After hurricane Charley last year I realized I was no where near as prepared as I needed to be. It was headed on a totally different path and then unexpectedly made a turn right for us. We had only a few hours to get things prepared. It made it all the more difficult because I manage a Pet boarding facility and needed to call all the emergency contacts to pick up the animals that were with us. I also needed to call the owners of the animals to let them know what was going on. I was also house/ pet sitting 2 cats and 2 guinea pigs. I had to get all that taken care of before I could even go home to take care of my own pets and home. Justin and the girls I work with are the best! I would not have gotten through any of it with out their help and corporation.

After I got the Inn (the boarding facility) evacuated and took care of the house/ pets I was sitting for I was finally able to come home. It was already raining by the time I got home. We live in a manufactured home and according to the news there were a lot of tornados touching down in our area. We had to pack up our animals and get out. That was the hardest and most stressful day of my life. I was a mess. Justin called my dad and he and my sister came over to help us pack everyone up and get them out.

I had crates/ travel cages for everyone along with containers of food. I keep all their vet records together, I keep a bag with all their medications and a bag with their grooming supplies all together in a cabinet in the kitchen. I thought I was as prepared as I could be... I was wrong!

Now in addition to what I already was doing I now have lists. I have a list of who goes into which crate/cage. I keep the travel bird cages easily accessible near the bird whose cage it is. I keep a crate by the chinchillas and one by Wyatt. The snakes all have their travel containers easily accessible in the snake room as do the tortoises and the huge travel cage for the iguana is there too. The dog crates are lined up in the living room (they are left open for them to sleep in anyway). The cats crates are in my closet, but easily accessible.

I also have a list of supplies that I need, so I won't forget anything, this list includes things for the animals as well as for us. I keep a bag of toys, bones, extra food/water bowls in the cabinet in the kitchen, ready and easy to just grab and go. I keep clean dog/cat blankets in a rubbermaid tub that we can grab and take with us.

I have a third evacuation list- this list is things to do to prep the house. Things like turn off the water, and unplug the computers.

My forth and final list is not so much for an evacuation but is incase anything happens to Justin and me. I have a list prepared for the care of the animals- feeding instructions and such. My boss who is a very good friend is the one to take care of them in my absence.

I am much better prepared now than I was a year ago.