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Preparing Pets for Severe Weather

FORT SMITH (KFSM) – Spring is on the way and that means winter weather is moving out and the threat of severe weather is moving in. Pet owners in the River Vall...

FORT SMITH (KFSM) – Spring is on the way and that means winter weather is moving out and the threat of severe weather is moving in.

Pet owners in the River Valley who want to use a public tornado shelter need to have their pets in an airline-approved carrier to be allowed inside.

“If you're in a public shelter, of course, like you'd want them in a carrier where they can't run around and cause trouble,” Gabe Anderson, who owns an Australian Shepard, said Thursday (Feb. 26).

The Sebastian County Parks and Recreation Department said most shelters in the River Valley require the carrier.

The number one reason is safety, and it may help others in the shelter who have pet allergies.

"If you have the money on hand, definitely get it. Get an airline-approved carrier so you can take them to a shelter so you don't have to leave them out,” Anderson said.

The tornado shelter at Ben Geren Park has a dividing wall that can separate pet owners from non-pet owners during severe weather.

5NEWS Chief Meteorologist Garrett Lewis said the pet rule isn't new -- it all started after Hurricane Katrina.

"Hurricane Katrina brought into the forefront 'What happens to pets in an emergency?' Not only do you have the owners and the anxiety and the impact that they had, like psychologically, but you also had thousands of animals roaming the streets,” Lewis said.

In 2006 a federal law was passed saying emergency managers need to consider pets in their emergency plans.

Garrett said the best thing you can do now to prepare for storm season -- whether you have a pet or not -- is to have a plan.

"I have what I call a 'go bag' -- you can use it for tornadoes or zombie apocalypses, whatever you want. It’s sitting in our storm shelter. It's got a change of clothes in it, it's got water for three days, and it's got food and it's got coloring books for the kids,” he said.

Garrett also suggests timing the drive from your home if you plan to use a public shelter.

Click here for a list of tornado shelters in the River Valley. There is also a tornado shelter (not listed) on Zero Street at Ben Geren Park in Fort Smith.

 

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