We’ve talked about how to get your pets ready for a possible emergency evacuation. Now let’s look at what it’s like for them after a disaster has come and gone.

You and your pets are back home, or maybe you didn’t have to leave after all. But your area is still feeling the effects of the disaster. Though you can’t give your pets any explanation of what’s happened, you can still help them readjust. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) asks you to keep these things in mind:

·    Familiar sights and scents may have changed. For the first few days after an emergency, keep your pet leashed and close to you when it goes outside. It’s lived through a tough situation – you don’t want it getting lost now.
·    Floods may have brought snakes and other dangerous animals into the area, another reason to keep an eye on your pet.
·    Downed power lines are another possible danger.
·    Animal behavior can change after a crisis. Friendly pets can become aggressive, so be prepared.
·    FEMA and the Humane Society of the U.S. work together to find pets lost in disasters.
·    Restocking your emergency supplies can be comforting – that includes the pet emergency kit we wrote about earlier.
·    Pet food that may have been contaminated by floodwater should be thrown out. Floodwater can contain sewage.
·    Textiles (like blankets and some toys) should be rinsed gently. Then press out the water and blot – don’t wring or twist.

Other tips for recovering from a disaster are available here.