Disaster Preparedness

Local animal advocates suggest that you have a plan in place for your pets before an emergency strikes. In Oregon, the most likely emergency threats are wildfires, winter ice/snow storms, flooding, earthquakes or even volcanic eruptions.

Take important steps now to ensure you and your pet have the supplies you need ready to go, and that you have a place to go.

Sign up at publicalerts.org

Stay in the know by signing up for public alerts in your local jurisdiction. This is the best way to receive important notifications and evacuation information for your specific location.

Current Regional Disaster Information

Domestic Pets

License & microchip your pets

If you and your pet are separated, having a license and a microchip are the best precautions to help others contact you in an emergency.

  • Make sure tags have current phone numbers.
  • License your pet with your local jurisdiction.
  • Microchip your pet with your local vet.
  • If your pet is microchipped, update your contact information with the microchip registry.

Prepare a 72 Hour Kit For Pets

In addition to clothing and emergency supplies you’re packing for yourself, be sure to pack enough supplies for your pet.

Remember to Pack:

  • Food
  • Bottled water
  • Any medication your pet may need
  • Treats
    • For dogs, something to chew on in a stressful environment. 
    • For cats, several cans of high-value wet food.
  • A favorite toy
  • A crate where your pet can be comfortably confined if needed in any environment you may be staying
  • Bedding- a bed, pad, or blanket
  • First aid & sanitation supplies
  • Collars and leashes
  • Proof of ownership - a copy of vet records, adoption or breeder documentation, licensing records, and photos of you and your pet together.

Plan where you can stay with your pets

Identify pet-friendly lodging in the area you plan to go in an emergency.

Emergency Shelters

  • If you plan to stay in an emergency shelter, find out what arrangements they may have for your pets before arriving.
    • Owners are expected to care for and spend time with their pets - shelter volunteers and attendants will not be able to care for them in your place.
    • Some regional Red Cross shelters have a designated, separate area where pets can stay. Many do not. These locations and their pet policies may change over the course of an emergency.
  • Most regional animal shelters will not have the capacity to provide emergency boarding for your pets in an evacuation.
  • In the event that emergency shelters for people aren’t able to accommodate pets, emergency personnel and regional shelters may establish a separate emergency shelter for pets.

Plan ahead with neighbors

Make arrangements with a trusted neighbor in advance to find and bring your pets to you, or provide temporary care in the event that you are away from your property during an evacuation.

Livestock

  • If you have livestock, you should evacuate during Level 2: Get Set
  • Make a plan with friends, family, or trusted associates who can help transport and shelter animals a safe distance away - if you choose a location that’s too close, you may need to move animals multiple times
  • Have feed, medication, bedding, rope/lariat, halters/leads, cleaning supplies, and other supplies ready to go
  • Veterinary records and proof of ownership
  • Evacuation transport or emergency shelter support may be available regionally when evacuation orders are issued, but transport and shelter capacity is limited
  • Register your livestock to be reunited in the event that they’re lost
  • Use the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Lost & Found Service for Livestock

Additional resources for pet emergency preparedness