It’s up to individuals to make sure they can safely evacuate pets and livestock during an emergency.

In the wake of the recent disaster in the Gulf states, I have begun to wonder how many people know what kinds of evacuation plan we have in Maine and New Hampshire, particularly relating to animals.

Maine’s animal evacuation plan is closely tied to the state’s Emergency Management Agency. Some counties are already setting up County Animal Response Teams; others have not, but they surely will in the future. CARTs are connected to the State of Maine Animal Response Team (SMART), which among other things seeks to educate and help people in the safe evacuation of their animals, both companion and farm.

New Hampshire’s emergency plan is tied to the Department of Agriculture and is not directly connected with the New Hampshire Emergency Management Agency, but it would be hoped that in times of disaster the two agencies plan to work in sync.

I have heard people say that we do not have disasters in this part of the country so it is not necessary to be concerned about preparedness. But that is not true. We have floods, blizzards, ice storms and sometime hurricanes. While both states are working to have a comprehensive plan for animals, sometimes these things break down. The bottom line is that we must all have our own evacuation plans, which include our animals. If you do not have a plan, there may be no plan.

If families who have no plans are evacuated, they will be separated from their animals. The Red Cross will not take them. Even when pets were declared family members in Louisiana, the Red Cross did not change its policies about excluding them from its shelters.

We owe it to our pets to see that they are evacuated. If families wait until the last minute to find shelter for their pets, they may find none.

Here are some tips for creating an evacuation plan for companion animals:

• Have a destination already planned. Contact hotels and motels outside your immediate area and ask if “no pet” policies would be waived in times of emergency. Ask friends and relatives outside your area if they would be willing to help, remembering that your animals will likely feel more secure if they are kept together. Keep a list of boarding facilities and their 24-hour phone numbers. Animal shelters should be your last resort because they may be overwhelmed already.

• Put together all the items that your companion animals will need. Assemble a portable “Pet Disaster Kit,” which contains medications, medical records and a first aid kit. Keep leashes, harnesses and carriers in one spot where they can be easily picked up. Your animals must be secured in this fashion to ensure that they cannot escape. Also have current photos of each animal, in case they should get lost. Have a supply of food, potable water, cat litter/pan and a can opener. Write down information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, behavior problems and name of veterinarian in case you ultimately have to board them or have them fostered. Bring along pet beds and toys which are easily transportable and smell like home

• Know what to do as a disaster approaches. Often warnings are listed hours and even days in advance. Call ahead to confirm emergency shelter arrangements. Be sure that medical supplies are ready. Bring all pets into the house so you do not have to search for them if you have to leave in a hurry. Make sure all companion animals are wearing collars to which identification, including the name and address of a temporary shelter or that of a friend who is outside the disaster area, has been securely attached. You may not be home when an evacuation order comes. Find out if a trusted neighbor would be willing to take your pets and meet you at a prearranged location. This person should feel comfortable with them, know where the animals are likely to be and where the disaster kit is kept. The person also will need a key to your home. If you use a pet sitting service, it may be of help but this arrangement should be made well in advance.

Remember your animals act differently when they are under stress so make sure they are secure at all times. Don’t leave them unattended.

• Consider special needs if you have to transport other types of companion animals. Birds should be transported in a secure cage or carrier. In cold weather, wrap a blanket over the carrier for warmth. In warm weather, carry a plant mister to mist feathers periodically. Do not put water into the cage while transporting but do provide a few slices of fresh fruits or vegetables, which are high in water content. Have a photo and ID attached to a leg band. If the cage does not have a perch, line with paper towels and change them frequently. Do not, under any circumstance, let them out of the cage. Reptiles should be transported in pillowcases but must be transferred to more secure housing when they have reached the shelter site. At this time, a bowl of water large enough for soaking, as well as a heating, should be placed in the cage. During transportation, follow the same directions as for birds. Hamsters, gerbils and other small animals should be transported in secure carriers. Bedding materials, food bowls and water bottles should be carried separately.

If the companion animals are horses, llamas or other large animals, arrangements should be made ahead of time with local associations or with associations that will undertake the transportation of farm animals, as they will provide the most appropriate, thorough and secure care for them.

No matter what some outside organization may call our animals, they are, after all, members of our immediate family and we owe it to these wonderful creatures who ask so little and give so much to have a plan for their survival and well-being.

Caryl McIntire Edwards is the founder and executive director of Voice for Animals in South Paris.