[nusratt]

I packed the cats and drove to stay somewhere far away
in advance of Hurricane Irene,
and again for Hurricane Sandy.
For the next time, I'd like to hear about experiences
people had in taking their cats with them
to public emergency shelters.
For example:
-- Did the shelter location require your cats to be
isolated from you?
-- Were you able to personally attend to their
feeding and meds? 24x7?
-- Were the cats in a quiet area (or at least
separated from dogs barking, kids shrieking, etc.)?
-- What were the litterbox arrangements?
etc.
Thanks

[willow wind]

Your question is sort of too broad. Most likely you're not going to go to any old shelter. You would be using the shelter in your town/city or sometimes may also have use of a regional shelter.

Then it's very easy to figure out the arrangements and requirements. Just call town/ city hall and ask. Or you can do the same on the internet just by Googling your town/city + emergency shelter. All the info is there.

I can tell you that you will need the following anywhere. Proof of rabies vaccination. A separate carrier for each pet. Food, plus food and water bowls. For cats, best to also bring a separate roomy dog crate in addition to carriers. Put small litter box and cats in there for the duration.

The exact arrangement for where the pets stay in the shelter is going to vary by shelter. Perhaps, too, you could try to find someone who used your local shelter and ask them.

[JayCT]

I am going to move this to the Pets forum where it will likely get more responses. JayCT, Moderator

[CrowGirl]

I don't know about Connecticut, but in Florida few if any hurricans shelters allow pets. Be sure to determine far in advance whether any of your shelters permit animals so tat you can make other plans if they won't. Some vets down here do hurricane boarding but you have to reserve a spot at the beginning of the season.

[nusratt]

[moderator, I'm looking specifically for *actual* experiences
in *Connecticut* only, so please don't move this to Pets forum. -- Thank You]

I apparently worded this badly when I previously posted it, so I'll try again.

For Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy,
I researched and pre-planned specific places far away,
where I knew that I could count on the availability of electricity,
gasoline, passable roads, and 24-hour specialty veterinary centers.
And then I drove there with our cats, sufficiently in advance of the storm.

For any future storm emergency IN CONNECTICUT, I'm trying to decide
if I should do that again, or would the conditions have been tolerable in
one of the public emergency shelters IN CONNECTICUT which allowed animals
during those two storms.

Did you...
-- ACTUALLY STAY IN,
-- a public emergency shelter,
-- IN CONNECTICUT,
-- where animals were allowed?

If so, please tell me:
-- Where was it?
-- Did the shelter location require your cats to be
isolated from you?
-- Were you able to personally attend to their
feeding and meds? 24x7?
-- Were the cats in a quiet area (or at least
separated from dogs barking, kids shrieking, etc.)?
-- What were the litterbox arrangements?
etc.

PLEASE, info about other parts of the country,
or about potential *future* events, isn't what
I'm looking for. I need to know about
what actually happened to other people in those
hurricanes, IN CONNECTICUT only.
If I bring our cats with me to stay in a public shelter
in the next storm, and it turns out to be a mistake,
it will be too late for me to change my mind and try to
out-run the storm.
Thanks

[kidyankee764]

This is the third time you've posted this thread.

[cdhpotter]

I think the lack of responses has to do with the fact that not many people in CT had to shelter during those storms. Even many who did were probably able to leave their pets home because the house was safe, it just lacked power or water or some other needed service. I know if I had to shelter I would leave my pets home and just check on them daily if at all possible, because it would be much less stressful for them.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by cdhpotter

I think the lack of responses has to do with the fact that not many people in CT had to shelter during those storms. Even many who did were probably able to leave their pets home because the house was safe, it just lacked power or water or some other needed service. I know if I had to shelter I would leave my pets home and just check on them daily if at all possible, because it would be much less stressful for them.

How awful for your pets if you ever have to evacuate. If I'm leaving, my pals are coming too. Period.

[cdhpotter]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

How awful for your pets if you ever have to evacuate. If I'm leaving, my pals are coming too. Period.

You must have missed the part where I said "if at all possible".

ETA: During the Oct snowstorms we were without power or water for 12 days. My mom lives two towns over and had full services. We chose to 'camp' at our house rather than leave the cats alone or move them to a strange location. I take excellent care of my pets and would never abandon them, but I stand by my statement that in most cases they would do better at home, rather than being moved to a shelter.

If I were evacuating pre-storm, hell yes, they would be coming with me.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by cdhpotter

You must have missed the part where I said "if at all possible".

ETA: During the Oct snowstorms we were without power or water for 12 days. My mom lives two towns over and had full services. We chose to 'camp' at our house rather than leave the cats alone or move them to a strange location. I take excellent care of my pets and would never abandon them, but I stand by my statement that in most cases they would do better at home, rather than being moved to a shelter.

If I were evacuating pre-storm, hell yes, they would be coming with me.

No, I didn't miss "if at all possible". The OP is talking about pre-storm, and having to go to a shelter. Glad we're on the same page about that.