Animal Welfare in Disaster Preparedness Planning

Animals - both companion animals and livestock - are frequently overlooked in disaster preparedness plans, leading to preventable suffering during floods, fires, and other emergencies.

Key Facts

Research shows that up to 44% of people who refused to evacuate during disasters did so because they could not take their pets
Livestock losses in major UK floods have included thousands of animals stranded and drowned
The UK National Emergency Plan for Animal Disease (NEPAD) focuses on disease but has gaps in non-disease disaster response
Animal evacuation plans are rarely integrated into local authority emergency planning
Farm animals in flood-prone areas may lack access to high ground or welfare during prolonged flooding
Volunteer animal rescue networks (such as those formed after Hurricane Katrina in the USA) can mobilise rapidly but often lack coordination

Welfare Considerations

Disaster preparedness for animals is a genuine welfare issue affecting millions of animals and the humans who own them. Integrating animal welfare into emergency planning - including pre-registration of livestock, identified animal evacuation points, and trained volunteer networks - prevents both animal suffering and the human suffering that accompanies animal loss. The PETS Act in the USA, passed after Hurricane Katrina, mandated the inclusion of pets and service animals in disaster planning, and similar frameworks are developing in other countries. Proactive planning prevents reactive crises.

What You Can Do

Create an emergency plan for your pets including a kit and evacuation destination
Register your livestock with local authorities for emergency response planning
Support local animal welfare organisations that provide emergency response capacity
Advocate for local authorities to include animals in their emergency preparedness frameworks