Most people look up pet emergency plans for the same reason: there’s smoke on the horizon, water rising on the street, or a warning message on the phone—and suddenly you’re working out how to move an animal quickly, safely, and with proof they’re yours.
A simple plan reduces the chance of panicked decisions: it keeps your pet contained early, gets essentials into one bag, and gives you somewhere to go if official evacuation centres can’t take animals or aren’t suitable on the day.1, 2
Why a pet emergency plan matters
Disasters and domestic emergencies rarely arrive neatly. When the power is out, roads are blocked, or the air is thick with smoke, the small details start to matter: a carrier that’s easy to grab, a lead that doesn’t snap, medication packed and in date, and ID that still points to your current phone number.
Emergency services may open evacuation centres, but animals aren’t always straightforward—space is limited, rules vary, and your pet’s needs may not be met there. Planning for more than one shelter option is part of being ready.1
Identify the risks where you live
Australia’s hazards change by region and season. Bushfires, storms, floods, and cyclones ask different things of you: sometimes you leave early, sometimes you shelter, sometimes you can’t return for days.
Use your state or territory emergency information to shape your plan, especially the likely evacuation routes and the kind of warning you might receive. If you’re in NSW, the SES also recommends keeping a “grab and go” bag for animals and making sure you can contain them early, before conditions become chaotic.1, 3
Build a “grab and go” kit for your pet
Pack for a short absence first, then expand if you can. A practical baseline is enough supplies for several days, stored in a waterproof bag or tub you can lift in one go.2, 4
- Food your pet already eats (plus a bowl). Sudden diet changes can cause stomach upset.
- Water and a way to offer it (bowl or bottle). Don’t rely on taps being available.
- Medication with a current script or clear dosing instructions. Rotate supplies before they expire.
- Containment and handling: carrier/crate, lead, harness, muzzle if appropriate for your animal and situation.
- Hygiene: poo bags, litter and tray for cats, paper towel, disinfectant wipes.
- Comfort items: a blanket or familiar bedding—useful for warmth and settling, especially in unfamiliar spaces.
- Documents: vaccination records and any permits or special instructions (keep a copy in the kit).3
Review the kit twice a year. Replace food, refresh water, and check medications and batteries.
Plan where your pet can go (before you need to leave)
A safe space at home
If staying home is safe and advised, choose a room where you can quickly contain your pet away from hazards. Remove toxic plants and loose cords, and keep the carrier, lead, and your pet’s kit in the same spot so you’re not searching during a warning.
Pet-friendly places to evacuate
Have at least two options:
- friends or family outside the risk area
- pet-friendly accommodation
- a boarding facility (noting they may require proof of vaccination)5
If you may need to use an evacuation centre, don’t assume animals can always be accommodated. Even when animals are supported, it may not suit every pet, particularly those that are anxious around crowds and noise.1
Practise the parts that fail under stress
Animals often behave differently when the household is tense: they hide, bolt, or refuse to go into a carrier that’s only ever appeared before a vet visit. Practise while everything is calm so the routine becomes familiar.3
- Teach and refresh basic cues like come and stay (use rewards and short sessions).
- Rehearse carrier time: open door, treats inside, brief closes, then longer.
- Do a car loading drill so you know what you can carry and in what order.
Create a pet evacuation plan you can follow quickly
Write it down and keep a copy in your kit and on your phone.
- Triggers to leave: decide what “leave early” means for your household (for example, certain warning levels or local road closures).
- How you’ll contain your pet fast: carrier ready, lead accessible, pets brought inside early.3
- Where you’ll go: primary and backup locations, plus the route.
- What you’ll take: pet kit, your own emergency kit, documents, and chargers.2
If you’re told to evacuate, follow official instructions and leave immediately. Take your emergency kit and enough supplies for several days where possible.2
Make identification the boring part (because it works)
In an evacuation, pets can slip leads, push through doors, or bolt when the soundscape changes. Strong identification is what turns a found animal into a reunion rather than a mystery.
Microchipping and up-to-date details
Microchips don’t help if your contact details can’t be accessed or are out of date. Check your pet’s microchip record and make sure your phone number and address are current.6
In early 2025, the HomeSafeID microchip registry was reported to be ceasing online operation, and the RSPCA advised owners to confirm where their pet’s microchip is registered and transfer registration if needed so details remain viewable when scanned.6
Visible ID
Use a collar with an ID tag (and label carriers too). NSW SES notes visual identification helps, and also recommends keeping vaccination records in your pet emergency kit.3
When to get professional advice
If your pet has chronic illness, is elderly, is reactive around other animals, or needs temperature-controlled medication, talk to your vet about an emergency plan that suits their specific risks. A few minutes of planning can prevent dangerous improvisation later.
Let people know you’re safe, too
During major emergencies, the Australian Red Cross may activate Register.Find.Reunite, which helps people register themselves as safe and helps loved ones search for them. It can be accessed online and is also available at some evacuation and recovery centres when activated.7
References
- NSW State Emergency Service (SES) – Evacuation centres (including pets and livestock)
- NSW Government – Be ready for an emergency evacuation
- NSW SES – Plan for your household pets
- NSW SES – Put together an emergency kit
- NSW SES – Carers (includes advice about pet vaccination documentation for boarding)
- RSPCA Queensland – Important update: Pet microchipping (HomeSafeID)
- Australian Red Cross – About Register.Find.Reunite
- RSPCA ACT – Ready To Go (pet emergency kit and planning advice)