Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30. My mom lived in Miami during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and told me that she does not want to go through that again, ever! She said that she plans on getting all of us in the car and driving as far north as she can get. I asked her if she was going to let us bring the animals. Luckily, she said yes.

My dad brought home an article from a magazine he read that gave information about what to do if you have to leave your house and find shelter from a storm. I could not find out what magazine or who wrote the article because he ripped it out, well, his sister did. I know it is important to give credit, but I can’t.

Here is the article:

If you have pets, you must include them in your disaster plan. Keep in mind most pets cannot survive alone. Because of public health reasons, few evacuation shelters allow you to bring pets. If you can’t take your pet to a temporary shelter, contact friends, relatives, veterinarians or boarding kennels in advance to make arrangements to keep your pet.

Some helpful hints:

• Some hotels will let you bring your pets.
• Watch animals closely. Normally quiet and friendly pets may become aggressive after a storm.
• Make sure ID tags are up to date and securely fastened to your pet’s collar.
• Pack a pet survival kit, which might include food, water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter, manual can opener, first-aid kit and food dishes.
• Carry a photo of your pet for identification.