Major sits in an ample dog cage. The best recommendation is one pet per cage during an evacuation. Photo provided
By Arden Moore
The first hurricane I experienced in South Florida was a whopper. Hurricane Andrew pummeled South Florida with a Category 5 strength. The year was 1992.
My two cats and I hunkered down in my bathtub. Since then, Florida has experienced more than a dozen hurricanes with strengths of Category 3 or higher.
I try to tell myself that the only so-called benefit about hurricanes is that unlike tornadoes and wildfires, people have time to prepare and execute a safety plan.
That plan definitely needs to include your pets.
Palm Beach County residents are in the heart of this year’s hurricane season, which ends Nov. 30. Many pet champions are stepping up to protect companion animals.
One of them is Courtney Delfs. Since 2016, she has volunteered to be what’s called a “storm rider” at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach, where she serves as its animal care manager.
“I feel motivated to stay at the shelter to do everything I can to help the animals maintain a sense of calm throughout the storm,” says Courtney. “While I can’t control the weather outside, I can make sure that the animals in our care have new bones, toys, comfortable blankets and continued care throughout the duration of the storm.”
About 20 staffers make up the storm rider team trained to protect about 500 animals. But everyone on the staff undergoes emergency planning each year just before hurricane season kicks off in June. Disaster preparedness training is also offered to foster volunteers.
“The earlier you can prepare, the better it is to avoid last-minute confusion and chaos,” says Courtney. “We maintain a supply stock sufficient for the duration of the storm and after. We ensure the building is secured and that the outdoor areas are cleared to avoid them becoming hazardous.”
When hurricanes strike other parts of Florida, Peggy Adams is ready to lend assistance.
Dr. Alyssa Comroe, director of veterinary medicine at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, says Florida’s strong disaster response network links shelters, allowing pets to get temporary housing, supplies and skilled care. Photo provided
“While we hope Palm Beach County is spared from the worst of hurricane season, experience has shown the importance of having a strong, statewide disaster response network,” says Alyssa Comroe, director of veterinary medicine at Peggy Adams. “When one shelter is hit by a storm, others across Florida can step in, providing temporary housing for displaced animals, delivering supplies and offering skilled hands to help with rescue and recovery.”
Fortunately, disaster preparations to protect pets have come a long way since the days of Hurricane Andrew. Professional pet sitting and pet boarding businesses recognize the lifesaving importance of training their staff.
“I hope we don’t get any hurricanes,” says Tony Maturo Jr., who works at the family-owned Barkingham Palace in Delray Beach. “We haven’t had to evacuate yet. We do have a generator on the premises, and all of our dog runs are inside runs, not outside runs.
“Our employees are on site seven days a week and there is an overnight team to provide emergency monitoring of our facility.”
Right now, if you haven’t already, identify pet-friendly hotels as well as friends’ homes outside the hurricane evacuation zone. Hurricanes can change course, so locate these welcoming places in different areas.
Make sure that your pet is:
• Sporting an identification tag or collar with a microchipped ID with leash;
• Current on vaccinations;
• Able to fit inside a carrier, one per pet in the household;
• Participating in practice hurricane drills at home and is given treats to encourage this as a positive experience.
Your pet to-go bag should include:
• Your pet’s medications and medical records inside a waterproof bag;
• Lightweight food and water dishes;
• About two weeks’ supply of pet food;
• A favorite toy and a blanket;
• Litter and litter box for cats;
• Cleaning materials.
Do not leave your pets at home if you live in an evacuation area. The storm could trap them inside without food or water, or scare them enough so they flee and become lost.
You could also be convicted of a felony because of a new bill called Trooper’s Law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The law was inspired after a highway patrol officer discovered an abandoned, chained dog standing in water outside his home in the path of Hurricane Milton last October.
It makes it a third-degree felony to restrain and abandon a dog outdoors during a declared natural disaster. Those convicted of this felony can face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Final tip: Pack a virtual bag. Download your pet’s medical records, photos of your pet for identification, your pet’s microchip information as well as your personal documents —that may include your passport, insurance policies, medical records and bank information — onto Google Drive, Dropbox or other online backup.
I can’t believe it’s been 33 years since Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida. Memories are still vivid to me today. I vowed to always have a safety plan for my family and that includes my pets. I hope you do, too.
Arden Moore writes about pets and can be reached at fourleggedlife@gmail.com.
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