When disasters strike, many people focus on evacuations, shelters, emergency supplies, and protecting their homes and families.

But there is another group deeply affected during disasters that is often forgotten in emergency planning: animals.

Pets, service animals, livestock, and wildlife all face enormous risks during emergencies. And when communities fail to plan for them, the consequences can be heartbreaking.

Every disaster brings stories of animals left behind.

Pets trapped in flooded homes.
Dogs tied outside during evacuations.
Cats lost during wildfires.
Livestock stranded without food or water.
Shelters overwhelmed with displaced animals.
Families refusing evacuation orders because they cannot bring their pets with them.

For many people, animals are not “just pets.” They are family.

One of the biggest lessons learned from past disasters is that people are far less likely to evacuate if they believe their animals will be abandoned or unsafe. This creates dangerous situations not only for families, but also for first responders who may later need to perform rescues under worsening conditions.

Disaster preparedness must include animals from the very beginning, not as an afterthought.

Evacuation plans should identify pet-friendly shelters, transportation options, boarding resources, and emergency contacts. Families should prepare animal emergency kits that include:

• Food and water
• Medications
• Vaccination records
• Leashes and carriers
• Identification tags and microchip information
• Comfort items and supplies
• Photos in case animals become separated

Service animals create additional considerations during disasters.

Individuals who rely on service animals for mobility, medical alerts, or emotional support may face major challenges if evacuation shelters, transportation systems, or emergency services are not properly prepared to accommodate them.

Livestock and agricultural animals are also heavily impacted during disasters.

Floods, droughts, hurricanes, wildfires, and extreme weather events can devastate farms and rural communities. Farmers may face impossible decisions when evacuation timelines are short and transportation resources are limited.

Wildlife suffers as well.

Habitat destruction, oil spills, fires, flooding, toxic exposures, and environmental contamination can displace or kill large numbers of animals long after the disaster itself fades from public attention.

Disasters reveal how interconnected humans and animals truly are.

Animal welfare affects public health, emotional well-being, evacuation compliance, agricultural stability, and community recovery. Families already coping with trauma may experience profound grief when pets are lost, injured, or separated during emergencies.

Preparedness requires coordination between emergency managers, veterinarians, shelters, public health agencies, animal rescue organizations, and communities.

But perhaps most importantly, it requires people to think ahead before disaster strikes.

Because during emergencies, there may not be time to suddenly figure out how to transport multiple animals, locate supplies, find shelter space, or retrieve frightened pets from dangerous conditions.

Preparedness is an act of compassion.

And compassion during disasters should extend to every life depending on us for protection.

When we fail to plan for animals, they often become silent victims of disasters.

But when we include them in preparedness efforts, we protect not only animals — we protect families, responders, and communities as well.