Family & Pets

Write down who and what the plan must support.

Include:

• Every adult
• Infants and children
• Older adults
• Overnight or seasonal residents
• People with disabilities
• Medical and mobility needs
• Caregivers
• Pets
• Service animals
• Vehicles and drivers
• Evacuation assistance
• Languages used in the household
• Communication and sensory needs

For each person, identify:

• Essential medication
• Medical equipment
• Mobility equipment
• Dietary needs
• Allergies
• Transportation needs
• Communication preferences
• Personal-care supplies
• Emergency contacts
• A safe evacuation destination

Update the profile when someone’s health, medication, caregiver, school, residence, vehicle, or pet changes.

Preparation becomes more manageable when responsibilities are decided early.

Assign people to:

• Monitor official information
• Review evacuation orders
• Prepare the home
• Pack shared supplies
• Pack medication
• Charge equipment
• Prepare children
• Prepare pets
• Contact the evacuation destination
• Load the vehicle
• Check on relatives
• Notify the out-of-area contact
• Complete the final household walkthrough

Assign backup responsibilities in case someone is away, sick, working, or unable to complete a task.

Do not assign a safety-critical responsibility to someone who may not understand it, remember it, or physically complete it.

Use a written checklist instead of relying on memory.

Discuss hurricanes before one threatens the area.

Explain:

• The hazards that could affect the home
• Whether the household may stay or evacuate
• How the decision will be made
• Where emergency supplies are stored
• Which room will be used during dangerous wind
• Where the household will evacuate
• How everyone will communicate
• What to do if someone becomes separated
• Who will care for each pet
• Which adults are responsible for children
• What happens if the first destination is unavailable

Keep the conversation calm, honest, and appropriate for each person’s age and understanding.

Preparedness should provide clarity without creating unnecessary fear.

Infants and young children depend on adults for transportation, food, sanitation, medical care, comfort, and communication.

Prepare:

• Diapers
• Wipes
• Diaper-rash supplies
• Formula or feeding supplies
• Safe drinking water
• Bottles and cleaning supplies
• Age-appropriate food
• Medication
• Clothing
• Bedding
• Car seats
• Strollers or carriers
• Hygiene supplies
• Comfort items
• Identification information
• Emergency contact cards

If using powdered infant formula, prepare a safe-water and sanitation plan. Follow current healthcare and product guidance for feeding during an emergency.

Pack more clothing and sanitation supplies than would normally be needed for the expected travel period.

Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even for a short period. Florida heat can make a parked vehicle dangerous within minutes.

Children may respond better when they know what to expect.

Explain:

• What a hurricane is
• Why adults are preparing
• Which sounds they may hear
• Why electricity may go out
• Why the family may leave home
• Where they will sleep
• Which belongings they can bring
• Who will stay with them
• What to do if separated

Let children help with safe, age-appropriate tasks such as:

• Choosing a comfort item
• Packing a small bag
• Testing a flashlight
• Learning a contact number
• Identifying the meeting place
• Helping organize pet supplies
• Practicing a family check-in

Do not make children responsible for evacuation decisions, medical care, generator operation, structural preparation, or animal control during dangerous conditions.

Review emergency procedures for:

• Schools
• Daycare
• Camps
• After-school programs
• Sports
• Houses of worship
• Other regular activities

Confirm:

• Who may pick up the child
• What identification is required
• Where reunification will occur
• How the organization sends alerts
• What happens if roads close
• Whether transportation stops before a storm
• How medication will be handled
• How children with disabilities will be supported
• Which emergency contacts are on file

Update authorized pickup lists and outdated telephone numbers.

Do not assume you will be able to reach the child immediately after a warning or evacuation begins.

Teenagers and young adults may be at school, work, driving, or with friends when conditions change.

Make sure they know:

• When to come home
• When not to travel
• Who makes evacuation decisions
• Where the household will meet
• Which routes to avoid
• How to contact the out-of-area person
• What to do if cellular service fails
• What supplies should remain in their vehicle
• How to receive official alerts
• Never to drive through floodwater
• Not to remain behind for property or friends

Give them clear authority to move to a predetermined safe location if returning home would require unsafe travel.

Older adults may face additional risk from heat, medication interruptions, falls, transportation delays, and loss of familiar support.

Review:

• Medication
• Medical equipment
• Mobility aids
• Hearing aids and batteries
• Eyeglasses
• Dentures
• Dietary needs
• Personal-care supplies
• Continence supplies
• Transportation
• Safe cooling
• Communication needs
• Caregiver support
• Emergency contacts
• Medical records

Allow additional evacuation time.

Confirm that the destination is physically accessible and can support sleeping, bathroom, medication, refrigeration, and mobility needs.

Do not assume an older adult needs help in every area. Ask what assistance is wanted and include the person directly in planning.

A disability may affect mobility, vision, hearing, speech, communication, cognition, memory, sensory processing, personal care, or the ability to use standard transportation and shelters.

Plan for the person’s actual needs.

Possible preparations include:

• Accessible transportation
• Mobility equipment
• Transfer assistance
• Backup batteries
• Manual alternatives
• Communication devices
• Visual or vibrating alerts
• Large-print information
• Picture-based instructions
• Interpreting or relay services
• Quiet space
• Specific sleeping arrangements
• Refrigerated medication
• Accessible bathroom facilities
• A service animal
• A backup support person

Keep essential equipment with the person whenever possible.

Do not separate someone from a wheelchair, communication device, medical equipment, or service animal merely for convenience.

Use Special Needs and Medical for detailed registration, shelter, and transportation planning.

One caregiver or helper may become unavailable during an emergency.

Create a support network that includes:

• Primary caregiver
• Backup caregiver
• Nearby relative
• Trusted neighbor
• Out-of-area contact
• Transportation provider
• Medical provider
• Equipment supplier
• Pharmacy
• Veterinarian when applicable

Members of the network should understand:

• What assistance is needed
• How to enter the home when authorized
• Where supplies are stored
• How equipment works
• Where the person will evacuate
• Which transportation is required
• How to communicate during an outage
• Which animals must accompany the person

Protect private medical and household information. Share only what each person needs to carry out the agreed responsibility.

Every medication-dependent household member needs a written plan.

Prepare:

• Prescription medication
• Over-the-counter medication when appropriate
• Medication list
• Allergy list
• Prescription labels
• Pharmacy information
• Doctor contacts
• Refrigerated-medication plan
• Medical-device instructions
• Charging equipment
• Backup batteries
• Approved backup power
• A powered evacuation destination

Do not wait until a hurricane warning to request refills or test medical backup power.

Use Medical and Safety for medication, first-aid, medical-record, and household safety planning. Use Power and Lighting for electrically powered medical equipment.

Florida residents who require evacuation or shelter assistance may be eligible for county special-needs programs.

Registration, eligibility, services, transportation, caregiver requirements, and shelter capabilities vary by county.

Register before hurricane season and confirm:

• Whether the registration remains active
• Which services are provided
• Whether transportation is included
• When transportation begins
• Which equipment can be accommodated
• Whether a caregiver must attend
• What supplies to bring
• How service animals are handled
• What happens if the preferred shelter is unavailable

Registration does not replace a personal emergency plan or guarantee that every requested service will be available.

Shared household supplies are important, but each person should also have essential personal items together.

Depending on individual needs, include:

• Clothing
• Sturdy shoes
• Hygiene supplies
• Medication
• Medical equipment
• Identification
• Emergency contact card
• Flashlight
• Charging cable
• Power bank
• Water bottle
• Food or snacks
• Hearing-aid batteries
• Eyeglasses
• Communication aids
• Sensory supports
• Comfort items
• Bedding when required

Children may carry lightweight, age-appropriate supplies, but adults remain responsible for essential medication, documents, food, water, and safety equipment.

Use Bug Out Bags for detailed packing guidance.

Keep protected paper and secure digital copies of important records.

Possible records include:

• Identification
• Birth certificates
• Passports
• Insurance cards
• Medical information
• Prescription information
• Immunization records
• School information
• Custody or guardianship documents
• Advance directives
• Power-of-attorney documents
• Emergency contacts
• Special-needs registration
• Pet vaccination records
• Microchip information
• Proof of pet ownership
• Veterinarian contacts

Store paper copies in a waterproof container that can be taken during evacuation.

Do not rely entirely on a phone, cloud account, or internet connection.

Every household member should know:

• The primary contact
• The out-of-area contact
• The backup contact
• The meeting place near home
• The meeting place outside the neighborhood
• The evacuation destination
• What to do if separated
• When to check in
• Which official alerts to follow

Place printed contact information in personal bags, vehicles, wallets, and children’s belongings when appropriate.

Use Communications to build the complete contact, alert, radio, and offline-information plan.

Pets depend on people for evacuation, shelter, food, water, medication, and protection from hazards.

Include every pet in decisions about:

• Remaining home
• Evacuating
• Transportation
• Temporary lodging
• Sheltering
• Medical care
• Supplies
• Backup caregivers
• Returning home

Never leave pets behind during an evacuation.

Do not release pets outdoors or leave them tethered. A familiar animal may panic, hide, escape, or become difficult to control during wind, flooding, thunder, alarms, and unfamiliar activity.

Keep identification current.

Use:

• Secure collars
• Identification tags
• Registered microchips
• Current owner contact information
• Current photographs
• Photographs showing the owner with the animal
• Vaccination records
• License information when required
• Medical records
• Medication list
• Veterinarian contacts
• Proof of ownership
• Keep paper and digital copies.

Check the microchip registry before hurricane season. A microchip cannot help reunite an animal with its owner if the registration contains an old telephone number or address.

Create a separate kit for each type of animal.

Depending on the pet, include:

• Food
• Drinking water
• Bowls
• Medication
• Prescription information
• Leash
• Harness
• Carrier or crate
• Collar and identification
• Waste bags
• Litter and litter pan
• Bedding
• Cleaning supplies
• Paper towels
• Current photographs
• Vaccination records
• Veterinarian information
• Basic pet first-aid supplies
• Familiar toy or comfort item

Bring enough food, medication, sanitation supplies, and water for the destination’s requirements and the possibility of an extended disruption.

Rotate food and medication before they expire.

Do not introduce unfamiliar food immediately before evacuation unless necessary.

Every pet should have an appropriate method of restraint.

Use:

• A secure carrier
• A correctly fitted harness
• A sturdy leash
• A crate appropriate for the animal
• Vehicle restraints designed for the pet when appropriate

Label carriers with:

• Owner name
• Telephone number
• Destination
• Emergency contact
• Pet name
• Medical or behavioral warning when necessary

Allow the pet to become familiar with the carrier before hurricane season.

Do not transport an unrestrained animal in an open truck bed or allow a frightened animal to move freely inside the vehicle.

Do not assume a hotel, rental, shelter, or family residence accepts pets.

Prepare several options:

• Pet-friendly hotel
• Friend or relative
• County pet-friendly shelter
• Veterinary boarding facility
• Commercial boarding facility
• Destination outside the threatened area

Confirm:

• Species accepted
• Number of pets permitted
• Size restrictions
• Carrier or crate requirements
• Vaccination requirements
• Fees
• Deposits
• Documentation
• Check-in time
• Length-of-stay limitations
• Whether owners and animals stay together
• What supplies must be brought

Policies may change during an emergency. Verify the destination again before departure.

Do not depend on a single pet-friendly hotel reservation.

Household pets and service animals are not treated the same under shelter policies.

Many general public shelters do not accept household pets. Some communities open designated pet-friendly shelters or arrange separate animal sheltering.

Service animals assisting people with disabilities are generally permitted in emergency shelters even when household pets are not.

Emotional-support animals do not automatically have the same public-access rights as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act. A pet-friendly shelter may still accept them under its animal policy.

Confirm local procedures before a storm, including:

• Registration
• Documentation
• Species restrictions
• Carrier requirements
• Animal supplies
• Relief areas
• Sleeping arrangements
• Transportation
• Caregiver responsibilities

The handler remains responsible for the service animal’s care and control.

Animals other than dogs and cats may require specialized transportation and environmental control.

Consider:

• Species-appropriate carrier
• Temperature requirements
• Ventilation
• Humidity
• Food
• Water
• Medication
• Bedding or substrate
• Safe heating equipment
• Backup power
• Escape prevention
• Destination restrictions
• Veterinary adviceAquariums and large habitats may not be portable.

Create a veterinarian-informed plan before hurricane season. Do not improvise with unsafe heaters, open flames, or unventilated containers during a power outage.

Before hurricane season:

• Practice entering the carrier.
• Take short vehicle trips.
• Confirm the pet can remain safely restrained.
• Refill medication.
• Update vaccinations.
• Obtain records.
• Check identification.
• Confirm the destination.
• Prepare cleaning supplies.
• Discuss anxiety or motion sickness with the veterinarian.
• Identify emergency veterinary clinics along the route.

Do not give sedatives, tranquilizers, or human medication unless a veterinarian specifically directs you to do so.

If the household remains home:

• Bring every pet inside early.
• Secure doors and windows.
• Block unsafe hiding places.
• Keep carriers accessible.
• Place leashes near the safe area.
• Keep food and water protected.
• Keep medication together.
• Separate animals when stress creates conflict.
• Maintain safe ventilation and temperature.
• Provide an indoor sanitation area.
• Keep pets away from generator equipment and fuel.

Place pets in the household’s protected area before conditions become dangerous.

Do not let animals outside during hurricane-force winds, lightning, flooding, or when debris is moving.

Children, older adults, people with chronic conditions, and pets may be especially vulnerable during a prolonged loss of air conditioning.

Prepare:

• Drinking water
• Safe ventilation
• Battery-powered fans
• Rechargeable fans
• Cooling supplies
• Lightweight clothing
• A room thermometer
• Backup power
• A cooler destination
• Accessible transportation

Do not rely on fans alone when indoor temperatures become dangerous.

Never leave a child, older adult requiring assistance, or animal in a parked vehicle.

Pets can overheat rapidly. Heavy panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, confusion, collapse, or seizures require immediate cooling and urgent veterinary attention.

If the home cannot remain safe, relocate before transportation becomes difficult.

Account for every household member and animal when storing food and water.

Include:

• Medical diets
• Infant feeding
• Allergies
• Easy-to-open food
• Pet food
• Service-animal food
• Medication requirements
• Additional water for heat
• Cleaning water
• Pet sanitation
• Diapers
• Continence supplies
• Menstrual products
• Waste bags
• Soap and hand sanitizer

Do not allow people or animals to drink floodwater, pool water, or water from an unsafe source.

Use Bug In Preparation for detailed food, water, sanitation, refrigeration, and extended-outage planning.

Before departure:

• Confirm the destination.
• Check evacuation orders.
• Load medication and medical equipment.
• Secure children in appropriate restraints.
• Secure every animal.
• Load mobility devices.
• Confirm caregiver transportation.
• Bring personal bags.
• Bring protected records.
• Notify the out-of-area contact.
• Review the primary and backup routes.
• Check fuel or vehicle charge.
• Set check-in times.
• Leave early enough for everyone’s needs.

Traveling with children, older adults, mobility equipment, or animals usually takes longer than traveling alone.

Do not wait for someone to become medically unstable, overheated, frightened, or exhausted before leaving.

Wait for official information before leaving the protected area or returning to an evacuated neighborhood.

Protect children, older adults, people with disabilities, and animals from:

• Floodwater
• Downed power lines
• Broken glass
• Exposed nails
• Unstable structures
• Damaged trees
• Mold
• Chemicals
• Generator exhaust
• Contaminated food and water
• Mosquitoes
• Snakes
• Wildlife
• Stray animals
• Cleanup equipment
• Excessive heat

Keep children and pets away from cleanup areas.

Do not allow pets to roam. Familiar landmarks and scents may be altered, fences may be damaged, and displaced animals may behave unpredictably.

Do not allow pets to drink from puddles, floodwater, or standing water.

Contact a healthcare professional or veterinarian promptly after bites, contaminated wounds, toxic exposure, or unusual illness.

Hurricanes disrupt routines, homes, relationships, work, school, and a person’s sense of safety.

Children may become clingy, withdrawn, irritable, fearful, or have trouble sleeping.

Adults may experience anxiety, exhaustion, grief, poor concentration, anger, or delayed emotional reactions.

Pets may hide, vocalize, stop eating, become destructive, or behave differently.

Helpful actions include:

• Restore familiar routines.
• Explain changes honestly.
• Limit repeated exposure to distressing coverage.
• Maintain medication and treatment.
• Provide familiar food and comfort items.
• Allow time for rest.
• Divide recovery into manageable tasks.
• Stay connected with supportive people.
• Seek professional help when symptoms are severe or persistent.

Use Recovery Mindset for additional emotional and psychological recovery planning.

Before hurricane season:

• Create the household profile.
• Assign responsibilities.
• Select backup caregivers.
• Review school procedures.
• Register for special-needs assistance when appropriate.
• Prepare personal emergency bags.
• Refill medication.
• Test medical equipment.
• Update emergency contacts.
• Update pet identification.
• Check microchip registrations.
• Prepare pet kits.
• Practice using carriers.
• Confirm evacuation destinations.
• Confirm pet-friendly options.
• Review shelter requirements.
• Test transportation.
• Practice the communication plan.

Before conditions deteriorate:

• Review official forecasts and local instructions.
• Decide whether the home remains safe.
• Confirm the destination.
• Confirm caregivers and drivers.
• Obtain eligible medication refills.
• Charge equipment and batteries.
• Pack personal bags.
• Pack pet supplies.
• Bring pets inside.
• Place carriers and leashes near the exit.
• Load mobility equipment.
• Protect records from water.
• Notify the out-of-area contact.
• Check fuel or vehicle charge.
• Review routes.
• Leave early when additional assistance or travel time is required.

Planning for the Average Adult

Children, older adults, disabilities, medical conditions, and animals create different needs and timelines.

Depending on One Caregiver

A caregiver may be working, delayed, sick, or unable to travel.

Waiting to Discuss the Plan

People respond more confidently when responsibilities and expectations are familiar.

Assuming School Reunification Will Be Simple

Road closures, identification requirements, and emergency procedures may delay pickup.

Registering for Assistance Without a Backup Plan

Registration does not replace personal transportation, supplies, contacts, or alternative destinations.

Forgetting Heat Risk

A home that is structurally safe may become unsafe during a prolonged power outage.

Leaving Pets Behind

Animals may become trapped, injured, lost, or impossible to reach after evacuation.

Assuming Every Shelter Accepts Pets

Pet-friendly sheltering varies by community, facility, species, and emergency.

Confusing Pets With Service Animals

Shelter access and legal protections differ.

Buying a Carrier Without Practicing

A frightened animal may resist an unfamiliar carrier when departure becomes urgent.

Allowing Pets to Roam After the Storm

Damaged fencing, debris, floodwater, wildlife, and altered surroundings create new hazards.

Expecting Children to Handle Adult Responsibilities

Children can participate, but adults remain responsible for safety decisions and essential supplies.

Use Medical and Safety for medication, first-aid, health records, medical devices, heat, and household safety.

Review Special Needs and Medical for accessible evacuation, transportation, registration, and shelter planning.

Use Communications to prepare household contacts, reunification locations, alerts, radios, and offline information.

Review Bug Out Bags for personal evacuation supplies.

Use Power and Lighting for medical equipment, charging, lighting, and safe backup power.

Review Bug In Preparation for food, water, sanitation, refrigeration, and prolonged outages.

Use Home Preparation to create a safe interior area and protect the property.

Review Evacuation Planning to choose the destination and departure time.

Use Gas, Food and Shelter to prepare travel stops, lodging, shelter options, and essential supplies.

Review Recovery Mindset for emotional recovery after the hurricane.