Is Your Pet Ready for an Emergency? Long Beach’s Guide to Pet Preparedness  

As we enter National Pet Preparedness Month, the Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications (DPEC) is partnering with Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) to provide residents with resources and information to keep their pets safe in case of an emergency.

While many consider their pets as family, they are often overlooked when it comes to disaster preparedness plans. Throughout the month of June, the City is hosting events and sharing helpful tips to help owners take proactive steps toward learning more about pet preparedness. Here are some upcoming events and recommendations to keep you and your pets ready for the unexpected:

CAMP Mobile Wellness Clinic: The Community Animal Medicine Project (CAMP) mobile Wellness Waggin’ will be at Long Beach Animal Care Services to provide low-cost pet wellness and vaccination services throughout the month of June. No appointment is necessary to attend. Visit the CAMP calendar for clinic dates and times. DPEC staff will be on-site June 16 and June 23 to share pet preparedness tips and resources.

Build Your Own Pet Emergency Kit: Make sure your pet has all their essentials ready to go in one accessible kit. This should include:

• Food, water and medication (if applicable) to last for at least five days.

• Sanitation items like waste bags, litter, or paper towels.

• Leash, collar with ID tag and a carrier/crate.

• Paperwork that includes registration information or ID numbers

• Photo of you and your pet(s) to prove ownership if you become separated from your pet.

Learn from Pet Pros: DPEC staff conduct interviews with animal care providers and pet owners throughout the month to share guidance on evacuation planning, anxiety reduction and preventative care to keep pets safe during emergencies and stressors. Interviews can be viewed on the DPEC website and @LBDisasterPrep on Facebook, Instagram and X.

How To Keep Your Pets Prepared: There are several ways to ensure your pet stays safe year-round and ready for any unplanned event:

• Ensure your pet wears collars with ID tags that include updated information such as your name, phone number and urgent medical needs

• Keep all veterinary and vaccination records in an organized, safe place

• During extreme weather events or fireworks, keep your pets inside

• Consider microchipping your pets as a form of permanent identification

Five Essential Disaster Prep Steps: The Long Beach DPEC has developed five essential steps to help residents prepare for a disaster. Following these steps helps ensure you and your pets are both ready at all times for an emergency:

• Get Alerts to Stay Informed. Sign up for Alert Long Beach to receive emergency notifications from the City of Long Beach via phone, email or text.

• Make a Plan. Develop a family emergency plan (English, Spanish), including considerations for your pets, to help you think ahead about what steps you can take to keep your household safe during an emergency.

• Pack a Go Bag. Prepare an emergency bag with at least five days worth of your family’s essential items.

• Learn Basic First Aid. Take a CPR class from the American Red Cross, join the Long Beach Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), or the Long Beach Police Explorers Program.

• Help Friends and Neighbors. Following a disaster, first responders may not be immediately available to respond to your neighborhood. Participate in the Ready Your Long Beach Neighborhood program and plan with your friends and neighbors on how you will support one another after a disaster, once it’s safe to do so.

For more information on the City’s disaster preparedness resources, visit longbeach.gov/disasterpreparedness.