HURRICANE SEASON HAS PAST  WITHOUT DAMAGE!!!! 

NEXT COMES WINTER STORMS!!!!!!! 

You prepared for your family and pets? Money wasted?  Not so since many items can be used when winter floods, ice and snow assail us. So you are still prepared!

"But I didn't prepare for a hurricane. What should I do?"

Here are some suggestions of actions to take and supplies you might need.

• Fish and other aquatic animals

0. Be up to date on water changes and tank cleaning before the storm arrives. Maintain good water quality for your fish collection. Once the storm arrives, there is little you can do to correct bad water quality!
0. Have a battery powered air pump handy. The best of these can be plugged in to an outlet to monitor for power loss and  automatically turn on when most needed.                                    Even if you are one of the fortunate who installed a whole-house generator, these battery operated air pumps are a great second line of defense! Come in and choose the right model for your aquarium from our selection.
0. Have new airstones on hand to use if old ones become clogged.
0. Stop feeding fish until reliable power is restored.
0. If you lose power, remove external power filters or canister filters. Empty the water from the filter, rinse the filter cartridges, and store them damp (not under water). Once power is restore, return filters to service.
0. A new problem will be to provide heat for your fish (Drat! I should have installed an all-house generator!). For many fish, a slow decline in temperature followed by a slow recovery can be survived without major disease outbreak, so don't panic. And for those with marine fish and invertebrates? Your fish will not fair so well, so if you have time and money, now is the time to take action! 

• Birds

0. As a storm approaches, you may want to clean the cage. EZ Quick Clean by Kaytee makes poop removal from cage and accessories an easy task! Spray it on, let it stay for 10-15 minutes, and hose it off.
0. Keep a travel cage available in case you want to evacuate.
0. Have enough food on hand to last at least 7 days (To prevent insect development, freeze the seed for longterm storage.).
0. Consider having bird chew toys on hand such as shredders, treat sticks, or woven palm leaf toys. These will help your bird release stress through harmless behavior.
0. When the storm arrives, be sure to place the birds in a location protected from wind and water. Cover the cage with a sheet to keep the bird calm.
0. Temperature moderation is highly desirable. However, remember that small heaters operated in a house without ventilation are dangerous, not just for you, but for your pets. The cheap kerosine heater is not a good solution!

• Cats & Dogs

0. Be prepared to crate your dog for safety. You may also want to place your cat in a carrier or other safe container. Take these items with you if you evacuate.
0. Maintain a supply of drinking water and food for your pets. (A large dog may need as much as a gallon of water a day, so get 6 gallons for each dog to be prepared for any reasonable delay in restoration of services.) Plan to keep at least a week's supply of food on hand at all times. You could also rotate a reserve of canned foods in the daily diet. 
0. Have a secure collar and leash, cable tie out, and stake for your dog. An H-harness and leash would be useful for your cat. Be sure pet tags are securely attached to the collar or harness worn by your pet.
0. Dogs need things to chew during times of stress, so be sure to have some new chews on hand.
0. Pet calming agents can help your pet deal with the stress of severe weather or travel (or visiting a veterinarian). Try Happy Traveler by Ark Naturals, Calming Formula by Pet Naturals or Anxiety formulas by Tomlyn. These products are effective for dogs, cats and some small mammals.
0. Maintain a supply of cat litter to last at least 7 days and be sure to take clean litter and the litter pan with you if you evacuate.
0. Stock up on prescription pet medications.
0. Put together a portfolio for each dog or cat with medical records, records of vacinations, any licenses you have and a picture of you and your pet together as identification should you and your dog/cat become separated. Consider laminating a copy of the licenses, vacination records and pictures to protect against moisture. Keep the portfolio with other documents you will take with you when evacuating.

• Small Mammals

0. Depending on the pet, you will need 4 to 16 oz of water per animal per day. Water needs to be changed daily, so for one hamster, for example, you will need to have on hand about 28 oz water, or slightly less than a quart for a 6 day period.
0. Food is also essential, so don't wait until you run out of food to resupply. Buy new when you have a one week supply left. Keep the new food cold until the old food is gone as a simple pest control measure. This way, you will always have at least a one week supply of food on hand.
0. Bedding and potty litter are also commodities you won't want to run out of, so buy ahead and store a week's worth.
0. Have a suitable small carrying cage for each small mammal pet for evacuation. Space is usually too limited to transport the animal in its regular cage.
0. For small mammals, loss of heat in the house will not affect them adversely.

• Reptiles

0. Water needs vary with the reptile. Know your pet's need and store an appropriate amount of water.
0. If your reptile has learned to eat a pelleted food, this would be a great solution for providing food to carnovores. Canned reptile foods are also good because they can be stored without loss until opened. Thus you can always have some food in reserve. Assume that your source of live food will be unable to meet your need for a week or more.
0. Solar Drops, a liquid source of Vitamin D3, can substitute for the UVB light. Solar Drops, if kept sealed as purchased, will last until or beyond the Best Use by Date, but once opened, should be discarded after 6 mo. Investing in a single bottle should get you through the winter.
0. Heat packs that provide warmth for 3, 6, or even 9 hours can be activated, wrapped in newspaper, and used as a heat source for lizards while feeding. Have at least one heat pack available for each feeding period expected during a 7 day period. 
0. If required to evacuate, you will have decisions to make about whether or not to evacuate your reptile(s). Some are easier to take on the road with you than others, so think ahead about how you will handle this situation.

Assume you and your pets are on your own for at least a week and prepare accordingly. Plan ahead for providing heat for birds and reptiles. Know where you will go when you evacuate. Determine in advance if your pets will be welcome since shelters and motels/hotels generally do not accept pets. Even friends and family may be pet averse.

And let's hope there are no major snow storms or ice storms!