PETS AND DISASTER ARE YOU PREPARED?
MARCH 2001
By: Charles "Chuck" Brashear, Animal Service Officer II
Stanislaus County California is located in the Central Valley of the state and is located between Calaveras County, San Joaquin County, Merced County, Tuolumne County and Santa Clara County.
The county population equals approximately 450,000 persons. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association a study performed in 1997 showed that 58.9 % of homes in the U.S. own pets. Therefore if Stanislaus County has approximately 225,000 homes and each of those homes has 1.69 animals as the previous study showed, then there are approximately 380,250+ animals in Stanislaus County.
Just for a moment, think what would happen if a dam broke up stream, or an accident involving hazardous materials occurred and just one half of the county had to be evacuated. The floods in 1997 showed us that disasters can be planned for well in advance and that the planning does pay off. Stanislaus County is susceptible to flood, fire, earthquake, hazardous material incident or acts of terrorism. These incidents occur on a daily basis across the county, state and nation. Are you prepared to be evacuated, are your pets prepared to be evacuated, and are you prepared to evacuate your pets.
You can help protect your pets by preparing now for any kind of emergency and/or disaster. Think it won7rs
t happen to you? Ask people who lived here in 1997 when the rivers and streams surpassed their banks, and the rain continued for weeks melting snow in the sierra’s.
While you are at it make a kit for your pets and your family. The American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency worked together and developed a pamphlet on emergency preparedness for animals. "Pets and Disasters…Get Prepared" is available at any Red Cross office.
Disaster Preparedness Kit:
- Your Veterinarians Information
- Portable radio and extra batteries
- Pet carrier or cage for each pet
- Two weeks supply of food and water per pet
- Non – Spill food and water bowls
- Medication and dosing instructions
- Pet first-aid kit
- Vaccination and medical records for each pet
- Cat litter box and litter
- Newspaper
- Plastic bags for waste disposal
- A current photograph of each pet
The California Veterinary Medical Association and the California Department of Food and Agriculture have developed three pamphlets:
- Disaster Preparedness for Dog and Cat Owners
- Disaster Preparedness for Livestock Owners
- Disaster Preparedness for Bird and Reptile Owners
These pamphlets are available at the Stanislaus County Department of Animal Services located at 2846 Finch Road, Modesto or at the California Department of Agriculture Office in Sacramento.
Other disaster and emergency preparedness information is available on the Internet at the following addresses:
"Prepare today, it may be you and your pets last chance" |
