Natural disasters affect millions of animals and require coordinated welfare response planning.
Natural disasters cause acute welfare crises for enormous numbers of animals who cannot self-rescue or communicate their needs. Companion animals separated from families during evacuation can suffer for days or weeks. Livestock confined in flooded or fire-threatened buildings face harrowing circumstances. Wildlife displaced from habitat by floods, fires, or hurricanes face starvation, dehydration, and predation in unfamiliar environments. Pre-disaster planning — including animals in evacuation plans, registering livestock locations, and preparing emergency supplies — is the most effective welfare intervention because it prevents rather than responds to suffering.