Preparing for Natural Disasters

[EAI]

The storm Iselle is likely going to be heading towards Oahu this Thursday and I haven't had to prepare for a disaster in 4 years (which didn't actually happen).
But last time, we had no pets.
I'm just wondering how should my family prepare for this tropical storm/hurricane (more so for the animals).
We're probably going to stay lodged into our house during it so my main concern is: is there a certain place I should put my birds during it?
Thanks!

 

[Birdman666]

Safest room in the house is the bathroom, if you don't have a storm cellar. The plumbing acts as reinforcement for the walls.

Other than that, away from the window.

Good luck. Stay safe!

 

[EAI]

Safest room in the house is the bathroom, if you don't have a storm cellar. The plumbing acts as reinforcement for the walls.

Other than that, away from the window.

Good luck. Stay safe!

I was thinking about the bathrooms, the only thing is is that we have 2 large dog aggressive dogs and 5 puppies to split into two bathrooms as well xD. Its going to be an interesting week.

 

[Birdman666]

The dogs are more a threat to their safety than the storm by the sound of it.

Put them somewhere else.

 

[EAI]

The dogs are more a threat to their safety than the storm by the sound of it.

Put them somewhere else.

They're terriers so I'm taking extra precautions, but so far I reserved their own bathroom.
And also when double checking the bathrooms, we have jalousie windows with mesh facing the outside, could this also add more danger?

 

[weco]

Yes, your jalousie windows could add an increased danger because there is often no solid wall or other barrier to stop flying glass. I'm sorry, but have not kept up with the weather reports for your area, but have lived in Hawaii and have been through a hurricane in a house where the porch had jalousie windows, but it was in Rhode Island in the 60s.

Because the way jalousie windows are made, they don't lend themselves to easy protection, so my dad was more concerned about protecting the family & rest of the house from possible flying glass and we affixed 4 sheets of plywood to the inside of the porch. Having lived in Hawaii, your jalousie windows and house are similarly unprotected, so I might be concerned about keeping flying glass out of the house.

As Birdman has said, your strongest room is your bathroom(s), but scared dogs in with scared birds is not a real good scenario, then you've got to consider the safety of your human family members.

Good luck.....

 

[Jayyj]

This was kindly shared by another member in a thread a few months back relating to emergency situations - sounds like you'll have some time to prep for your situation but might be worth checking over anyway.

 

[TessieB]

Get you some good strong dog carriers-something the dogs can't rip out of. Get lots of water, lots of food for you and the critters. Get animal carriers for your birds, too. Ask your veterinarian about possible oral medication to sedate the large aggressive dogs.

I hope you remain safe.

 

[MrsKay]

Actually, a small closet is also a fairly safe place as there is concentrated frame work around there. Stay safe! I'm following the news and the weather channel

 

[SilverSage]

I would use a closet. Put them in a smaller cage if you have them, and put them in a closet with plenty of food and water, AWAY from the dogs.

 

[goalerjones]

With the title I thought you might be getting a new macaw!

 

[EAI]

Yes, your jalousie windows could add an increased danger because there is often no solid wall or other barrier to stop flying glass. I'm sorry, but have not kept up with the weather reports for your area, but have lived in Hawaii and have been through a hurricane in a house where the porch had jalousie windows, but it was in Rhode Island in the 60s.

Because the way jalousie windows are made, they don't lend themselves to easy protection, so my dad was more concerned about protecting the family & rest of the house from possible flying glass and we affixed 4 sheets of plywood to the inside of the porch. Having lived in Hawaii, your jalousie windows and house are similarly unprotected, so I might be concerned about keeping flying glass out of the house.

As Birdman has said, your strongest room is your bathroom(s), but scared dogs in with scared birds is not a real good scenario, then you've got to consider the safety of your human family members.

Good luck.....

We went into Home Depot for plywood but since no one in the family is a "handy man" we had to abandon the idea and got rolls and rolls of type LOL

 

[EAI]

I would use a closet. Put them in a smaller cage if you have them, and put them in a closet with plenty of food and water, AWAY from the dogs.

Actually, a small closet is also a fairly safe place as there is concentrated frame work around there. Stay safe! I'm following the news and the weather channel

I was able to clean out a closet in the hallway outside my room thankfully, so that will be their stay until further notice

This was kindly shared by another member in a thread a few months back relating to emergency situations - sounds like you'll have some time to prep for your situation but might be worth checking over anyway.

I tried to make sure I wasn't copying a thread but I didn't find one in a similar situation (i'm sorry)

Get you some good strong dog carriers-something the dogs can't rip out of. Get lots of water, lots of food for you and the critters. Get animal carriers for your birds, too. Ask your veterinarian about possible oral medication to sedate the large aggressive dogs.

I hope you remain safe.

I wish I could give the dogs some sedatives! Our Boston goes completely nuts around dogs but I don't have ownership of them.

 

[EAI]

With the title I thought you might be getting a new macaw!

I wish a macaw!
I just need the eardrums and thick skin haha. I really wanted a blue and gold until I got to hold on, they're pretty--but their nails, not so much

 

[SilverSage]

Whose dogs are they?

 

[EAI]

Whose dogs are they?

They're my brothers but legally they are signed to our mom

 

[SilverSage]

I see. My vet told me to use children's benadyl with my dog when we drove home (from GA to SD) for Christmas last year, she said the dosage is the same for dogs. It may help calm your dogs down during the storm. How close to the shore to you live? Keep in mind you may need to evacuate, and not all evacuation shelters accept pets, so I suggest finding out where they do before the need arises. Also, have a plan for transportation for all the pets, just in case.

Just out of curiosity - are they all Boston terriers? How old are the puppies?

 

[Taw5106]

The joy of hurricanes. My last storm was Ike, and had a tornado hit my neighbor but skip over my house. We fill our tubs with water in south Texas in case water is interrupted. We board up windows, fill the vehicles with gas, all loose items locked down. The center most room is the safety room, tubs for back up water. In this case it was two closets and one bathroom. I had one pet at the time so I made her stay in the master bedroom, she was terrified. She was a schnauzer, thunder vest didn't work, holding her, Benadryl, nothing worked but I think she had fear issues from a previous event. I even had to take her out in the storm to potty because she wouldn't go in the house so I got soaked and almost blown away with her.

What is the risk of storm surge and flooding? Do you have an evacuation plan for that? Also for the pets, bag their food to keep it dry and have some ready to go. Take care and think the best!

 

[EAI]

I see. My vet told me to use children's benadyl with my dog when we drove home (from GA to SD) for Christmas last year, she said the dosage is the same for dogs. It may help calm your dogs down during the storm. How close to the shore to you live? Keep in mind you may need to evacuate, and not all evacuation shelters accept pets, so I suggest finding out where they do before the need arises. Also, have a plan for transportation for all the pets, just in case.

Just out of curiosity - are they all Boston terriers? How old are the puppies?

I'll suggest that to him, one could really use it. We are pretty close to the shore but luckily our house is elevated (not in the tsunami evacuation zone). We also have a car to drive us to the nearest, about a mile or less, animal accepting high school--but walking could still be an option since it isnt a long walk

We don't really know how old they are since they were adopted but one is a 2 year old boston and the other is a 2 year old terrier mix

 

[EAI]

The joy of hurricanes. My last storm was Ike, and had a tornado hit my neighbor but skip over my house. We fill our tubs with water in south Texas in case water is interrupted. We board up windows, fill the vehicles with gas, all loose items locked down. The center most room is the safety room, tubs for back up water. In this case it was two closets and one bathroom. I had one pet at the time so I made her stay in the master bedroom, she was terrified. She was a schnauzer, thunder vest didn't work, holding her, Benadryl, nothing worked but I think she had fear issues from a previous event. I even had to take her out in the storm to potty because she wouldn't go in the house so I got soaked and almost blown away with her.

What is the risk of storm surge and flooding? Do you have an evacuation plan for that? Also for the pets, bag their food to keep it dry and have some ready to go. Take care and think the best!

I heard about filling the bathtubs but had no idea what that meant, when we had schnauzers they were terrified of storms as well.
We also have a few containers for the dogs, and I have a cashew box that can supply them for at least a month.
Thank you!