Making sure you're ready for disasters

[HighlandLady]

Originally Posted by FiveHorses

- See, I get goose bumps just reading that! Thankfully, a miss is a good as a mile, and I'm glad your horses were unharmed.

Were you thinking along the lines of the mechanical floor that could be lowered into "the basement" with the retractable steel shutters that would close over the top (i.e. 007 meets Tornado Alley) or were you thinking more along the lines of down a ramp into a more cave-like structure?
(Just for Highland Lady's amusement. )

LOL...noooo, don't feel the need to do all of that on my account! (I am easily amused )

Originally Posted by FiveHorses

I see there's a bout of severe weather predicted for the south/southeast for later today and tomorrow. May everyone and all the critters stay safe.

Ditto that!

[Dashdog]

Since I live in So. California our biggest threat is fire. Last year when the fires had gotten so close to my home and I had to go to work I called and asked hospital security if I could set up my dog crates in the bike room in the parking structure. We have a locked room for bikes in the parking structure and it is quite big and you have to have a badge to open the door to get inside. The guy got worried that it might get too hot in there as it had been a very hot day and the night was not looking much cooler. I work nights so he told me to just bring them and the crate inside and put them in my department which is in the basement. The next day I wrote a letter to the CEO and suggested they have a plan for employees that are single pet owners like myself so that during a fire if our home area is threatened we can still come to work and know our pets are safe rather then worry that our area will be evacuated and closed off where they will not let you back in even to save your animals or worst yet a fast moving fire will burn down your home. while you are at work. The hospital is not coming up with a plan.

My dogs behaved beautifully that night and my coworkers enjoyed having them there and spent their breaks visiting the pooches. Jazz and Dash loved it as many snuck them little treats

[ShelbyGirl1]

Originally Posted by Dashdog

Since I live in So. California our biggest threat is fire. Last year when the fires had gotten so close to my home and I had to go to work I called and asked hospital security if I could set up my dog crates in the bike room in the parking structure. We have a locked room for bikes in the parking structure and it is quite big and you have to have a badge to open the door to get inside. The guy got worried that it might get too hot in there as it had been a very hot day and the night was not looking much cooler. I work nights so he told me to just bring them and the crate inside and put them in my department which is in the basement. The next day I wrote a letter to the CEO and suggested they have a plan for employees that are single pet owners like myself so that during a fire if our home area is threatened we can still come to work and know our pets are safe rather then worry that our area will be evacuated and closed off where they will not let you back in even to save your animals or worst yet a fast moving fire will burn down your home. while you are at work. The hospital is not coming up with a plan.

My dogs behaved beautifully that night and my coworkers enjoyed having them there and spent their breaks visiting the pooches. Jazz and Dash loved it as many snuck them little treats

Fire scares the living hell out of me!!!!!!!!
Last year, my son who lives in San Diego was evacuated middle of the night, because his apt.complex was on fire. He grabbed his two cats, threw them in a carrier and left. He works for BMW...they were kind enough to let him leave the cats in an air=conditioned area...and people went out of their way to buy food, toys and litterbox for the cats.

[luvmycat]

What a great thread, thank you for starting it! It is so crucial to be prepared for whatever comes our way, and even though we have very little bad weather here in El Paso, it is always good to have a game plan. One of the things I pay attention to is making sure their carriers are used for more than just going to the vet...in fact, the vet trips are a rare unpleasant happening for them compared to all the other exciting places they get carried to, (my moms house, boyfriends house, and several other friends who have dogs for play days...) plus in certain rooms the carriers are open with blankets for them to relax or sleep in. They actually RUN to the carrier when I present it to them, which is great because I do not even have to bribe them with treats! My cats, luckily, are velcroed to me most of the time and always come running when I call them, are not fraidy cats when it comes to storms/loud noises, and so they are easy to round up and get in the carriers (they will follow catnip to the ends of the earth! Lol!) The best part is that all my animals are so small, I can literally carry them all in 2 carriers if I need to, (I have a large one that fits all 4 little dogs & the cats are both pretty small so fit comfortably in a medium sized one together.) Hopefully we will never have to round up for real, but now that I have read this thread, I think it is a good idea to run some drills and time myself, just to see how quickly I could evacuate all of us in the event of an emergency! Thanks for bringing this very important aspect of animal ownership to our attention!

[FiveHorses]

Disasters can take on many different forms... I thought I'd use this thread to also raise the issue of a disaster of a different sort: have you made arrangements in the event of the unthinkable - i.e. your own untimely demise?!

It's something we have done because even should we live to a ripe old age... we have two parrots that do have the potential to outlive us. I always have been of the opinion that it makes it easier for the family if it's there in plain black and white what you would like to happen with the pets.

While not usually contained in actual wills, it can be made an attachment. It does not have a true legal standing of and by itself as I understand it (although I don't know if that varies by state), but it makes it very clear for those remaining what your wishes are.

Not a nice subject perhaps, but an important one.

[ShelbyGirl1]

Originally Posted by FiveHorses

Disasters can take on many different forms... I thought I'd use this thread to also raise the issue of a disaster of a different sort: have you made arrangements in the event of the unthinkable - i.e. your own untimely demise?!

It's something we have done because even should we live to a ripe old age... we have two parrots that do have the potential to outlive us. I always have been of the opinion that it makes it easier for the family if it's there in plain black and white what you would like to happen with the pets.

While not usually contained in actual wills, it can be made an attachment. It does not have a true legal standing of and by itself as I understand it (although I don't know if that varies by state), but it makes it very clear for those remaining what your wishes are.

Not a nice subject perhaps, but an important one.

All taken care of on this front. Our daughter, who lives in another state, and every bit of an animal lover will take them all on.
I am actually named in a friends will...that I will take on one of her Ragdoll cats.....Noah and I have had a mutual love attraction since he was born...( I mid-wived).
I think it is very important that these matters be printed out in black and white...our animals lives could depend on it!