Environmental Emergencies

Well Sqwirl Moms, this page is a learn-as-we-go kind of endeavor. Being in Florida we have the obvious hurricanes and raging wildfires; we have flooding (mostly in coastal or urban areas) that can occur from your basic summertime thunderstorm, or the winter favorite: “Training” storms in off the Gulf. We get the occasional tornado and waterspout, but tornados are rare and the waterspouts, well, they have a tendency to occur over the water (!) so except for the hundreds of small fish scattered across one’s lawn, they really don’t come into play much here either. Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about earthquakes or ice storms.

There are, of course, man made environmental emergencies, such as oil spills and chemical leaks, the former not affecting squirrels and the latter being such a rare event I think we can safely class the action needed under “immediate evacuation” – but most of us in non-urban areas can give it little or no thought.

I think most of us who came through Hurricane Season 2004 gained a better insight about what we would actually DO during a storm, how we would respond, what we NEED to have prepared, and what we do a little differently perhaps. Only fools would not have taken stock that year.

Below is the nut-gathering I have been doing (research both from Sqwirl Moms and online!) and hope you take the time to read the valuable tips each has had to offer. Remember, this information is geared towards animal care, not specific to human needs.
 

Evacuation Kit Recommendations   Parmalat vitamin D milk - 3 containers (6-month shelf life) Vitamin E Bag of cotton balls Box of tissues for the stimulation process Extra blankets / cotton utility towels Extra nipples and bottles Thermal cooler bag/Ice pack Car adapter plug in baby bottle warmer in case of no power Hand sanitizer Fanny pack -for keeping the little ones close when not in their cage Benedryl (oral and topical) Desitin Spare water bottles (be sure they fit the temporary/portable cages/carriers!)

REMEMBER: An ice chest can house fresh produce for days if kept in zip lock bags and containers!

GENERATORS

Other Interesting Ideas:

I once heard of the Pet Alert label/sticker that folks could affix to their front door or window letting firefighters know that "x-number of pets live here - with space to specify pets."

I also saw after Katrina where hundreds of animals had duct-tape 'bracelets" identifying them (permanent marker used) - is this a viable option???? I don't know… but it seems worth a try for larger animals.

Definitely keep up to date head counts of all animals and types of animals you own. I keep a list of all critters and numbers on an inside cabinet door that stores dog leashes and other pet supplies etc...This can be grabbed and taped to your front door or inside window before leaving in an emergency situation. Or Non emergency (Example) going out of town for a day trip or weekend, most animals can be left comfortably for short time periods. However Fire departments or police officers should be able to be warned of what is inside a home before entering so they know what they are dealing with or if animal rescue should be called. All dogs and cats should have collars and I.D's on them...hopefully squirrels and other unusual family critters are caged and would not be a threat to someone entering home to help out. A sign on each cage can identify what it contains as well.

Real Life Learning Experience:

I reference the Malabar Wildfires May 2008 and have not altered the first hand account in any way as we did not wish to lose any of the important details. Read and learn (I have!):

Fawn had to be removed from dangerous fire zone in agriculture area where sister-in-law and family are building new home. 20 acres burned of theirs along with over 10,000 acres in Palm Bay and Malabar area in Brevard County. Declared State of Emergency. Everyone felt helpless toward the baby fawn that was discovered among palmetto brush and ashes so thick they kicked up when walking through area. No Mama deer in sight and burning hot spots all around so I was called by family members to remove it from area and to care for it.

Ultimately, most of us do not evacuate when facing hurricanes simply because of the need to care for our animals. We halfway joke about learning to shoot since Florida has its share of looters and alligators, but it’s also rooted in fact. Reality is filled with some hard decisions, but we each follow our gut instinct when the time comes for it.

I thank you for taking the time to read this important information, and I especially thank all the Sqwirl Moms who so passionately and readily shared their experiences and expertise. Without them, these pages would not exist.

On the Lighter Side
 

    People have a tendency to use humor during stressful situations, and Hurricane Season 2004 was no exception. For entertainment and coping purposes we am including below some humorous gems from that dreadful Year of the Storms.
 

	We're about to enter the peak of the hurricane season. Any day now, you're going to turn on the TV and see a weather person pointing to some radar blob out in the Ocean or Gulf and making two basic meteorological points.   (1) There is no need to panic. (2) We could all be killed.   Yes, hurricane season is an exciting time to be in Florida. If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to do to prepare for the possibility that we'll get hit by The Big One.
Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple three-step hurricane preparedness plan:   STEP 1: Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days. STEP 2: Put these supplies into your car. STEP 3: Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Halloween. Unfortunately, statistics show that most people will not follow this sensible plan. Most people will foolishly stay in Florida.
We'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness items:
	HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE: If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance. Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your home meets two basic requirements: (1) It is reasonably well-built, and (2) It is located in Nebraska.   Unfortunately, if your home is located in Florida, or any other area that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they got into the insurance business in the first place.
So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of your house. At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss.   I have had an estimated 27 different home-insurance companies. This week, I'm covered by the Bob & Big Stan Insurance Company, under a policy which states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.
	SHUTTERS: Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the doors, and -- if it's a major hurricane -- all the toilets. There are several types of shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:   Plywood shutters: The advantage is that, because you make them yourself, they're cheap. The disadvantage is that, because you make them yourself, they will fall off.   Sheet-metal shutters: The advantage is that these work well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get them all up, your hands will be useless bleeding stumps, and it will be December.
Roll-down shutters: The advantages are that they're very easy to use, and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.   Hurricane-proof windows: These are the newest wrinkle in hurricane protection: They look like ordinary windows, but they can withstand hurricane winds! You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so. He lives in Nebraska.
	Hurricane Proofing your property:   As the hurricane approaches, check your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio furniture, visiting relatives, etc....   You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool (if you don't have a swimming pool, you should have one built immediately). Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly missiles.
EVACUATION ROUTE:   If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route planned out. (To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your driver's license; if it says "Florida" you live in a low-lying area).   The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in your home when a major storm hits. Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees.
So, as a bonus, you will not be lonely.	HURRICANE SUPPLIES:   If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy them now! Tradition requires that you wait until the last possible minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who gets the last can of SPAM.   In addition to food and water, you will need the following supplies:
23 flashlights   At least $167 worth of batteries that turn out, when the power goes off, to be the wrong size for the flashlights.   Bleach. (No, I don't know what the bleach is for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for, but it's traditional, so GET some!)   55 gallon drum of underarm deodorant A big knife that you can strap to your leg. (This will be useless in a hurricane, but it looks cool.)   A large quantity of raw chicken, to placate the alligators (Ask anybody who went through Andrew; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)   $35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no discernible teeth
	Of course these are just basic precautions.   As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean.
Good luck, and remember: Its great living in Paradise.   [Dave Barry]