Fire danger in Southern California is very real and right now fires have consumed more than 100,000 acres and 6700 structures in Northern and Southern California this month.

If you are in a fire zone, get prepared immediately to protect your pets and loved ones.

Before the fire

• If you are near a wooded area make sure that any dead or dry brush is cleared from around your home.
• Make sure all of your smoke detectors work.
• Have a fire extinguisher on hand (especially for small house fires).
• Make an evacuation kit.
  • Have some old shoes and a flashlight for a night evacuation.
    • If you think you might be evacuated get personal hygiene stuff together as well as an overnight bag of essential clothing.
    • Have your pet’s safety pack ready and easily accessible, see my previous blog for kit info http://bit.ly/2OD4KJf/petsafetykit
    • Have at least one gallon of water per person available.
    • Have small snacks for easy travel food available to bring with you if needed.
  • Keep the “six” P’s ready in case immediate evacuation is required.
    • People and pets
    • Papers, phone# and important documents
    • Prescriptions, pills and eyeglasses
    • Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia
    • Personal computer (information on hard drives and disks)
    • “Plastic” (credit cards and cash, should have around $400 in cash)
• Make a plan
  • Keep your car’s fuel tank full and your car facing out.
  • Have a family emergency plan and re-unification plan.

When The Fire Approaches

• Evacuate if directed by authorities, or if fire is headed toward your home.
• Close heavy draperies, but remove lightweight curtains.
• Leave lights on in the house to mark your home for emergency responders.
• Turn off propane gas supply at the tank.
• Evacuate using pre-identified road “escape routes”.
• Watch for downed power lines – treat all wires as energized and lethal.
• Most importantly, don’t wait until it is too late to evacuate!

What if my kids are in school?  Firefighters will prioritize protecting and evacuating school sites. Know your school’s evacuation plans and where they will take your student. Develop an emergency plan for baby sitters and other care providers for in home care.  Make sure they have emergency contact information for multiple family members.

What should I do with my animals?

You should take small animals with you.  If possible keep them in a pet travel crate for their own safety.  If you have livestock please take them to alternate stables and do this as soon as possible.  It is not recommended to release large stock animals to run wild as they may become injured.  But if you are not able to relocate them and the fire is coming it is better to let them loose than leave in a locked stable.

After the fire

You should wait until you are told by local authorities before coming back to your home.  If your home is damaged please contact your insurance company or landlord.

Do not wait until you or your home is at risk to be prepared, get started today.

Red Cross Fire Prevention Check List https://rdcrss.org/2DfWahG

Red Cross Frequently Asked Questions https://rdcrss.org/2AZ6by5

If you need help after a fire https://www.redcross.org/find-your-local-chapter.html

Recovering after a fire https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services.html

Melissa Tompkins, BS, CVPM

Are you prepared in the event of an emergency?  Do you have all the supplies recommended by The Red Cross and other disaster preparedness groups?  And the bigger question is, are your animals prepared?

Natural and man-made disasters can be devastating.  Here in California, we are plagued by wildfires, flooding, and earthquakes.  Over the next few weeks I will posting about these different disasters and how you can be better prepared for them.  This week I am going to talk about creating a safety kit for your pets.

Creating a safety kit for your pets is very important.  You may have to evacuate your home for a unknown period of time and you need to be prepared.

Here is a list of things to think about for your pet:

-#1 Make sure all of your pets are microchipped! What if you are not home when the emergency happens? What if they get scared and get out? How will you identify them?  Microchips are the easiest way to protect them.

-Have contact info for you neighbors in case you are not home and they are able to help get your pet safely out of your home.

-Know which hotels are pet friendly in a 10 mile radius of your home.  Remember, not all evacuation shelters will allow pets so it is important that you know where you can go.

-Food: Keep at least three days of food in an airtight, waterproof container. Make sure you also have a bowl to feed your animals with.

-Water: Store at least three days of water specifically for your pet(s), this is in addition to water you’ll need for yourself and family.  Make sure you have a bowl for this as well.

-Medications: Keep an extra supply of medications your pet takes on a regular basis; store in a waterproof container. Remember, veterinary hospitals may not be open if they are also affected by the disaster, so you may not be able to get a refill on important medications.

-Collar with ID tag, harness and/or leash: Your pet should always wear a collar with its rabies tag and identification. Makes sure you have your pets micro-chip ID number accessible to you.

-First Aid Kit: Talk to our veterinarian about what is most appropriate for your pet’s emergency medical needs.

Most kits should at least include:

 -Conforming stretch gauze bandage material (2” x 75”) – can be used to create a               pressure wrap, sterile gauze pads (4”x4”) – can be cut to smaller size if needed

-bandage tape

-cotton tipped applicators

-antibiotic ointment

-flea and tick prevention

-latex gloves

-antiseptic wipes

-anti-clotting powder

-povidone-iodine prep pads

-saline solution

-tweezers, and scissors.

-protective paws covers – remember there may be broken glass around, you need something to protect their feet if they have to walk on the ground.

-Important Documents: Place copies of your pet’s registration information, adoption papers, vaccination documents and medical records in a clean plastic/waterproof container and add them to your kit.

-Muzzle for your dog or cat.  Your pets are likely to be stressed or injured and may bite as a reaction to fear or pain.

-Crate and another pet carrier: If you need to evacuate in an emergency you will need a safe place to transport your pet in. This is especially true for cats and smaller pets.

-Sanitation: Cat litter & a litter box if possible.  Paper towels, newspaper, plastic trash bags and house hold coloring bleach will help to provided sanitation if/when needed. You can use bleach as a disinfectant (dilute nine parts water to one-part bleach). Use 8 drops of regular household bleach per gallon of water, stir well and let it stand for at least 30 minutes before use. DO NOT use scented or color safe bleaches or those with added cleaners.

-A picture of you and your pet together: If you become separated from your pet during an emergency, a picture of you and your pet together will help you document ownership and allow others to assist you in identifying your pet. Include detailed information about species, breed, age, color and distinguishing characteristics/markings.

-Familiar items: Put favorite toys, treats or bedding in your kit. Familiar items can help reduce stress for your pet.

Emergencies are scary and can be life changing.  To protect your fury loved ones, the most important thing you can do is to be prepared.

Melissa Tompkins, BS, CVPM