Many pet owners make sure their home is a safe haven for their pets. They store poisonous household products in secure cabinets. The backyard is enclosed so pets can't get out. Sharp objects are placed in difficult to reach locations. But what many pet owners don't do is plan for emergencies. Whether it's a fire that can happen anywhere or a regional catastrophe such as an earthquake or hurricane, advance planning can mean the difference between life and death for our companion animals.

In Part I of "VPI Helps You Prepare For Emergencies," we focused on intimate disasters; home disasters that could just affect your house. From a kitchen fire to a broken water pipe to a collapsed roof, an accident could occur that forces you and your family to evacuate the premises. In Part II, we focus on shared emergencies such as earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and even blackouts.

There will be some similarities in preparation but the major difference is that when you have an intimate disaster that only affects you, you can expect your family, friends and neighbors to be your support group. Giving you a place to stay, helping to find your missing pet, and salvaging the remains of your destroyed house. But when a disaster affects your entire city, that support group disappears because everyone is busy looking for a place to stay, everyone is trying to find their own missing pet and everyone is salvaging the remains of their destroyed home.

Most of us consider our pets to be member of the family. Yet, if there is a disaster (natural or man-made), emergency shelters will NOT allows pets inside for health and safety reasons. Should you need to evacuate with your pet, government and many non-profit agencies will turn you away as they focus solely on assisting humans.

To plan ahead, contact local shelters, humane organizations and your veterinarian to find out if they have an emergency plan in place in case "X" occurs ("X" is whatever natural disaster is prone to your region). If a board and care shelter says they have 50 runs, that might sound like a lot now but now when hundreds of pet owners are clamoring to find short-term housing for their pet those 50 runs can disappear fast. Also remember that many of these facilities might be damaged in the disaster and unavailable to board pets.

The important first step to preparing for a regional disaster is to keep emergency supplies available in an easy to access location away from the house. A tool shed or unattached garage would be a good location. Items you should include are:

• Manual can opener
• One heavy blanket per pet
• Water and feed bowls with a 3 to 5 day supply
• One collar and leash per dog and one carry case per cat
• Grooming supplies
• Pooper-scooper or litter box
• Two weeks supply of medication
• Copies of all licenses and rabies vaccination certificates kept in plastic so water will not ruin them
• Recent photos in case you need to make posters or show animal control authorities

Even laid-back pets have a change of personality following a disaster. You might want to keep a supply of tranquilizers in case your pet becomes very agitated and high strung. (It's very important that you do NOT give your pet human medication - that could be a prescription to injury or death.)

Be prepared that your pet's disposition can radically change following a major disaster. All of a sudden his routine and environment has disappeared. This can cause your mellow dog and serene cat to start growling and purring at each other even though they've always gotten along famously. Other pets in your home - bird, rabbit, reptile, ferret - should not be allowed near your dog and cat during this high anxiety time.

Even with your best efforts, if the disaster is forceful enough your pet could become lost. For example, you're at work when the calamity strikes and your home's cinder block walls or fencing falls down allowing your pet to run off. Animal control agencies, just like their human counterparts, will be overwhelmed in the hours and days immediately following the disaster so you might be searching solo for your beloved pet. This is why it is imperative that your dog and cat wear a collar and identification tag at all times. Two additional safety layers that you can do now are:

Microchip your pet
It takes seconds to input the rice-size chip under your pet's skin. Unlike a collar, the chip can never 'fall off' and you can be sure reputable shelters and humane groups will scan all incoming lost pets.

VPI Lost & Found Registry
Every dog and cat enrolled with Veterinary Pet Insurance receives a stainless steel ID tag that is engraved with their policy number and VPI's toll-free phone number. The VPI Lost & Found Registry has united thousands of pets with their owner and more importantly, the tag lets finders know the pet is insured and emergency treatments will be covered.

In the aftermath of the disaster, always keep your dog and cat on a leash. Landmarks have suddenly changed or have been altered and your pet will lose his bearing and can become lost. This is especially true for areas where the disaster can continue for several days such as earthquake aftershocks that can occur many times following the original quake.

A little preparation now can help you and your pets survive a regional disaster emergency. And when it comes to preparing for medical emergencies such as illness or injury, be prepared with a VPI medical insurance policy that covers more than 6,400 medical problems and conditions. A policy from the nation's #1 pet medical insurance provider means you will have financial assistance to give your dog, cat, bird, rabbit, reptile or other exotic pet the best medical care available.

The more than 150 pet lovers at Veterinary Pet Insurance want to assist you in making the miracles of veterinary medicine affordable T for your pet.


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