It's always better to stay at home during a
hurricane, if possible, than to subject your
pet(s) and you to an expensive and stressful
evacuation. Below are some tips for
maintaining health and comfort at home--and
travel tips in case an evacuation is
necessary.
Many reptile owners like to keep their pets
outside whenever possible, to take advantage
of Mother Nature's wonderful, limitless UVB
rays. But a hurricane or other severe
storm is no place for a fragile snake or
reptile! So when bad weather
threatens, always bring all tanks inside.
Never leave ANYTHING outside which could be
destroyed, or cause damage to other people,
pets, or buildings.
Food and Water
- At Home
Think
ahead. Supplies of feeder insects, rodents, and/or
fresh veggies may be difficult
to
obtain in an emergency situation. Be sure to
order extra supplies, at least a week's
worth, ahead of time (i.e. the moment
you know a hurricane is brewing). Also chop up
any veggies ahead of time, because you may
lose power and not be able to run your nifty
little food processor. ;-)
Freeze
as much water as you can. A chest freezer,
if you can afford one, is an excellent way
to store water indefinitely. Simply save
your milk jugs for the next several weeks,
rinse them out with hot water immediately
and fill them 3/4 full of water, then store
them (uncapped) in the freezer. The water
will expand as it freezes, which is why you
need to leave them uncapped. In an
emergency, they will not only keep your
frozen foods cold longer, they will also
provide fresh water as needed. Simply thaw
one at a time, as you need it.
Power & Heat
Make
sure you have a reliable backup power source
for your heat lamps. Generators are
hideously expensive, especially this time of
year. A much cheaper solution is to buy a
UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) from Best
Buy or CompUSA. These are primarily made for
computers--but can also be used to power
heat lamps, fans, or any other small
appliance. The bigger the UPS, obviously,
the longer it can run what you need.
(Remember to fully charge your UPS before
using it!!)
If
you have fish, invest NOW in a
battery-operated air pump and enough
batteries to run it for at least a week.
Even goldfish and guppies, which are
primarily air breathers, will thank you!
If
you must evacuate,
have a
checklist written up AHEAD of time!
Remember to bring all your pet's supplies
along. This sounds obvious--but during the
panic of an evac, it's all too easy to
forget stuff that should be second-nature.
(If you're like me, your pet's supplies will
take up 3/4 of the available space, and your
own stuff will be crammed in the remaining
corners! LOL)
Safe
Transportation
Reptiles
and snakes can often be carried in the same kind of
soft-sided travel cases
many people use for
their cats and dogs. Line yours with soft
towels, so your pet won't hurt itself if it
gets nervous or agitated. Be sure to bring
extra towels, as they will get soiled. A
plastic bag is also a good precaution, to
keep those stinky pooped-on towels separate
from your own laundry. (It will also keep
your hotel room from getting as stinky,
which can be critical if your hotel doesn't
allow animals.)
Food and Water
Think
ahead. Crickets are difficult to transport.
They need space, they have a unique aroma
(rather pungent to those who don't love
reptiles), and they are nature's original
escape artists. Hotels will not thank
you for unleashing them in their clean, tidy
rooms. If your reptiles will eat
mealworms, superworms, waxworms, phoenix
worms, or other insects which can be easily
contained and transported, consider stocking
up on those during hurricane season.
Most likely, your reptile will consider the
new foods a tasty treat. (Just because
an evac is stressful on you doesn't mean
your pet can't be pampered a little in the
process!)
Store your frozen mice in a portable cooler
with a few ice packs or frozen water
bottles. You can thaw these as needed,
to provide variety and extra protein.
You may be able to get veggies if the
nearest grocery store is open (often at a
discount, as they're trying to sell
everything possible before the power
failures ruin everything). But just in
case, bring along any fresh veggies you have
available, and don't forget your food
processor!
Hurricanes
are stressful enough without expending extra
energy preparing food, and wishing you'd
thought to bring along that handy little
gadget!
Remember to bring along any frozen water
jugs you may have available. They will
help keep your stored food cold longer, and
provide safe uncontaminated water for you
and your pet(s) in an emergency situation.
Stay as calm and quiet as possible around
your pet. They can sense fear, and will
respond to your emotions. If your pet enjoys
being held, a little extra TLC can go a long
way toward reassuring both of you.