Hello everyone!
As some of the people in the Northeastern region of the US may know, there's a pretty nasty line of storms heading out our way. Some members on other forums as well as people I know in other states, have shared they're under a tornado watch (as am I) and it made me think of my emergency plan and what I will do if the watch was to be raised to a warning. I figured I'd take this opportunity to share some of my strategies and plans for others facing this problem, and perhaps for general reference! This is more of a refresher as I'm sure it's been shared on here at some point. Stay safe everyone
Sheltering emergencies (tornadoes)
The important thing for tornadoes is that you're monitoring weather and seeing the conditions around you. You should take shelter as soon as a warning is issued, tornadoes will move quickly and can hit and leave before you even comprehend what's happening! According to Underground Weather,
"Trying to outrun a tornado on foot is never a good idea: The average tornado moves along the ground at about 30 mph (50 kph), much faster than you can run"
This being said, make sure your emergency sheltering area is set up long before a warning has been issued!
The shelter:
Your shelter should be a very low lying area. Places like basements, designated storm shelters, and bathrooms+closets on the bottom floor all make good places to hide from a storm. Try to get as deep underground as possible, 3 feet+ is best as there have been reports of tornadoes going down this far before (though very rare) according to the NSSL, "There have been reports of tornadoes blowing dirt and creating a trench 3 feet deep, but it is very uncommon. Tornadoes have been known to strip asphalt pavement."
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Make sure to stay away from windows and any openings where debris could get in and potentially injure you. Choose an area with sturdy structure that is unlikely to fall in or allow for debris to fly around. Lie on your hands and knees and cover your neck, protect vital oragans. Covering your hamster's cage with a larger object may protect them from falling debris
Items for your hamster:
-A small STURDY cage. Avoid anything that may shatter under too much pressure or allow for debris to cause cracks
-A few scoops of bedding
-A water bottle or dish; Plus some extra water such as gallon jugs or bottles
-(optionally) a chew or two
-a hide to reduce stress
-a bit of bagged food (you can never be sure how long you'll be stuck for)
-Info box (explanation further down)
Remember again that it's crucial you get your hamster(s) and yourself into shelter the moment a warning has been issued as time is of the essence (refer to above for how quickly a tornado approaches)
Please note the difference between a tornado warning and a tornado watch:
Watch: weather conditions are
favorable for tornado formation. No action needed now except to have a plan in order and to listen to a local weather service provider for updates
Warning: a tornado has touched the ground, and has either been indicated via radar or has been directly spotted. Now is the time to take shelter and listen to a local weather service provider if at all possible. Action should be taken immediately
[
https://www.weatherworksinc.com/watch-vs-warning]
Remember that your safety should ALWAYS come first, but keep in mind your pets if you can. Have an emergency carrier/cage ready at the flip of a switch!
Earthquakes (realized I forgot this!)
Earthquakes have essentially the same procedures as tornadoes, though luckily they're not quite as deadly most of the time. Keep in mind that earthquakes can lead to more serious disasters such as tsunamis so always be prepared to attempt an emergency-evacuation shortly after. Also keep in mind that earthquakes have an aftershock (or even multiple for quite a long time!) so after the original earthquake has dissapated, you're not yet out of the woods. Just as with tornadoes, get on your hands and knees and cover your head and neck, ensuring that you protect vital organs. In this situation, try to keep your hamster's cage still to avoid damage to the cage or injuries to your hamster. Hold onto other items for stability and be cautious of falling bits of building or other household items. Check out this link for more info on what to do and how to keep yourself, and your hamster safe:
https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes
The supply list is essentially the same as what has been listed above.
Earthquakes unfortunately cannot yet be predicted, they are caused by shifting along fault lines. Nobody can truly know when an earthquake will happen, but it's good to always be ready in case one comes suddenly, especially if you live in a state/country prone to them or on a fault (ex. California on San Andreas fault)
After an earthquake has dissipated, turn to a local weather provider service for additional info on what may happen and tips on what to do next. Stay calm and collected, and take care of yourself and your hamster(s)
Shelter:
Get to the most structurally sound portion of your house and stay away from windows.
Evacuation (hurricanes & flood watches)
Evacuation in these situations isn't usually immediate. Hurricanes can be predicted days in advance which gives plenty of time for you and your pets to get out of an affected area safely. Floods may be more sudden, but if you're in an area in which is conducive to flooding (i.e. near a river, lake, large body of water, or a low lying area) you should be diligent if you hear that heavy rains are on their way. Flash floods can be devastating so it's crucial you get yourself and your pets out before you even have the chance to be stuck in a flood.
The evacuation site:
If you're in an area that is at risk of flooding, evacuation may be as simple as getting to higher ground or going an hour or so away. The important thing is to avoid low ground, areas conducive to flash floods, or areas with large bodies of water. If a hurricane is why you're evacuating, you should check radar and predictions to see where the hurricane is due to hit and avoid this area. Stay away from the coast and get inland if possible.
Items for your hamster:
-A decent sized travel cage (or their normal cage if it's not insanely large or heavy)
-All or most of their old bedding
-info box (explanation further down)
-Toys and chews
-A bottle or bowl and a few gallons of water (power outages and being trapped can cause issues)
-Their food (preferably the whole bag)
-Hides
Remember that hurricanes and floods (if caught early on) are not immediate emergencies and you can take an hour or two to evacuate if needed. You may find yourself away from your home for a week or more depending on how long the storm lasts and how bad flooding and damage is. If you forget anything, don't panic! Your goal is to get yourself out, everything can be bought elsewhere
Emergency evacuations (Fires & tsunamis)
When it comes to emergency evacuations, it's so crucial that you get out as fast as you possibly can. Unfortunately, this may mean that you leave your furry friend behind if your safety is in jeopardy. Remember with this supply list that your goal is to survive and get yourself out and far away ASAP. Fires carry many dangers besides just the obvious burns. You can also die via smoke inhalation so you need to get yourself out of a burning building as quickly as you are physically able to go- this does NOT mean to panic or sprint! Remain calm and move at a swift and efficient pace. Remember to feel doors with the back of your hand before opening. Tsunamis are powerful waves that can travel 10 miles inland in the right conditions! "Tsunamis can travel as far as 10 miles (16 km) inland, depending on the shape and slope of the shoreline." [
https://www.google.com/amp/amp.lives...-tsunami.html]
Tsunamis destroy houses and travel around 10-30 mph (16-48 kph) so if you are alerted one may hit or you notice the signs of a tsunami, get yourself away immediately.
Evacuation site:
For a fire, you'll want to get to another building, a vehicle, or anywhere away from the scene. Make sure you have both a doctor and a vet on speed dial as sometimes, the danger of fires comes after you've escaped in the form of smoke inhalation. Smoke contains many harmful chemical compounds and carcinogenic materials so damage can occur to both you and your hamster [
https://www.health.ny.gov/environmen...from_fire.htm]
For tsunamis, you'll want to travel at least 20 miles away from the nearby shore, but 50+ miles would be best for optimum safety. Remember, get to high ground quickly, do not hesitate!
Items for your hamster:
-carrier (any works, but if worst comes to worst, grab anything that will hold an animal and get out)
-a handful (or more if you have time) of bedding, preferably from the nest
-a small bag of food (if time)
-water bottle/bowl and extras bottles (if time)
-Info box (if time)
-a larger bill of currency (ex. $100)
Remember, tsunamis and fires are
immediate emergencies! Though the above list is beneficial, your sole goal should be to survive. This means, if you didn't have a plan or carrier in line already, any form of container you can find will hold your hamster for a temporary period of time. Remember that extras do not matter, everything can be bought at another time, and your hamster can go a day or two without food.
Please learn the signs of a tsunami. Unfortunately, technology doesn't always pick up a tsunami in time, and knowing the signs could save your life
http://www.sms-tsunami-warning.com/p...s#.WQfY9vD3aEc
Though it's a sad concept for us ham-parents to think of, our lives must come first. If worst comes to worst, always save yourself. Never put your life in danger, and chances are, if you end up seriously or mortally injured, your hamster won't make it either. Then you have two lost lives rather than one. Save your hamster if you have time, but if not, get yourself out quick.
Have a plan
It's important you create an "emergency kit" BEFORE you must leave. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose! Non-immediate evacs have more supplies listed because you'll have time to escape and carry all these inconvenient items. However, immediate evacs must be done quickly and carrying a ton of items will not help you any. Make sure you've planned ahead for these situations, have these items and carriers out and near your hamster's cage so you can grab it and go if needed.
"Info box"
What's an info box you may ask? It's a sheet of paper, tag, box, or anything that holds writing which tells about your animal. Why would I need this? Though one would hope its a situation that would never arise, you could potentially be mortally wounded or seperated from your hamster, and they may be abandoned and in need of rescue. Below is what I write on my info box
If you find me, it means my owner has been separated from me and I'm in need of help!
(My phone number) (My address) (My name- optional) (my email)
Animal's name- ex. Duncan Species- Syrian hamster Sex- male
Diet- (whatever your hamster is being fed)
Vet- list your vet, though you may find it useful (especially in situations like hurricanes) to list exotic vets in neighboring states/areas
Care guide- you never know where or with whom your hamster may wind up. It's useful to include this so that the person knows how to care for your hamster until they find you (or permanently if such an unfortunate situation occurs)
Medicines- list all meds your hamster is on Health issues- ex. Diabetes
I laminated this paper and have attached it to my emergency enclosures so that my pets can be found if something were to ever happen to me.
Emergencies are a reality, though rare, I know myself I've had to evacuate from a hurricane and shelter from tornadoes. Weather can be deadly sometimes, but if we're prepared for it, everything will be okay. Remember to always remain calm in emergency situations. This may be difficult, but the key to surviving is stopping to make rational decisions rather than blindly running into danger.
Check out this website for tips on staying calm as well as how to prepare for emergencies
http://www.emergencypreparednesstips...situation.html
Remember too that your life always comes first, save your hamster if you can, but never let it get in the way of your safety. As with everything, if you feel I've missed anything, please let me know! If you have anything I should add, or any anecdotes you feel may come in handy, feel free to share. Stay safe everyone x
Tornado procedure refresher! +other emergency plans
Thank you
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