When disaster strikes, local animal shelters often become lifelines for animals in need. These organizations care for displaced pets, assist in rescue efforts and help families reunite with beloved companions.
This guide can help your shelter or rescue be prepared and keep everyone safe. This resource offers insight into:
- What shelters need to stay disaster-ready
- How communities and shelters can collaborate effectively
- Why public involvement matters before, during and after a crisis
You can use the following best practices to build or improve your organization’s disaster response plan.
What is a disaster?
Disasters come in many forms—natural, infrastructure-related, or man-made. Any one of these can leave animals without care and communities without critical support systems. Here are common examples:
Natural Disasters
- Avalanche
- Blizzard
- Earthquake
- Fire
- Flood
- Hurricane
- Lightning strike
- Mudslide
- Tidal wave
- Tornado
- Volcano eruption
Structural or Infrastructure Failures
- Animal transport wreck (train, truck, boat, plane)
- Broken gas main
- Building collapse
- Chemical spill
- Explosion
- Loss of electricity
- Loss of water
Human-Caused Emergencies
- Animal neglect or cruelty case
- Burglary
- Farm or pet shop abandonment
- Fire
- Riots or looting
Why Shelters Need a Plan
In an emergency, your shelter becomes a central point of care and coordination. Without a written disaster plan, animals and staff may be left vulnerable, and community trust may suffer. Planning ahead not only protects lives but demonstrates accountability to donors, partners and the public.
Creating a plan takes time, but it isn’t difficult. The most important step is starting.
- Identify Local Risks: Work with your county emergency manager to determine what types of disasters are most likely in your area.
- Coordinate with Agencies: Gather existing emergency plans from the Red Cross, animal control, first responders and public health authorities. Avoid duplication and clarify roles.
- Assess Vulnerabilities: Consider all animal-related facilities in your community—from kennels to farms—and how they might be affected during each type of emergency.
- Pre-Designate Evacuation Sites: Identify and prepare multiple locations outside danger zones to house animals safely, with space for food, water and sanitation.
- Establish a Disaster Action Team: Select reliable team leads who will oversee:
- Damage assessment
- Animal housing and transport
- Staff scheduling and supervision
- Build a Volunteer Network: Train multiple backup teams to support animal rescue, sheltering and emergency veterinary care. Account for the possibility that staff or volunteers may be personally impacted and unavailable.
- Stock and Maintain Supplies: Secure cages, transport vehicles, food, water and medical supplies in weatherproof storage. Identify multiple supply sources.
- Prepare for Medical Needs: Coordinate emergency veterinary services—from triage to surgeries—for a variety of species, including livestock, pets and wildlife.
- Ensure Communication Resilience: Equip your team with radios, walkie-talkies, or satellite phones in case landlines and cell service go down.
- Plan for Public Outreach: Create a strategy to inform the public about available services, even if traditional media and communications are disrupted.
- Bypass Financial Delays: Set up processes to access funds quickly, even when regulations or systems are down. Some supplies and services will require immediate payment.
- Document Everything: Use photos, notes and reports to track your actions. These records help improve future response efforts and support funding requests.
- Review and Refine Your Plan: After each emergency response or drill, revisit your disaster plan. Gather team feedback, evaluate what worked and what didn’t, and update your protocols to improve future readiness
Before disaster strikes, contact American Humane Society for training, tools and expert guidance. If disaster hits, we can help with on-the-ground support and essential supplies.
Get Your Free Pet Preparedness Toolkit
Disasters strike fast, but you can be ready. Whether it’s wildfire, tornado or hurricane, having a plan in place can help save lives.
Download our free Ultimate Pet Preparedness Toolkit to help you prepare your pets and your family.
