Get Your Pets Ready
Pets are an important member of the household for many families. In a disaster they will also be affected. How well your pets cope with a disaster event such as a flood, volcanic eruption or destructive earthquake depends on the actions you take now to plan for them
Whether you decide to stay put in an emergency or evacuate to a safer location, you will need to make plans in advance for your pets.
If you must evacuate, take your pets with you if possible. However, if you are going to a public shelter, it is important to understand that animals may not be allowed inside. Plan in advance for shelter alternatives that will work for both you and your pets.
Make a back-up emergency plan in case you can't care for your animals yourself. Develop a buddy system with neighbours, friends and relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so. Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to make it on your own for at least three days, maybe longer.
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Water
In a disaster, household water supplies, including drinking water, could be affected. Having a supply of water for yourself and members of your family is absolutely essential. Planning now to ensure you have sufficient water to get through the first few days can greatly reduce the impact of the disaster, and help you get through.
Civil defence advice is for everyone to plan to have at least 3 litres of drinking water for each person each day for 3 days. You also need to think about water for cooking, cleaning and washing up. The advice is to have at least one litre of water for each of the following:
- washing food and cooking for each meal
- washing dishes after a meal
- washing yourself (one litre per day for each person).
Your hot water cylinder and toilet cistern are valuable sources of water. Check that your hot water cylinder and header tank are well secured and try to avoid putting chemical cleaners in the cistern. Also, keep on hand a supply of household bleach, for disinfecting.
Drinking water
- To store enough drinking water for three days, prepare six large, plastic soft drink bottles of water for each person, including children. Add some extra for pets
- Wash bottles thoroughly in hot water
- Fill each bottle with tap water until it overflows. Add five drops of household bleachper litre of water and put in storage. Do not drink for at least 30 minutes after disinfecting
- Label each bottle with dates showing when the bottles were filled and when they need to be refilled
- Check the bottles every 12 months. If the water is not clear, throw it out and refill clean bottles with clean water and bleach
- Store bottles in two separate places, somewhere dark away from direct sunlight where there is not likely to be flooding
- Alternatively, fill plastic ice cream containers with water, cover, label and keep in the freezer. These can help keep food cool if the power is off and can also be used for drinking
- Keep a supply of ice cubes and fruit juices
Handy hints
Collect rain water but make sure that you disinfect it with household bleach (1/2 teaspoon to 10 litres). If you’re at all uncertain as to the quality of water, e.g. from a well that has been flooded, or if it might have been contaminated by smoke or ash DO NOT drink it.
