Disaster preparedness for pets: evacuate together, two kits, and a buddy system
Ready.gov's first rule for pets is simple: if local officials ask you to evacuate, your pet should evacuate too. Pets left behind may end up lost, injured or worse. The hard part is planning where they will go, because many public shelters and hotels do not allow pets inside.
Plan where your pet will go
- Know a pet-friendly destination before a disaster: a friend's or relative's home, a pet-friendly hotel, or a boarding facility outside the area.
- Develop a buddy system: plan with neighbors, friends or relatives so someone can care for or evacuate your pets if you can't.
- Microchip your pet, and keep the registration up to date.
- Bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster.
Two kits, not one
Ready.gov suggests two kits: a larger one for sheltering in place and a lightweight one for evacuating.
| Item | Ready.gov's note |
|---|---|
| Food | Several days' supply in an airtight, waterproof container |
| Water | A bowl and several days' supply |
| Medicine | An extra supply of regular medicine, in a waterproof container |
| First aid kit | Ask your veterinarian what's right for your pet |
| Collar, ID tag, harness or leash | Plus a backup leash, collar and ID tag |
| Carrier or crate | Ideally one for each pet |
| Sanitation | Litter and box if needed, newspapers, paper towels, trash bags, household chlorine bleach |
| Photo | A picture of you and your pet together, to prove ownership and help others find a lost pet |
| Familiar items | Favorite toys, treats or bedding |
Practice the carrier
A pet that panics at its carrier is hard to evacuate. Ready.gov suggests leaving the carrier out in places your pet often visits, so it becomes familiar.
Large animals
For horses and livestock, Ready.gov advises evacuating earlier whenever possible and mapping out primary and secondary routes in advance.
Our suggestions
- Keep vaccination records and a recent photo on your phone and on paper in the kit.
- Rotate pet food like your own rolling stock, oldest first.
- Add your pet's water to your household total; the calculator covers people only.
Everyday
Get your pet used to its carrier by leaving it out where your pet likes to rest, and keep ID tags current.
When it counts
When you have to leave, your pet goes with you, with its own food, water, medicine and papers.
Sources and when we checked them
- Ready.gov, Prepare Your Pets for Disasters (last updated 03/20/2026) (checked 2026-10-31)
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