What to do in a Storm?
We all hope we never have an emergency situation, especially where our pets are involved. When it is a situation that calls for an evacuation or taking protective cover, I worry about my pets, especially my darling Sugar Gliders being cared for. What if they tell us to evacuate and no animals allowed? My sugar gliders are part of my family. Just because they are small being doesnt mean my love for them is any smaller!
What to do when there is a “storm emergency” and how should you be prepared to care for your sugar gliders?
While I do take certain precautions, and will do what I must to protect my family, I also realize that in certain situations you just have to have faith. Especially where I live, a heavily populated area. If there was any kind of disaster and evacuation, there would be so much panic and cars and such you wouldnt be able to move, so I and my family would cuddle up in the place we have learned to call home and leave it in the hands of our Creator.
At work we were talking about this and someone asked about my sugar gliders and other animals. I said that "they are part of my family and God knows that. He will care for them too"
On another note... EVERY HOME SHOULD HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN!
Keep bottled water on hand at all times, and nonperishable foods, such as canned goods or dehydrated foods. As bad as it sounds junk food is good only because all the preservatives keep it from spoiling and they are loaded with calories. But use some sense in this area.
For pets make sure you have emergency plans for them as well. Make sure you have food and medicines for pets as well as humans. Keep canned fruit (the less added sugar the better!) and dehydrated fruit. This is one area where a high quality kibble for sugar gliders might be ok for a few days. Keep jars of honey around. Honey never goes bad and can be considered as a temporay food source as well as a wound protectant (for humans) if one is needed.
For small animals like sugar gliders: every home should have emergency cages or other transport devices. NOT just pouches either! If you have to leave and spend time away you cant keep them in a pouch, but many of us have cages too big to move in a hurry. I purchased small easily carried cages that are taller for emergencies, about 12"x12" but 24"tall. you should get one for each cage in the house. these are kept handy with extra bottles, exercise wheels, toys and pouches all ready to go, just plop in the glider and you are off. We also have multiple tents in the house for us and the gliders. Blankets too, for us and them. Never too many blankets.
I am also as prepared in my vehicle. I keep a tote in my van at all times with a change of clothes, dried food, water (you must change the water out frequently if kept in a hot vehicle!) I also keep small emergency cages (quite small) in the van at all times for the gliders also.
so...while I have faith, I also use common sense and try to be prepared. but DON’T panic!
as for where is the safest place in a house during a tornado...
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/index.shtm
http://www.tornadoproject.com/safety/safety.htm
Here are some more helpful links:
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/animals.shtm
http://www.avma.org/disaster/
http://www.ready.gov/america/getakit/pets.htm
I know this may sound funny too...but where ever you live you should learn some basic wilderness survival tactics. Such as preparing water to be safe to drink. What plants are edible, poisonous, medicinal. How to start a fire without matches, how to camp and keep warm in a blizzard. that sort of thing. If you never have to use it, just knowing HOW to survive will instill some confidence in you in many scary situations.
Make sure you keep batteries handy with flashlights, keep the cell phones charged at all times and have a fully stocked first aid kit with supplies for both animals and humans. Take a course in human and animal first aid.
Hope this helped or entertained you. remember to keep a good sense or humor and reality about you.
