News
Firestorm: Are You Prepared?
March 30, 2009, 8:59PM MT
By Annette Keenberg
Firestorm: Are You Prepared?
Firestorm: Are You Prepared?
By Annette Keenberg, Best Friends Network Volunteer
Imagine yourself trapped in a hurricane unlike any seen before. Hour after hour, day after day, the 70 mile per hour winds rock your home and blow away anything not tied down. Add to that 90-plus degree heat and you have an idea of the devil winds or Santa Ana winds that rock the Golden State.
Whenever the dry, blast furnace winds from the Great Basin sweep across California, the earth erupts in awe-inspiring and uniquely California disaster, firestorms. Fueled by strong winds blowing down from central Utah’s flat plains, Santa Ana winds in the south and devil winds in the north, strike California year round. Hurricane-force gales whip through the canyons and passes. The slightest spark and you get a fury of fire, ash and destruction that grows by hundreds of acres every hour for days on end.
In an instant, thousands of animals, along with their families, are forced to flee for their lives, often having only a few minutes’ warning. Over 600 families lost their homes in a recent firestorm; one can only assume an equal number of animals of all sorts find themselves similarly homeless. Some had less than five minutes to get out with everything “important” to them, which amounts to grabbing the kids, pets, keys and perhaps an evacuation bag, if you had the foresight to prepare one. If you have one for the humans in your household, do you have one for your pets?
Their bags should have some food, a bottle of water, treats, and a collapsible bowl tucked in a 5-inch by 8-inch mini tote bag, ready to go if you have to leave fast. Add a couple of toys and leashes, photos of your pets and any vet records of importance, such as vaccinations they’ve had or medications they may be taking.
For More Information:
Putting together kits for your own pets takes just a few minutes and can often be put together out of items you already have around your home. The American Veterinary Medical Association has an online booklet about emergency prep for your pets – American Veterinary Medical Association
Photo by Annette Keenberg