A People & Pet Disaster Preparedness Checklist
We're in the thick of an increasingly active era of disasters — hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and severe storms that are striking with less predictability and, in many cases, greater intensity. Even in a season forecast to run below average, it only takes one storm, one fire, or one flash flood to upend a household. That's why year-round preparedness — for every member of the family, two-legged and four-legged alike — matters more than ever.
2026 Disaster Season Snapshot
The Atlantic hurricane season (June 1–November 30) reached its climatological peak on September 10. Roughly 60% of a typical season's tropical activity remains, running through mid-October.
NOAA and Colorado State University both point to a below-average season overall, driven by El Niño conditions that increase wind shear over the Atlantic — but forecasters are clear that a quiet outlook does not guarantee a quiet outcome for any single community. It only takes one landfalling storm to cause major damage.
Beyond hurricanes, 2026 has already brought significant wildfire, flash-flood, and severe storm activity across multiple states — a reminder that disaster preparedness isn't a coastal or seasonal issue alone.
Bottom line: use this below-average forecast as an opportunity to prepare calmly now, not as a reason to let your guard down.
Prepare for Each Possible Disaster
As you are putting together your checklist, it's important to identify what types of disasters might happen in your area — and in the area of any pets or family members you're responsible for — and learn how to protect everyone from each.
- Does your household know what alerts or sirens occur in your community during disasters?
- Keep the National Weather Service on your devices to see active alerts. Also, have a battery-operated radio on hand to access these alerts.
- Create a list of local organizations and first responders — including your veterinarian and the nearest emergency/24-hour animal hospital — with information on how to contact them. Keep this list in an area everyone in your household can access.
Create a Disaster Plan
Put together multiple disaster plans for your family — and your pets — based on the type of disaster and location. This ensures a plan is in place depending on whether household members (and animals) are at home, work, school, or somewhere else.
- What responsibilities will each household member have?
- How will you get out of your house in case of a fire?
- Where will you meet? Pick a location inside your home, close to your home, and somewhere outside your neighborhood or city if you cannot return home. Determine what type of disaster applies to each meeting place.
- Does every household member know where emergency and disaster supply kits are kept?
- If anyone in your household has special needs, ensure they are covered in the plan.
- Include pets in your supply kit and your disaster planning.
Pet Preparedness: Don't Leave Them Behind
Pets depend entirely on us to plan for them — they can't pack a bag or drive themselves to safety. Build pet preparedness into every layer of your disaster plan, not just your supply kit.
- Identification: Make sure every pet has a collar with an up-to-date ID tag, and is microchipped with your current contact information on file. Keep a recent photo of you together with each pet — proof of ownership matters if you're separated.
- Carrier and crate readiness: Have a sturdy, properly sized carrier for each cat or small animal, and a crate for dogs if needed. Practice loading pets into carriers calmly before an emergency forces it.
- Know your evacuation options: Many public shelters do not accept pets. Research pet-friendly hotels, boarding facilities, and shelters along your evacuation routes in advance, and keep a list with you.
- Never leave pets behind: If it isn't safe for you to stay, it isn't safe for them either. Plan to evacuate together whenever possible.
- Designate a backup caregiver: Identify a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member who can evacuate or care for your pets if you're unable to get home.
- Large and farm animals: If you have livestock or other large animals, plan evacuation routes and destinations in advance, since they require more lead time and larger transport.
- Multi-pet households: Practice getting all animals contained and loaded quickly — this is often the step that costs families the most time in a real evacuation.
Create a Communication Plan
- If a household member is frequently traveling, determine how to stay in communication.
- Ensure members of your household have a saved emergency contact list. Memorize the most important numbers.
- Ensure members of your household know how to dial 911 or use the emergency feature on their mobile devices.
- Save your veterinarian's number and the number of a 24-hour emergency animal hospital outside your immediate area, in case local lines are down.
Assemble a Disaster Supply Kit
Pack your supply kit in something easy to carry, such as a backpack or duffel bag. This should be prepared in advance, and you should check your supplies every few months. Build a separate, grab-and-go kit for pets so you're never digging through a shared bag while trying to evacuate.
Practice, Practice, Practice
You know what they say, practice makes perfect. Hold a household meeting to practice your disaster plans at least every six months to make sure everyone understands what to do.
- Practice different disaster scenarios and go to your appointed meeting places.
- Practice communication scenarios with and without phone or internet access.
- Regularly check emergency contact information and update as needed.
- Replace water and food every three months — for both your household and pet kits.
- Practice first aid and CPR.
- Ensure all household members know how to shut off utilities.
- Review how to use fire extinguishers and where they are kept.
- Run a timed practice loading pets into carriers and into the car — small kids and stressed animals both slow evacuations down, so knowing the routine in advance matters.
How we help Disaster Relief
When it comes to natural or human-made disasters, Greater Good Charities is There When It Matters®. Our Relief Packs include disaster preparedness necessities and are deployed before, during, and after a crisis, for both people and the animals who depend on them.
The increase in natural disasters has caused hundreds of thousands of people — and their pets — to flee their homes with just what they could carry. Emergency supply packs provide respite in times of crisis.
$50 provides a relief pack to a person in need.
