IMPORTANT FRANKENSTORM INFORMATION FOR YOU AND YOUR PET!

Due to the recent hurricane warnings for the tri-state area, we want to ensure you and your pets are safe and prepared for any situation. At the request of the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM), animal welfare agencies in the OEM's Animal Planning Task Force urge pet owners to develop an emergency evacuation plan to keep their families and pets safe before Hurricane Sandy makes landfall in New York City and its surrounding areas.  The ASPCA, Animal Care & Control of NYC, the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, The Humane Society of the US and NYC Veterinary Emergency Response Team are reminding pet owners that all evacuation shelters are pet friendly. Several evactuation shelters opened their doors this afternoon, and pet owners should check the OEM's Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder to locate the nearest evacuation zone, and the system will direct pet owners to the proper facility. You can also obtain this information by calling 311.  Have an emergency pet bag packed just in case. Include basic essentials including a leash, canned food for 3 days, a spare bag of treats, a toy, a face cloth and/or towel your pet can lay on, and a few bottles of water. In addition, have a secure carrier, muzzle, bowls, waste disposal bags and/or litter pan and a first aid kit. Also include proof of rabies vaccination, a pet license and more than one picture of you with your pet. Having these items easily accessible and organized will make a bad situation better. The best thing you can do for both you and your pet is plan ahead. Don't wait until the last minute to see if Hurricane Sandy will affect your neighborhood. Act now, find your nearest evacuation shelter, and tune in to your local news to monitor the storm's condition. Don't forget, all of the City's evacuation shelters for humans are pet friendly, so please take your pets with you if you need to evacuate.  AT NO POINT SHOULD AN ANIMAL BE LEFT BEHIND AT HOME! The Animal Planning Task Force offers the following tips on disaster preparedness: Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Make sure all pets wear collars and ID tags with up-to-date identification. Additionally, make sure all micro-chip information is update.  Keep a pet emergency kit and supplies handy with items such as medical records, water, pet food and medications, and pet first aid supplies. Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of an evacuation. Do not leave your pets behind.  Choose a designated caregiver who can take care of your pet in the event you are unable.  Low-lying areas of the city that are most at risk for flooding and other damage and are designated as "Zone A" low-lying areas in the Coastal Storm Plan include: Coney Island and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn Far Rockaway and Broad Channel in Queens South Beach Midland Beach Battery Park City in Manhattan For details and updates, pleae visit the OEM's website atwww.NYC.gov/oem, or call 311 to find an evacuation center.  New York City's Office of Emergency Management created the Animal Planning Task Force to develop plans for disasters - both natural and otherwise. The task force include representatives from the ASPCA, the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals, AC&C, HSUS, NYC VERT, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, American Red Cross in Greater New York, Bideawee, Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Veterinary Medical Assistance Team One. These agencies have also committed resources that include animal sheltering veterinary support, search and rescue, supplies, staff and volunteers to provide aid in the days ahead.  Be safe!   For more information on Hurricane Sandy and the city response, please visit the following website: www.NYC.gov/OEM .