Vital Tips for Hurricane Preparedness Week: PETA Shares Advice on Keeping Animals Safe

For Immediate Release:
April 28, 2026

Contact:
Alex Payne 202-483-7382

Norfolk, Va. –

As National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 3–9) approaches and another potentially devastating storm season looms, PETA is reinforcing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s daily readiness recommendations with simple, lifesaving steps residents should take now to ensure that their dogs, cats, and any other animals they care for are protected in a weather emergency.

As “Mayhem” actor Dean Winters emphasizes in PETA’s natural disaster–preparedness PSA, companion animals must never be left behind. PETA’s Animal Rescue Team has pulled scared and stranded animals from rooftops, floating mattresses, and even shelves—and recovered the bodies of animals who were left to fend for themselves amidst floodwater and flying debris. PETA urges guardians to prepare now, before hurricane season:

Pack an emergency kit for yourself and one for any animals in the family, and keep them where they’re easy to grab in a hurry. Include bowls, towels, a favorite toy for comfort, litter and a litter box (for cats), and at least a week’s worth of food, bottled water, and medications. Periodically rotate the food and medications so they don’t expire. Don’t forget plans for hamsters, horses, and even aquarium fish. If you go, they go!
Have animals microchipped and make sure they’re wearing collars with legible ID tags that include your current contact information. Consider using a collar with a GPS tracker, like those made by Fi and Tractive, for added security. Keep a recent photo of your animals for identification purposes, just as you would for a child.
Research and plan your escape route and destination well in advance of an evacuation. Many campgrounds, shelters, and hotels allow animals during emergencies. If you will need a trailer for horses, goats, or other animals, know where you can easily get one.
When you leave: Leash dogs and put cats and other small animals in secure carriers, as frightened animals may bolt. Be sure to take the animal emergency kit that you’ve prepared.
If authorities force you to evacuate without your animals, leave them inside your home with access to the upper floors. Never leave them tied up or confined to crates, pens, or hutches, as they may drown or otherwise be unable to escape. Provide at least a 10-day supply of dry food in various places, and fill sinks, bathtubs, and large tip-proof containers with drinking water. Put signs on windows and doors indicating the number and species of animals inside, as rescue workers may be able to save them.

PSA with a dogs face, the text reads: never leave them behind - always evacuate with your animals — *Credit: PETA*

“When hurricanes happen, having solid plans already in place to protect animal family members can mean the difference between life and death,” says PETA Director Rachel Bellis. “An emergency can strike without much warning, and so PETA urges animal guardians to always be ready to ensure the entire family gets out safely.”

Animals should always be brought indoors before a storm hits—not doing so could be illegal, as a person who leaves animals outside to suffer in severe weather may be prosecuted. Good Samaritans who see animal companions kept chained or penned outside without adequate shelter from the elements should note the animals’ exact locations and alert local law enforcement authorities immediately.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that when it comes to the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.