Evacuating with Pets during Hurricane Elena – By Misti

Evacuating with pets always adds an extra layer to your emergency planning. Perhaps we can learn from each other about how to plan and what to expect when you have to evacuate. Below is a story from one of our customers about her experience when she had to evacuate with her pets.

Many people who have not experienced being in a hurricane always feel like the residents have plenty of time to evacuate. The truth is that’s not always the case. I grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast & as most people know due to the warmer water, they tend to get more hurricanes than most areas. Most coastal places have one to two main roadways to get in & out due to the large body of water surrounding them as well as back bayous.

Hurricane Elena

Hurricane Elena

It was September 1985 when I was living in Gautier MS, and they asked for us to evacuate. My friend & I loaded my dog, grown cat & 5 kittens in the car to evacuate. Being only two main ways out away from the ocean the traffic was horrendous, it took us most of the day to get on the main highway to head north. As we were driving, they announced on the radio the hurricane changed directions & we could come back home. We just get back home with the animals and hear sirens going off as they announce Hurricane Elena had stalled when it hit the warm waters so it was making devastating damage from Florida to the Gulf Coast but had shifted just enough when it started moving that it now would land in Biloxi. So, we hurriedly grabbed the animals again & for hours were stuck in traffic, which the radio announced for people to try to find shelter. We were hostage to the traffic for it had taken us all afternoon to just make it 6 miles from the beach. We pulled into a motel. They had a marine life for tourists on the beach & they brought dolphins to put in the swimming pool at the motel. As the eye of the storm came over & everything got still the dolphins began to jump crazily in the pool over & over right before the hurricane came in. The big picture glass window seemed to be breathing as it moved in & out.  I remember seeing all the lawn chairs fly around & being worried for the dolphins as giant light poles bent into & cars flying in the air. We watched roofs being slammed in parking lots.

 

When the storm was over it took days for us to make it back to our apartment. The roof was gone but we stayed in it anyway.  For two weeks the Salvation Army brought us pimento cheese sandwiches & green beans every day. There were no stores open, and no clean water. It was tough times & we had to even be creative in how to feed our pets. Our apartment overlooked the Pascagoula sound that went up to the ocean. Many who stayed in the apartment had either gone up to the roof or found things to float on with their pets. Entire trailer parks would be gone. I had a motorcycle in which the storm bent the frame but I was able to still drive it & drove around seeing the devastation first-hand, especially with animals left behind.

Today I found myself thinking of this past situation my pets & I were in 1985. I was reminded due to the hurricane that hit Florida yesterday & the floods & tornado damage in the surrounding states. So many are in crisis from this tropical storm. I hope that sharing this story will help someone realize the importance of having a bug-out bag not just for yourself but for your pets as well so that everyone in an instant has what they need during an unplanned disaster. As you see in my story how easy it is to not be able to evacuate & even when we did get stuck & without supplies. Scary memory because I remember the feeling of knowing my pets relied on me for their needs. I find a lot of peace of mind having my Pet Evac Pak for in the past I have been stuck with many weather-related issues.

Pet Emergency Kit - Big Dog

Pet Emergency Kit – Big Dog

Today I have many special needs pets. I couldn’t imagine being stuck with no way to get to their meds or special food. That’s why I love the Pet Evac Paks for a person can have peace of mind knowing they have everything they need to make it till roads open up & stores to get supplies. The water is contaminated after a hurricane so yalls pak is a solution knowing your pet has that as well. They didn’t have this product back in 1985 so I’m happy people today can get this and be ready without all the stress. I also love that this company was created after seeing the need from Hurricane Harvey.

Hurricanes, fires, ice storms & tornados, during these times the city will close roadways due to unsafe roads, stores closed or no means to get out. A person just never knows & it seems every year we are having more weather-related disasters. Stay safe & remember our pets rely on us so always plan for the unexpected.

Sincerely your customer Misti

 

3 Comments

  1. Pinterest Video Downloader November 1, 2024 at 10:09 pm - Reply

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  2. healxo November 6, 2024 at 2:11 pm - Reply

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    • Michelle Danielson November 6, 2024 at 5:00 pm - Reply

      Thank you so much!

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