Emergency Safety Tips
Power outages and pets
An outage is usually an inconvenience for people and a real risk for pets that depend on climate control, refrigerated medication, or powered equipment. Decide the details now, while the lights are on.
Decide where pets can go
- Decide where the pets can go if the home becomes dangerously hot or cold.
- Identify a person who can transport the pets if you are unavailable.
- Keep the vehicle fueled or charged when severe weather is expected.
Medication and equipment
- Identify any medications that require refrigeration and how you would keep them cold.
- Identify pet-care or medical equipment that requires electricity.
- Plan backup power only according to the manufacturer's and safety instructions.
Generator and fuel safety
- Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, or fuel-burning heater inside a home, garage, basement, or any enclosed area.
- Follow all manufacturer placement and ventilation instructions.
Keep supplies reachable
- Carriers, leashes, and harnesses
- Water and food that does not require power to prepare
- Flashlights, batteries, and charging supplies
- Printed medication and medical information
Follow official instructions
- Follow local outage, weather, evacuation, and shelter guidance.
This is general preparedness guidance only and is not veterinary or safety-engineering advice.
Official resources
Explore these official resources for additional tools and guidance, including FEMA pet-preparedness checklists and Red Cross pet disaster preparedness information you can use when power or heating and cooling is lost.
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