If you live in an area where fires, earthquakes, flooding, hurricanes, and other disasters are common then you’ve probably thought about an evacuation plan for your home. If you don’t have a plan yet consider making one this week. Make sure you remember to include your pets in your plan! Here are a few steps to add your pets into your evacuation plan:

Assign pets.  Everyone should know how to act during an evacuation, and that includes assigning one parent or adult to the pets. This allows the other parent and the children to focus on their part of the evacuation plan, so there’s no confusion during a high-stress moment when time is of the essence.

Keep pet carriers readily accessible. If you need to evacuate, you should know exactly where every important item is. If you pets require carriers, keep them in a place that you can access easily.

Practice your plan. Include your pets in your home evacuation drills. It’ll help you see how they will respond and make changes to your plan if necessary. Getting your dog out of a window may not be as simple as you think!

Be prepared in case you get separated from your pets. No matter how much you drill your evacuation plan, it’s possible that a dog or cat will run off while you’re focusing on keeping your family safe. A microchip or a GPS-compatible tag can help you find your pets once it’s safe to return to the area.

In case a natural or unexpected disaster strikes, make sure you have the right insurance to help. Click here to view our Home and Auto Insurance.