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Are You Prepared If Disaster Strikes? #FoodShelterLove

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® and Food, Shelter & Love® Program, but Stunning Keisha only shares information I feel is relevant to my readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

This fire burned a city block not far from us. I’m here with the Hill’s Disaster Relief Network wagon.

Disaster can strike any time. It can be nature-made as the tornado which destroyed a town in Illinois several weeks back or man-made like the gas explosion in NYC that leveled three buildings and left a fourth damaged. Some of my cat furrends have already experienced the devastation that fire leaves behind. CJ was seriously burned and lost his beloved brofur several years ago and just last week an entire family of cats perished when their home in Canada caught fire. The only fursibs that were saved were my Twitter furrend Buddy, a rescue dog and one kitty. I’m lucky that in this part of the country, we rarely have tornadoes, earthquakes or forest fires. We live atop a hill so we’ll never be flooded. Irregardless it’s nice to know there’s a program like Hill’s® Food, Shelter & Love® Disaster Relief Network.

Don’t let this be your cat.
There’s always the threat of fire. Fire has always scared TW and that’s why they sold the old wood house they lived in. Multi-dwelling residences are just as dangerous since you don’t know what the other residents are doing. Since we lived here, there was a fire in an apartment two doors down, an elevator fire, the neighbor next door burning his dinner a couple of times and many carbon monoxide incidences. The constant in all cases was that TW couldn’t safely get me out of our unit. She can’t pick me up; only Pop can.

For that reason, when we hear of tornadoes and huge fires, we wonder about the pets that lived in the buildings that were destroyed. Most times the human toll is minimal since humans can and will escape when their lives are in danger. Not so pets. We hide UTB or any place we can. In the case of the fire two doors down, TW smelled it first and thought it to be smaller than what it was. She left the building and when she saw smoke coming from the window of the unit involved, she begged the firemen to get me. They were letting the resident dog walker bring all the dogs down and TW begged her to get me also. When she returned to our condo, the smell of smoke was evident and I eventually came out of hiding.

Snoopervising TW putting our disaster preparedness kit together.
Food ✓ Water ✓ Blanket ✓ Kitty Inhaler ✓ PTU ✓ Litter ✗ Leash ✗

When disaster does strike, this little ghetto kitteh is relieved to know there’s help in the pet community. Hill’s established their Disaster Relief Network in 2013 to respond quickly with shipments of pet food to communities impacted by disaster. During its first year, the Hill’s network provided free pet food to 50 shelters and veterinary clinics across the country in response to 11 major incidents. Shelters, most of whom are full already, have the responsibility to take in pets that become separated from their owners. I can’t imagine how stressed and injured these cats must be so it’s important they’re fed foods with the proper nutrition like Hill’s Science Diet Optimal Care®, which you can purchase for your cat on Pet360.

Click to biggify.

Disasters don’t always happen to others. Sometimes they happen close to home. Will you be prepared on May 9th for FEMA's National Pet Disaster Preparedness Day?

We’re almost prepared!

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Would you like to comment?

  1. Fire and gas are my greatest fears too. You've certainly had some scary experiences. It's hard enough keeping track of yourself, but I can't imagine having to worry about possibly irresponsible tenants next door too. Wonderful post, CK!

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  2. I'm terrified of fire. Our family home burned twice when I was a child. It is devastating.
    I'm glad Hills Science Diet is helping the animals

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  3. All those things are so scary and we sure hope we're prepared, at least we seriously try to be ready!

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  4. It breaks my heart when pets lose their families in a disaster. It is good to be prepared, I have a lot of carriers to put kitties in, but I don't know if I would have time depending on the disaster- I always say I would die with my cats if I can't get them out.

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  5. Being prepared is so important. This is a good thing that HIll's is doing. Excellent message today, CK!

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  6. This is a excellent post ck. I remember the fire all too well in CJs building. M worries some about fire too, but she said that really scares her about moving to anapart,net, so she drags her feet on doing anything about moving. That must have been so scary for TW to know you were still in the building.

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  7. That incident must have been so scary for you and TW! I would definitely be flipping my lid if I there was an emergency at the apartment complex and Cinco and Manna were still inside. We have our emergency plan down pretty well.Thank you for the info.
    --Purrs from your friends at www.PlayfulKitty.net

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  8. ck, thiz iz a veree good info post, manee thanx for sharin.....de food serviss gurls dad bee a vounteer fireman all hiz life; N de rool iz, dogs & adults run, kids N cats hide...we R sorree ta lurn bout yur friendz ♥♥♥

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  9. We don't live in an area known for natural disasters, but the thought of a fire scares my mum. It is great that Hill's have formed a Disaster Relief Network.

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  10. Very important post. I have lots of carriers to move everyone if needed, but depending on the disaster, I may not have time to get everyone- if that happened, I would go down with my ship of kitties.

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  11. The thought of a fire is really scary. We are also in the hurricane zone, so disaster preparedness is something we need to think about year round, just in case.

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  12. Paws up to Hills for such a great program. The mom needs to get our emergency plan in place pronto! Hopefully, we'll never need it.

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  13. This is an eggscellent post! The Human used to have a great disaster kit (for her and the kitties) after the '89 quake--but then well, she got lazy....and.... But!!! Savannah and Sage's Dad Peter gave us the nicest gift--a backpack with lots of 'mergencee stuffs and we has cat & Human foods and water. The Human mostly fears that if I get horribly scared she'll never be able to catch me. But we are doing our best!

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  14. Most excellent post CK! Wes is not as prepared as wes could be, but wes does have our "kit" stored in our travel trailer. That way if anything happens to our house, it is in a place wes feels comfortable, but Mommy needs to puts in New foods and water...mes getting her on it as soon as she gets home!
    Kisses
    Nellie

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  15. I definitely don't have a disaster plan that extends beyond just having current identification for my dogs. I guess I need to add that to my to-do list :)

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  16. New Zealand knows the sharp end of disaster after the earthquakes in Christchurch. Cats are still being reunited with their pets TWO YEARS after the tragedy happened. Be ready - BE Prepared!

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  17. Hill's is da best when it comes to disasters. I'm glad to know you are ready in case of an issue CK.

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  18. That's very scary ! You wrote a great post and a great reminder ! Purrs

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  19. Such scary stuff. I like to think we are prepared, but I don't think you can be quite prepared enough!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  20. This is great information and reminder. It's very important to be prepared for disasters. It's great Hill's has established network to help others.

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  21. Hills certainly get involved. Good for them!!

    aka TAT says that since I've been on Hills kibble, I've put on loads of weight!! I think it's her fault though, she gives in to my wailing and gnashing of teeth and my fainting on the floor from hunger!! Works every time! ;)

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  22. Wow, CK! A fire two doors down?! That is really scary!! We have a lot of fire alarms here, but it is usually because someone has burned their popcorn. It makes it hard to know when there's a fire and when the smoke has set the alarm off because someone burned popcorn. Our building has 13 floors, and we have never had a fire close to our apartment, thank goodness! But there was a fire on another floor once - a little one thankfully.

    Thank you for sharing these tips with all of us. They are very important. And we need to get on the Mom about putting medications, food, etc. aside for us just in case.

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  23. No one wants to talk about this but maybe in another post, can you consider covering pet wills? What if we don't make it and our pets do? My father in law and his wife will take our two dogs. I'll be ready for every situation by May 9th. Not ready yet though!

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