Cornell Cooperative Extension

Ulster County
New Orleans, LA 9/8/05 -- Residents who stayed behind with pets are leaving after police told them the pets can go with them. Many residents have been in New Orleans without electricity or tap water for ten days. New Orleans is being evacuated as a result of floods and damage caused by hurricane Katrina.
Image by Liz Roll

New Orleans resident evacuates with pets after Hurricane Katrina (2005).

Eureka, MO, 03/22/2008 -- Members of the Missouri Humane Society along with a volunteer large animal rescue group, Missouri Emergency Response Service, go out on a mission to rescue 13 cattle that were stuck in flood waters. A member of the team prompts the cattle to go in the direction of higher ground.
Image by Jocelyn Augustino/FEMA

Volunteer emergency personnel move cattle to higher ground during a flood in Missouri (2008).

East Grand Forks, MN, 04/01/1997 -- Humane Society of the United States volunteers wade through flood waters to rescue stranded pets.
Image by David Saville, FEMA

Humane Society volunteer rescues stranded pets after Minnesota flood (1997).

Animals & Pets

The best way to protect your household from the effects of a disaster is to have a disaster plan. If you are a pet owner, that plan must include your pets. Being prepared can save their lives.

The Ulster County Animal Response Team (UCART) supports our local pet owners and farmers in the event of a disaster. Do you have a plan for your animals if something goes wrong? If you have to evacuate is it best to leave your animals at home or bring them with you? We are here to help all of our human and animal friends plan for the worst. Get involved, get in touch, get ready, CCEUC and UCART have got you covered!

Pets and COVID-19 FAQs

Here are FAQs on COVID-19 for pet owners from the University of Illinois.

Interim guidance for animal care operations from The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Cold Weather

Cold Weather Pet Safety by the American Veterinary Medical Association, covers steps to take to keep a variety of different pets safe during winter weather. 

Emergency Plans 

Disaster Preparedness from the ASPCA that covers: preparing for disaster with your pets: How to get a Rescue Alert sticker for your home; arranging a safe haven for your pets if you must evacuate; preparing emergency supplies and pet traveling kits; designating caregivers in case something happens to you; how to prepare for evacuation; geographic and climatic considerations; plus special considerations for birds, reptiles and small animals.

Animals in Evacuation Shelters: Many shelters cannot accommodate pets; this page from the CDC covers ways to minimize health risks if animals are housed in a public evacuation shelter. 

Farm Animals

Caring for Animals, a page on the FEMA website, includes Disaster and Cold Weather Guidelines for large animals

Dairy and Livestock Disaster Guide

________________________________

(1) American Red Cross, "Prepare Your Home and Family > Pets" at http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/pets accessed on 1/30/2014.

Last updated February 15, 2024

Emergency Preparedness

If you evacuate...

If you evacuate your home, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PETS BEHIND. Pets most likely cannot survive on their own and if by some remote chance they do, you may not be able to find them when you return.

The ASPCA recommends using a rescue sticker alert to let people know that pets are inside your home. Make sure it is visible to rescue workers, and that it includes the types and number of pets in your household and your veterinarian's phone number.

If you must evacuate with your pets (and if time allows) write "EVACUATED" across the stickers so rescue workers don’t waste time looking for them.

Weather Information

National Weather Service logo with more white space on each side (250wide)

Enter your zip code for an up-to-the-minute forecast for your area, on the National Weather Service website at http://www.weather.gov/ .

ulster county animal response team

Visit EDEN's "Animals in Emergencies" webpage

Cornell’s NY Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) pages includes a section on "Animals in Emergencies" with many useful links to state and national resources.