an extended period of time during a hurricane. This means that you should make sure to store at least three days worth of food if you have pets that are dependent on it. If it is not feasible for you to store this extra food, be sure to stock up on pet food before the hurricane strikes.
Doing this will help prevent them from going hungry during a storm. It can also protect your animals from scammers, who may take advantage of the storm to do things like steal pets and sell pet food at huge profits.
Some pet stores have a policy where they will not accept pets during a hurricane, but all large pet stores should have this information on their website for their customers. If you are unsure, just call ahead before the storm strikes.
If you are unable to find pet stores that will accept your pets during a major hurricane, consider purchasing bottled water or other non-perishable supplies. If you live in an area with a high risk of hurricanes, make sure to purchase extra supplies for your pets before the storm strikes. You should also make sure to sterilize their water bowl.
A hurricane can change your living situation, but it shouldn’t make your pets feel like they are left out. By planning ahead and doing the necessary things to prepare your pets for a hurricane, you can ensure that they are taken care of during this stressful time.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many things that you can do to prepare your pets for a hurricane. Make sure that your pet’s needs are addressed before the storm strikes. This will help ensure that your pets aren’t left out and forgotten during this trying time.
Be sure to ask people in shelters if they will be able to take care of your pet ahead of time, especially if it is a small business or something similar.