Its been one year today since Superstorm Sandy plunged my neck of the woods into the 1880's, so my thoughts turn to what-to-do-if's.
Not every disaster is the same, you could be snowed in, flooded out or lose your home altogether. Sometimes in the rush to flee an emergency we forget about our pets. I am not prepared as well as I should be and seek to rectify that.
The ASPCA, FEMA and the entirety of the internet has some ideas, but I'd like to hear your ideas.

Because of previous traing and the fact I live in a hurricane area, I pretty much follow some simple rules. I keep a copy of my dogs paperwork in the car, I have a nametag on my dog, with my cell numbers and internet addresses. If I don't plan on evacuating I keep at least a weeks worth of supplies for my dog, food, medicine, water. If I'm leaving my house, my dog comes with me- there is no guarantee I will make it home. All the shelters in my area are pet friendly, BUT if I think the storm is going to be bad enough, and usually with hurricanes there's plenty of warning, I have arrangement with a kennel and stable for my horse to board them during the storm, and I get them to those places earlier at least a couple of days before the storm is supposed to hit. I've been through many hurricanes, nor'easters where I live and the only certainty is knowing you don't know how bad it will be, having my animals in a safe place allows me to take care of myself and others if need be. For a short notice storm or disaster where I can't get them away, again, adequate supplies, adequate notification, and the dog doesn't leave me, even if I have to tie her to me.

My biggie is keeping food and meds on hand. I don't live in an area that has hurricanes or a high earthquake risk. We've got a generator for if the power goes out (snowstorm, etc). The other risk in my area is nuclear power plant. But my car has crates and, since the dogs travel with me often, shot records and dog gear. I'd just need to grab their food and them. The one suggestion I would make is to multiple phone numbers (a friend/relative out of your immediate area) and perhaps even an email address on your dog's ID tag. That way should you get separated and loose your phone/lines towers are down in your area people still have a way to contact you.

My biggie is keeping food and meds on hand. I don't live in an area that has hurricanes or a high earthquake risk. We've got a generator for if the power goes out (snowstorm, etc). The other risk in my area is nuclear power plant. But my car has crates and, since the dogs travel with me often, shot records and dog gear. I'd just need to grab their food and them. The one suggestion I would make is to multiple phone numbers (a friend/relative out of your immediate area) and perhaps even an email address on your dog's ID tag. That way should you get separated and loose your phone/lines towers are down in your area people still have a way to contact you.

Good call mentioning this - I have added a few to my menagerie since I last prepped - I have the cat carriers in an easy to access location, the bird carrier is stored under his cage in the porch, but I don't have one for the rabbit.. I'll need to address that.

I also need a large travel crate for Duke and.. a new vehicle. If the truck wasn't at home it'd be the kids, birds, cats and rabbit in the back seat and Duke and I in the front of a Nissan Sentra that could get messy.

This is something geared more toward an emergency within the house, but I think it's worth mentioning. I have two dogs, and I keep two 20-foot cotton leads, with a collar with ID already attached, in the top drawer of my nightstand next to my bed. They're neatly folded so as not to get all tangled up, and held together with a couple rubber bands that can be easily popped off even in the dark.

The collars are the martingale type that slip over the head, no buckles or snaps to worry about, but they do tighten with leash pressure, so it would be difficult for a dog to slip out of it.

My house is one story, and if we all had to go out a window, the drop is short enough, I'm sure we'd survive, but the long line enables me to hopefully keep a hold of my dogs after I send them out and before my husband and I go out.

My brother lived in hilton head sc, he had to evacuate for one of the really big storms, at that time the shelter didn't allow pets, him and his buddies brought camping equipment and camped with the dogs (4-5) outside the shelter, I wouldn't have thought of that but if a shelter doesn't allow pets bringing camping equipment might work (although I think since katrina they all allow pets).

I live on the Gulf Coast, so hurricanes are a way of life. Almost everyone I'm close to has a perpetual emergency plan and an emergency evac plan. These are updated and refreshed every spring before the advent of hurricane system. For me, the most practical way to be prepared is to include the pets in the master plan, rather than make a unique set of accomodations that I would have to coordinate with my home preparedness and obligations to my employer.

The two most common mistakes made by pet owners during Katrina were,
a. Thinking that they would only be evacuated for a few days and leaving the pets behind, and
b. Not evacuating themselves, remaining with their pets in harm's way.

Better forethought and preparation can save your family and your pets. Among my other preparations, which include storing water and non-perishable food, first aid supplies, and roughing-it supplies (including extra bedding and power sources), I keep a portable firesafe that has my evacuation maps, emergency contacts, insurance and other important documents that I may need if I lose my home, and all documents, registrations, shot records, etc for my pets. I also take my family pix and valuables. Never leave firearms or generators behind.

The shot records are very important. During Katrina, my dog needed a well-visit and rabies shot before we were allowed to return home.

And of course, don't forget leashes, toys, and anything else that will make your dog comfortable while on the move.

ETA: I WOULD NEVER leave my dog at a shelter if I evacuated! The shelter is going to have the same loss of power, flooding, etc that the rest of the area gets. People died in nursing homes here because the owners opted not to evac their charges.

Just to clarify, the arrangements for the kennel and stable are well outside of the storm area. I wouldn't board my animals IN the storm area. Re-reading my post I realized it was confusing.

If you are going to board animals, I would have several backups. Also, inquire about the facilitie's staffing arrangements in the event of something unforeseen.

Here, evacuation routes are flexible. Which ones the state opens and which direction contraflow is routed in causes certain changes in plans. Often, you are not allowed to use the route that you planned to.