Decide where you can go before you need to leave
FEMA recommends making an evacuation plan for animals before an emergency. For a service-dog handler, that planning should include transportation, accessible lodging or shelter options, relief areas, and how the dog will be managed if the destination is crowded.
Do not assume every ordinary pet rule applies to a service animal, but also do not wait until an evacuation order to learn the policies of a specific shelter, hotel, airline, or transport provider. Save official contact information and current accessibility information.
Build a dog-specific go kit
Pack food, water, bowls, required medications, a spare leash or tether, waste supplies, identification, veterinary information, and copies of vaccination and medical records. FEMA also recommends current photos and a carrier or sturdy transport option when appropriate.
For a working dog, add backup task equipment and any gear that the handler depends on. If the dog wears custom mobility equipment, think through what happens if a buckle breaks or the main harness gets soaked.
Plan for relief when the environment changes
Storms can make normal grass areas inaccessible, flooded, contaminated, or crowded. Practice using more than one type of relief surface if the dog can do so comfortably. Carry cleanup supplies and have a plan for indoor or covered relief options when available.
After a storm, debris, standing water, downed lines, sharp materials, and displaced wildlife can make familiar walking routes unsafe. Slow down even if the dog knows the neighborhood.
Create a human backup system
FEMA encourages a buddy system for animal care. For a service dog team, a trusted backup person may need to know feeding instructions, medications, veterinary contacts, commands, gear setup, and how to support the handler without interfering with the dog’s work.
Keep essential information in both paper and digital form. Power and cellular service can fail in different ways.
Rebuild routine after the storm
Dogs can be affected by changes in sound, smell, schedule, and environment. Give the dog time to decompress and re-establish predictable working patterns. Watch for injury, gastrointestinal upset, unusual fatigue, or behavior changes.
An emergency plan is not finished when the wind stops. Recovery is part of the plan.