When the Storm Comes: Hurricane Prep for Your Pets

Brought to you by Case Veterinary Hospital — caring for Savannah’s pets since 1909.

Living on the Georgia coast means living with hurricane season — June 1 through November 30. When a storm threatens, the families who fare best are the ones who planned ahead, and that includes planning for their pets. The single most important rule: if it isn’t safe for you to stay, it isn’t safe for them. Never leave a pet behind to ride out a storm.

Build a Pet Go-Bag Now

Don’t wait for a watch or warning to start gathering supplies. Keep a ready-to-grab kit with:

• Three to seven days of food and water, plus bowls
• Any medications your pet takes, with a few extra days’ worth
• A leash, harness, and a secure carrier or crate
• Copies of vaccination records (you’ll need proof of vaccines at most shelters)
• A current photo of you with your pet, in case you’re separated
• Waste bags or a small litter setup, and a comfort item like a favorite toy or blanket

Make Sure They Can Find Their Way Home

Pets get lost in the chaos of an evacuation more than at almost any other time. Confirm your pet’s microchip is registered with your current phone number, and make sure their ID tags are up to date before the season gets busy.

Know Your Sheltering Options

Most general population shelters don’t accept pets, so figure out your plan in advance. If you evacuate by car, identify pet-friendly hotels along your route early — they fill up fast once a storm is named. If you rely on the county’s assisted evacuation, Chatham Emergency Management (CEMA) does permit pets at the Evacuation Assembly Area, but they travel on a separate bus to a separate inland animal shelter — so bring proof of vaccines. Because locations and details can change from year to year, check chathamemergency.org for the current season’s instructions.

After the Storm

Keep pets leashed when you return home, even in your own yard. Familiar scent markers are gone, and downed power lines, debris, standing water, and displaced wildlife (including snakes in floodwater) create hazards that can disorient or injure a pet.

A storm is stressful enough. Having your pet’s plan already in place is one less thing to worry about when it counts.

Case Veterinary Hospital — Caring for Savannah’s pets since 1909. 111 Eisenhower Dr, Savannah, GA 31406 · (912) 352-3081 · casevet.com Open Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Need your pet’s vaccination records for an evacuation? Give us a call.