Your pet should be a part of your family plan when a hurricane approaches. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them too.Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe place for them, is likely to result in their being injured, lost, or worse.Have A Safe Place To Take Your PetsRed Cross disaster shelters cannot accept pets due to health and safety regulations and other considerations. Service animals that assist people with disabilities are the only animals allowed in Red Cross shelters. It may be difficult, if not impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a disaster, so plan ahead. Do not wait until disaster strikes to do your research.+ Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area to check policies on accepting pets and restrictions on number, size, and species.+ Ask friends, relatives, or others outside the affected area whether they could shelter your animals.+ Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals in an emergency; include 24-hour phone numbers.+ Ask local animal shelters if they provide emergency shelter or foster care for pets in a disaster. Animal shelters may be overburdened caring for the animals they already have as well as those displaced by a disaster so this should be your last resort.Assemble a Portable Pet Supplies Kit+ Medications and medical records (stored in a waterproof container) and a first aid kit.+ Sturdy leashes, harnesses, and/or carriers to transport pets safely and ensure that your animals can’t escape.+ Current photos of your pets in case they get lost.+ Food, potable water, bowls, cat litter/pan, and can opener.+ Information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems, and the name and number of your veterinarian in case you have to foster or board your pets.+ Pet beds and toys, if easily transportable.When The Storm Approaches+ Plan ahead to protect your pet.+ Call ahead to confirm emergency shelter arrangements for you and your pets.+ Check to be sure your pet disaster supplies are ready to take at a moment’s notice.+ Bring all pets into the house so that you won’t have to search for them if you have to leave in a hurry.+ Make sure all dogs and cats are wearing collars and are securely fastened, with up-to-date identification. Attach the phone number and address of your temporary shelter, if you know it, or of a friend or relative outside the disaster area. You can buy temporary tags or put adhesive tape on the back of your pet's ID tag, adding information with an indelible pen.For more information, call your local animal control office.