Disaster planning for your (and your pets’) survival
It happened in Paradise in 2018 … in Plumas and Sonoma counties in 2019 … in the Bay Area and the North Coast last year … and in northern California, right now. Disastrous and deadly wildfires.
Drive 60 miles north from Chico — just 20 miles as the crow flies — and you’ll be in the heart of the Dixie Fire, the second largest in California’s history. Drive 130 miles southeast — 90 miles as the crow flies — and you’ll reach the southernmost edge of the massive Caldor Fire. Both of them together have incinerated over a million acres, destroyed close to 1,300 homes, killed uncounted numbers of wildlife, and forever changed the lives of us all.
I’ve talked about disaster planning before in this column, but thought now would be a good time to revisit the subject. We all know, all too well, that it could happen to us.
Your own safety
First, of course, we need to ensure our own safety in case of a disaster: we can’t do anything to help our animals if we’re incapacitated. That means having a strategy for quickly gathering your important items and your animals, knowing how to get out of your house, identifying the roadway escape routes, and establishing a communication plan that assigns someone outside your area to act as contact in case you get separated from your family.
Safeguarding your animals
First and foremost, make sure your dog is wearing a collar with upto-date ID tags, which should include the dog’s name and your phone number (both landline and cell). It’s just as important that your dog be microchipped: it’s inexpensive and painless, and will help reunite you if your dog ends up in a shelter.
Make paper or digital copies of all your dog’s vaccination records — especially rabies — and make sure they’re easily accessible. Include details of any acute medical conditions and prescription medications.
Put a “Save my Pet” sticker in the window or near the front door so that firefighters know there is a pet inside. (I carry a similar card in my wallet to advise emergency personnel that I have animals at home if I’m injured or unable to communicate.)
Having both a human and canine “go bag” that you can grab instantly is critical. Your dog’s bag should include five days’ worth of food and water, medications or a medication list, first-aid kit, your veterinarian’s contact information, a recent photo of your dog, and a familiar toy or blanket that will help your dog feel safe in a strange location.
Prepare for the worst
What if the worst happens and you find yourself facing an impending wildfire? I can’t say this strongly enough: EVACUATE IF YOU’RE ORDERED TO DO SO. Your home and possessions can be replaced, but your life and the lives of your animals can’t.
What else can you do to prepare? Sign up for for Butte County Emergency Mass Notifications Online (CodeRED), which sends emergency alerts to your cell or landline via text message, phone call, or email.
Go to CalFire’s Ready for Wildfire page for a printable evacuation guide.
Give a set of house keys to a neighbor who can rescue your pets if you’re not home.
Finally, be aware that smoke and ash can be just as toxic to your dogs as to you: not only are they at risk of direct burns to their coat and skin from flames, they can also suffer inhalation burns to their respiratory tract.
Events like these terrible wildfires can make us feel helpless, but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. There are things that every one of us can do to keep ourselves and our beloved companions safe — but we have to do it before that kind of crisis hits.
Joan Merriam lives in Nevada County with her Golden Retriever Joey, her Maine Coon cat Indy, and the abiding spirit of her beloved Golden Retriever Casey in whose memory this column is named. You can reach Joan at joan@ joanmerriam.com. And if you’re looking for a Golden, be sure to check out Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.