Animal Shelter Hurricane Preparedness Guide

Why Animal Shelters Need to Prepare Before the Storm Arrives

For an animal shelter, the operational deadline is not necessarily hurricane landfall.

Dangerous winds, flooding, storm surge, road closures and deteriorating conditions can make transportation and outdoor work unsafe before the center of a storm arrives.

Shelters may need time to:

• reduce the number of animals housed at the facility;
• activate emergency foster homes;
• contact rescue and placement partners;
• prepare animals for transportation;
• confirm evacuation destinations;
• organize emergency staffing;
• secure buildings and outdoor equipment;
• prepare generators and other critical systems;
• obtain food, water, medications, fuel and supplies; and
• communicate changes to the public.

The earlier these decisions are considered, the more options a shelter may have.

A Five-Stage Hurricane Planning Framework

Rather than planning only around hurricane category, shelters can organize hurricane decisions around changing conditions and the amount of safe preparation time remaining.

1. 1. THREAT → PREPARE

   A tropical system may affect your area.

2. 2. WATCH → ACTIVELY PREPARE

   Hurricane conditions are possible. Begin preparations that require time, transportation or outside coordination.

3. 3. WARNING → EXECUTE

   Hurricane conditions are expected. Complete priority actions while they can still be performed safely.

4. 4. IMMEDIATE HAZARD → PROTECT LIFE

   Dangerous conditions are occurring. Life safety comes first.

5. 5. RECOVERY → RECOVER & REVIEW

   The immediate threat has passed, but the facility and surrounding area may still be hazardous.

These stages are planning aids. Always follow official watches, warnings, evacuation orders and emergency instructions.

Stage 1 — Hurricane Threat: Prepare

When a tropical system could affect your area, begin reviewing the shelter's plan.

Do not wait for a Hurricane Warning to determine whether transportation works, where animals could go or who has authority to make emergency decisions.

Shelter Actions to Consider

• Monitor official National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service and local emergency management information.
• Confirm who has authority to activate the shelter's emergency plan.
• Review emergency contact information.
• Review the current animal population.
• Identify animals who may be appropriate for emergency foster, transfer, rescue placement or expedited adoption under normal shelter policies.
• Review emergency foster capacity.
• Confirm receiving shelters, rescue partners and alternate animal housing locations.
• Review evacuation routes and alternate routes.
• Confirm transportation vehicles, drivers, crates and carriers.
• Review emergency staffing plans.
• Check food, potable water, medications, cleaning supplies and animal-care supplies.
• Review generator status, fuel availability and critical electrical needs.
• Review backup communications.
• Identify animals with medical, behavioral, neonatal or other special-care needs.

Stage 2 — Hurricane Watch: Actively Prepare

A Hurricane Watch means hurricane conditions are possible.

This is the time to move from reviewing the plan to actively preparing.

Actions involving transportation, foster placement, outside partners, supplies and facility preparation may become increasingly difficult as weather deteriorates.

Actions to Consider

• Begin population-reduction preparations.
• Notify the existing foster network.
• Prepare an emergency foster appeal if additional homes may be needed.
• Contact rescue and placement partners.
• Confirm receiving destinations.
• Prepare animals and records for possible movement.
• Confirm transportation vehicles, drivers, carriers and routes.
• Review public operating hours and possible closure plans.
• Review clinic operations if the shelter operates a veterinary clinic.
• Confirm emergency staffing and relief coverage.
• Fuel vehicles and generators where appropriate.
• Charge radios, phones, battery banks and communication equipment.
• Secure outdoor equipment and loose materials.
• Protect medications, vaccines, records and other temperature-sensitive or critical supplies.
• Continue monitoring official information.

Stage 3 — Hurricane Warning: Execute the Plan

A Hurricane Warning means hurricane conditions are expected.

At this stage, the shelter should focus on completing priority actions while they can still be performed safely.

1. ACTION 1 — Reduce Shelter Population
2. ACTION 2 — Decide Public & Clinic Operations
3. ACTION 3 — Confirm Evacuation Readiness
4. ACTION 4 — Confirm Emergency Staffing
5. ACTION 5 — Protect Critical Systems
6. ACTION 6 — Continue Monitoring Conditions

Emergency Foster and Population Reduction

Emergency foster homes can give shelters additional flexibility before a major storm by temporarily reducing the number of animals that must be housed, staffed, transported and supported at the facility.

Emergency foster programs should operate within the shelter's normal animal-tracking, medical, placement and foster policies.

Eight-Step Emergency Foster Workflow

1. 1. Activate the Emergency Foster Plan

   Determine which animals are appropriate for temporary foster placement and who is coordinating the effort.

2. 2. Contact Local Media With an Emergency Foster Plea

   Prepare a clear public request explaining what help is needed, how long fostering may be needed and how people should contact the shelter.

3. 3. Notify the Existing Foster Network

   Existing foster volunteers may be able to respond faster because they already understand the organization's process.

4. 4. Notify the Public Through Shelter Channels

   Use the shelter's website, social media, email lists and other established communication channels.

5. 5. Contact Rescue & Placement Partners

   Ask partner organizations whether they can assist with temporary placement, transfer or transportation.

6. 6. Prepare Animals

   Prepare identification, medications, food instructions, behavior information, carriers and necessary records.

7. 7. Record Placements

   Know where every animal is, who has custody and how that person can be reached.

8. 8. Continue & Reassess

   Continue evaluating shelter population, storm conditions, staffing and available foster capacity.

If the Shelter May Need to Evacuate

Evacuating an animal shelter requires more than choosing a destination.

Before animals begin moving, managers should know:

• who can order evacuation;
• where animals will go;
• whether the destination has confirmed capacity;
• how animals will be transported;
• which routes are available;
• what happens if the primary route is blocked;
• how animals will be identified and tracked;
• how medications and records will travel;
• which animals require specialized transportation or handling;
• who accompanies each transport group;
• how receiving locations will confirm arrival; and
• how staff will maintain accountability throughout the movement.

If Animals and Staff Shelter in Place

Sheltering in place should still include a contingency for conditions becoming unsafe.

If part of the building becomes unsafe during the storm, where can animals and staff move without going outside?

Storm Surge and Flooding

Hurricane risk is not limited to wind.

Coastal storm surge, heavy rainfall, flash flooding and river flooding can threaten facilities, roads, evacuation routes and receiving destinations.

Shelters should know whether the following may flood:

• the shelter property;
• animal housing areas;
• electrical and generator locations;
• food and supply storage;
• evacuation routes;
• alternate routes;
• staff access routes; and
• receiving facilities.

Do not assume that being outside the immediate coastline eliminates flood risk.

Power Failure and Generator Safety

Power loss can affect far more than lighting.

Animal shelters may depend on electricity for:

• HVAC and ventilation;
• refrigeration;
• medications and vaccines;
• water or well systems;
• communications;
• security;
• animal housing;
• computers and shelter-management systems; and
• medical equipment.

Managers should know which systems must remain powered and what the shelter will do if backup power fails.

Stage 4 — Immediate Hazard: Protect Life

Once dangerous conditions are occurring, the priority changes from preparing the organization to protecting people and animals from immediate harm.

Do not continue routine preparation activities when conditions make them unsafe.

Possible immediate hazards during a hurricane include:

• tornado warnings;
• flash flooding;
• rising water;
• structural damage;
• fire or smoke;
• electrical hazards;
• hazardous material releases;
• loss of HVAC;
• loss of water;
• animal containment failure; and
• unsafe road conditions.

Stage 5 — Recovery: Do Not Assume the Danger Is Over

The end of hurricane-force conditions does not automatically mean the shelter is safe to reopen.

Floodwater, electrical hazards, damaged buildings, contaminated water, sewage problems, carbon monoxide, downed power lines, unstable trees and blocked roads may remain dangerous.

1. 1. PEOPLE

   Account for staff and address injuries or immediate safety concerns.

2. 2. BUILDING

   Check for structural damage, flooding, fire, electrical hazards and unsafe areas.

3. 3. UTILITIES

   Assess power, generator operation, HVAC, potable water, sewer, refrigeration and communications.

4. 4. ANIMALS

   Account for every animal and assess injuries, illness, stress, containment and environmental conditions.

5. 5. OPERATIONS

   Determine which shelter services can safely resume.

6. 6. REOPENING

   Reopen only when conditions, staffing, utilities and facility safety support doing so.

7. 7. REVIEW

   Document what happened, what worked, what did not work and what should change before the next emergency.

Do not enter or use visibly damaged areas until they have been appropriately evaluated.

Flooded electrical and HVAC equipment may require professional inspection before use.

Plan Communications Before You Need Them

Shelters should determine in advance how they will communicate with:

• employees;
• volunteers;
• fosters;
• rescue partners;
• receiving shelters;
• veterinarians;
• emergency management;
• animal control;
• local government;
• media; and
• the public.

Prepare basic communication templates for:

• emergency foster requests;
• shelter closure;
• modified intake;
• evacuation;
• delayed reopening;
• volunteer cancellation;
• donation needs; and
• how the public can help.

Always have at least one backup communication method if normal internet or phone service becomes unavailable.

20 Hurricane Preparedness Questions for Shelter Managers

1. Who has authority to activate our hurricane plan?
2. Who can order evacuation?
3. At what point would we begin reducing the shelter population?
4. How quickly can we activate emergency fosters?
5. How will we contact our existing foster network?
6. Which rescue or placement partners could help?
7. Where would our animals go if we evacuate?
8. Has that destination agreed to receive animals?
9. Do we have enough vehicles, drivers, crates and carriers?
10. What is our alternate evacuation route?
11. Which animals require special transportation or medical support?
12. Who is expected to remain onsite?
13. How will staff remaining onsite eat, sleep and communicate?
14. Which systems require emergency power?
15. How long can our generator operate with available fuel?
16. What happens if HVAC fails?
17. What happens if potable water or sewer service fails?
18. How will we communicate if phones or internet fail?
19. What conditions would make our facility unsafe to occupy?
20. What must be checked before we reopen after the storm?

If several of these questions do not yet have clear answers, use them as starting points for improving the shelter's emergency plan.

Working through a broader review? Use the Animal Shelter Disaster Preparedness Checklist.