ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS ® MAY 2011 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 BOR FORWARD INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Officers & Directors 2 Calendar 3 REALTOR/Affiliate Spotlight 4 New Members 5 St. Augustine May Schedule of Events 6 Committee /Member News 7 Carla King/ Builders Council News 8 Go Green 9 Tech Tip 10 Auction Sponsors 11 Make it, Bake it, Sew it, Grow it Auction-Items 12- 13 Auction Pictures 14-17 Hurricane Preparedness Week 5/22-5/28 18-21 Wally Conway 22 Monthly Statistics 23 June Preview Staff Contact Information 24 BOR PUBLIC WEBSITE: www.stjohnsrealtors.com
Transcript
ST
. A
UG
US
TI
NE
& S
T. J
OH
NS
C
OU
NT
Y
B
OA
RD
O
F R
EA
LT
OR
S®
M A Y 2 0 1 1
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5
B O R F O R W A R D
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :
Officers & Directors 2
Calendar 3
REALTOR/Affiliate
Spotlight
4
New Members 5
St. Augustine May
Schedule of Events
6
Committee /Member
News
7
Carla King/
Builders Council News
8
Go Green 9
Tech Tip 10
Auction Sponsors 11
Make it, Bake it, Sew it,
Grow it Auction-Items
12-
13
Auction Pictures 14-17
Hurricane Preparedness
Week 5/22-5/28
18-21
Wally Conway 22
Monthly Statistics 23
June Preview
Staff Contact
Information
24
BOR PUBLIC WEBSITE: www.stjohnsrealtors.com
Page 2 B O R F O R W A R D
2011 ST. AUGUSTINE & ST. JOHNS COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS®
AND MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, INC. BOARD OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
BOARD OF REALTORS® MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE, INC. Chuck Pacetti , PRESIDENT Andrew Birchall, PRESIDENT Homestar Pacetti Realty St. Augustine Realty (O) 827-0600 / (F) 819-9907 / (C ) 669-5000 (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 392-3362 [email protected][email protected] Roy Barnes, PRESIDENT-ELECT Dirk Schroeder , PRESIDENT- ELECT St. Augustine Realty Century 21- St. Augustine Properties (O) 824-3331 / (F) 825-2685/ (C ) 669-1430 (O) 797-6000 (F) 797-7963/ (C ) 540-2360 [email protected][email protected] Kea Blalock - SECRETARY Katherine Delaney – SECRETARY Saltwater Property Group Watson Realty (US1)
(O) 829-2002/ (F) 829-2029/ (C ) 814-2424 (O) 797-8600/ (F) 797-8606/ (C ) 669-2115 [email protected][email protected] Gene Johnson – TREASURER Robert West - TREASURER
Olde Towne Title & Guaranty is a locally owned and operated title company at 93 Orange St. in beautiful downtown St. Augustine. Olde Towne Title has grown in stature with a solid reputation for integrity and responsiveness. With the backing from Fidelity National Title, the largest underwriter in the nation, there is a security in knowing your most important investment is insured and protected.
Robert McGee, who has been the president of Olde Towne for the past 4 years, continues to strive to make the company the best title company in town. With 11 years of experience in the title business, mostly in sales, he is a constant reminder that hard work does pay off and feels customer satisfaction is the most important thing in keeping a small business growing each year.
Mr. McGee also feels the backbone of the company is the experience at the closing table with two of the area’s best closers, Della Masters and Jessica LaCaze and all that they offer.
Della has been a closing agent for over 30 years working in St. Johns and Duval counties. She started in the business with Associated Land Title working her way up the ladder from receptionist to Vice President and Manager. Della is experienced in all aspects of real estate closings, including short sales. A graduate of St. Augustine High School, Della is proud to call St Augustine her home for most of her life.
Jessica is another local girl and graduate of St. Joseph
Academy. Getting her start in the banking business eventually led her to a career in the title business and she has never looked back. A wealth of knowledge in today’s title industry rules and regulations makes Jessica a valued asset to a company, on the rise, in St. Johns County. Eleven years of experience has helped her build a reputation for gritty, no-nonsense production and again customer satisfaction that is second to none.
Please don’t hesitate to send over your next real estate transaction and realize what everyone else is talking about!!!
Remember “We Open at 9 and Close All Day” and we want you to know all of us at Olde Towne Title live, work and support the industries and businesses of this great city.
David Garrard Foundation, NEFBA and the St. Johns Builders Council
will Host “Fishing for the Cure”, an INSHORE & OFFSHORE Celebrity Fishing
Tournament & MVP Party benefiting the David Garrard Foundation and
NEFBA/SJBC.
May 21, 2011—Conch House Marina Resort, St. Augustine.
General Boat Entry—$350.
Includes 2 tickets to MVP Party
1 boat entry in all prize categories
Captain’s bag and 2 tournament t-shirts
PREMIUM Boat Entry—$500.
Includes 2 tickets to MVP Party
1 boat entry in all prize categories
Commemorative signed football and photo, Captain’s bag
Baby Josiah is here!! He arrived on Monday April 18th at 7:08 am.
He is a healthy 7lbs 8oz, 20 1/4 inch long boy.
Repetition is the key to understanding - which is why we are reminding you to protect yourself from excessive exposure to the ultraviolet rays (UV) of the sun. Exposure to UV radiation has increased over the years due to the depletion of the ozone layer, a naturally-occurring gas that filters the sun's UV radiation. For some people, overexposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer, cataracts and weakened immune systems. To protect against sun-related damage, follow these rules:
Wear those shades. Sunglasses that provide 99-100% of
UVA and UVB protection greatly reduce sun exposure that
can lead to cataracts and other eye damage. Be sure to
check the label when buying sunglasses to make sure
they have proper UV protection.
Lather on the sunscreen. Use a sunscreen with Sun
Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. Apply it liberally to
all exposed areas of your body, particularly your ears,
face, back and neck. Reapply every 2 hours when work-
ing, playing, or exercising outdoors; even waterproof
sunscreen can come off when you towel off sweat or
water.
Listen to the weather reports. The UV Index, developed
by the National Weather Service and the Environmental
Protection Agency, provides a forecast of the expected
risk of overexposure to the sun and indicates the degree
of caution that you should take when working, playing or
exercising outdoors. Weather predictions in print and
broadcast media announce the UV Index daily.
Stay clear of the midday sun as much as possible. The
sun's UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If
you're spending the day at the beach, take refuge under a
beach umbrella during those hours when the sun's rays
are most intense.
Dress Up. Wear light, long-sleeved shirts and
ankle-length pants if you're going to be out in the sun for
long periods of time and you'd rather not wear sunscreen.
A wide brimmed hat will shade your face, neck, ears and
eyes.
Here Comes the Sun
Air conditioning accounts for 14 percent of America's home electricity use, and most of that electricity comes from coal. So when the weather warms up we should do everything we can to conserve energy as we keep cool. That means treating our air conditioners the same way we treat other energy-demanding appliances: by using them wisely and keeping them running efficiently. Here are some tips to help: Invest in an energy-efficient air conditioner. If you're buying a new air conditioner, choose one for maximum energy efficiency. New air conditioners come labeled with an Energy Efficiency Rating (EER), a standard that lets you calculate how much electricity the air conditioner will consume. The higher the EER, the less it will cost you to operate the appliance to achieve the same level of cooling. New Technology Update! A team of engineers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed a potentially revolutionary new air conditioning system. Unlike standard air conditioners, which compress a circulating liquid refrigerant such as Freon, this new system draws warm air through a cooling unit that contains a water-absorbing dessicants compound that cools the air by evaporation. The payoff? It uses up to 90 percent less energy! As of Fall 2010, the new AC technology still had a ways to go before it's available to consumers, but it could be just two to three years before these new coolers become commercially available.
Avoid overcooling. Don't use or buy more cooling equipment capacity than you actually need. If you decide on central air conditioning, select the most energy-efficient unit that will cool the size space you have. Bigger is not better. A larger unit than you need will cost more to run and may not remove enough humidity from the air, the feature that some consumers like most about air conditioners.
Keep your cooling system well tuned. Have it professionally maintained, and ask how the energy efficiency of the system may be increased.
M A K E I T , B A K E I T , G R O W I T , S E W I T A U C T I O N
Page 11 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 5
Thanks for a GREAT lunch!
BIG BUCKS FROM THE MAKE IT, BAKE IT, GROW IT, SEW IT AUCTION
Thanks to all the volunteer hours, sponsor provided lunch, donations of auction items from
all members, Terry Pacetti donating his auction services and the generous bids by all the
auction participants, the auction generated $3,095 for the Scholarship Fund. In addition,
thanks to the generous offer by Dominic Mercurio and the St. Augustine Lions Club they
provided an additional $600 to the Scholarship Fund. This was provided by virtue of every
hour one of our members worked at the St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival, the Lions
Club donated $10 to the Scholarship Fund. Our members volunteered 60 hours for that
$600 donation. Thus the total net dollars raised were $3,695.
Thank you to all of the above for making the auction and the funds raised a huge success!
Page 12 B O R F O R W A R D
M A K E I T , B A K E I T , G R O W I T , S E W I T A U C T I O N I T E M S
Page 13 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 5
M A K E I T , B A K E I T , G R O W I T , S E W I T A U C T I O N / G M M
Top- Dr. Joyner–
The St. Johns County School District Superintendent
Page 14 B O R F O R W A R D
Rob West
Chuck Pacetti & Rusty Collins
M A K E I T , B A K E I T , G R O W I T , S E W I T A U C T I O N - B U S I N E S S P O R T I O N
Dianne Pittman
The Pledge
Victor J. Raymos, Chuck Pacetti
& Andrew Birchall
Victor J. Raymos– AE/CEO
Chuck Pacetti– 2011 Board President Andrew Birchall– 2011 MLS President
Dominic Mercurio & Rob West
The “Gang” Discussing the
Chinese Auction Items
Diane Vespucci & Karl Vierck
Italian Dinner for 6
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Chuck & Terry Pacetti
Terry keeping the bids going
Page 15 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 5
M A K E I T , B A K E I T , G R O W I T , S E W I T A U C T I O N – L I V E A U C T I O N
Hand Painted Landscape
Fancy Vase & Flower Arrangement
Auctioneer Terry Pacetti
Key Lime Pie
Mamaie’s Chocolate Cake
Chuck Pacetti & Dianne Pittman
Handmade American Flag
Page 16 B O R F O R W A R D
Joan Scop & Diane Vespucci Marlene Lagasse & Jerry “JD” Hunter Joan Scop & Penny James
M A K E I T , B A K E I T , G R O W I T , S E W I T A U C T I O N
Victor & Rita Raymos, Bob Mays
& Chuck Pacetti
Stephen Collins & Tanya Liebal Ric McChesney, Jim Euliss
Gayle Logan Bob Mays, Kea Blalock, Dianne Pittman, Nancy
Barnes-Huppert, Roy Barnes & Rita Raymos
Jerry “JD” Hunter & Diane Vespucci
Top– Food & Silent Auction Items
Bottom– Nancy Taylor & Teresa Mercurio
Dave Hall & Marjorie Taylor Jim Rerisi
Victor J. Raymos
Shirley Bennett
Gayle Logan & Suzie Adams
Page 17 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 5
Penny James
M A K E I T , B A K E I T , G R O W I T , S E W I T A U C T I O N
Andrew Birchall pulling the winning tickets
for the Chinese Auction Amy Lafferty & Christopher Goodman Nancy Taylor & Teresa Mercurio
Diane Ward, Greg Strump & Marjorie Taylor Rob McGee, Stephen Collins & Rusty Collins Dianne Pittman, Bob Mays, Andrew Birchall
& Rob West
Ric McChesney
Roberta Odom, Ann King Shelly Trela, Staff
& Joan Scop Suzie Adams & Karen Peil
Marlene Lagasse, JD Hunter,
Terry Pacetti & Dianne Pittman
Suzie Adams, Karl Vierck, Ed Paucek,
Berta Odom, Rob McGee
& Nancy Taylor
Greg Strump, Marlene Lagasse,
Karl Vierck, Tom Scheirer
& Roy Barnes
Rusty Collins & Diane Ward
Page 18 B O R F O R W A R D
H U R R I C A N E P R E P A R E D N E S S W E E K M A Y 2 2 - 2 8
History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. Hurricane Preparedness Week during 2011 will be held May 22nd through May 28th.
Hurricane hazards come in many forms: storm surge, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding. This means it is important for your family to have a plan that includes all of these hazards. Look carefully at the safety actions associated with each type of hurricane hazard and prepare your family disaster plan accordingly. The first and most important thing anyone should do when facing a hurricane threat is to use common sense.
You should be able to answer the following questions before a hurricane threatens:
What are the Hurricane Hazards?
What does it mean to you?
What actions should you take to be prepared?
ADDITIONAL SAFETY INFORMATION
By the Start of Hurricane Season you should:
Assemble your Disaster Supply Kit. These items are often scattered around your home and simply need to be brought together into one location. In certain circumstances you may need to go to a store to purchase an item to supplement your kit. Write out your Family Disaster Plan. Discuss the possible hazards with your family. Determine if you are in an evacuation area. Identify an out-of-town family contact.
When a Watch is issued you should:
Check your Disaster Supply Kit. Make sure nothing is missing.
Determine if there is anything you need to supplement your kit. Replenish your water. Activate your Family Disaster Plan. Protective measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time (for example, securing a boat or leaving a barrier island).
When a Warning is issued you should:
Ready your Disaster Supply Kit for use. If you need to
evacuate, you should bring your Supply Kit with you. Use your Family Disaster Plan. Your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.
Basic Hurricane Safety Actions
Know if you live in an evacuation area. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind. Have a written plan based on this knowledge.
At the beginning of hurricane season (June 1st), check your supplies, replace batteries and use food stocks on a rotating basis.
During hurricane season, monitor the tropics.
Monitor NOAA Weather Radio.
If a storm threatens, heed the advice from local au-thorities. Evacuate if ordered.
Execute your family plan.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
A HURRICANE WATCH issued for your part of the coast indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 48 hours. This watch should trigger your family's disaster plan, and protective measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time such as securing a boat, leaving a barrier island, etc.
A HURRICANE WARNING issued for your part of the coast indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 36 hours or less. Once this warning has been issued, your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.
H U R R I C A N E P R E P A R E D N E S S W E E K M A Y 2 2 - 2 8
The ingredients for a hurricane include a pre-existing weather disturbance, warm tropical oceans, moisture, and relatively light winds aloft. If the right conditions persist long enough, they can combine to produce the violent winds, incredible waves, torrential rains, and floods we associate with this phenomenon. Each year, an average of eleven tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Many of these remain over the ocean and never impact the U.S. coastline. Six of these storms become hurricanes each year. In an average 3-year period, roughly five hurricanes strike the US coastline, killing approximately 50 to 100 people anywhere from Texas to Maine. Of these, two are typically "major" or "intense" hurricanes (a category 3 or higher storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale). What is a Hurricane? A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, which is a generic term for a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. The cyclone is accompanied by thunderstorms and, in the Northern Hemisphere, a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the earth's surface. Tropical cyclones are classified as follows:
Tropical Depression An organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds* of 38 mph (33 kt**) or less
Tropical Storm An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph (34-63 kt)
Hurricane An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a well-defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 kt) or higher
Hurricanes are categorized according to the strength of their winds using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. A Category 1 storm has the lowest wind speeds, while a Category 5 hurricane has the strongest. These are relative terms, because lower category storms can sometimes inflict greater damage than higher category storms, depending on where they strike and the particular hazards they bring. In fact, tropical storms can also produce significant damage and loss of life, mainly due to flooding.
Hurricane Names When the winds from these storms reach 39 mph (34 kts), the cyclones are given names. Years ago, an international committee developed names for Atlantic cyclones (The History of Naming Hurricanes). In 1979 a six year rotating list of Atlantic storm names was adopted — alternating between male and female hurricane names. Storm names are used to facilitate geographic referencing, for warning services, for legal issues, and to reduce confusion when two or more tropical cyclones occur at the same time. Through a vote of the World Meteorological Organization Region IV Subcommittee, Atlantic cyclone names are retired usually when hurricanes result in
substantial damage or death or for other special circumstances. The names assigned for the next season is shown below.
* Sustained winds
A 1-minute average wind measured at about 33 ft (10 meters) above the surface. ** 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour or 1.15 statute miles per hour. Abbreviated as "kt".
2011 Atlantic
Basin Tropical
Storm Names
Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Don
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katia
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney
NOAA Weather Radio Now Numbers
1000 Transmitters!
NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio
stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest
National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings,
watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Working with the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Emergency Alert Sys-
tem , NWR is an "All Hazards" radio network, making it your single source for com-prehensive weather and emergency information. In conjunction with Federal, State, and Local Emergency Managers and other public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (such as earthquakes or avalanches), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages).
Known as the "Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service," NWR is provided as a public service by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Department of Commerce. NWR includes 1000 transmitters, covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of pick-ing up the signal. Broadcasts are found in the VHF public service band at these seven frequencies (MHz):
H U R R I C A N E P R E P A R E D N E S S W E E K M A Y 2 2 - 2 8
Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.
Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.
Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.
Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.
Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.
Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.
Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit.
Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.
Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.
Develop a family hurricane preparedness plan before an actual
storm threatens your area. If your family hurricane preparedness plan includes evacuation to a safer location for any of the reasons specified with in this web site, then it is important to consider the following points:
If ordered to evacuate, do not wait or delay your departure. If possible, leave before local officials issue an evacuation order for your area. Even a slight delay in starting your evacuation will result in significantly longer travel times as traffic congestion worsens. Select an evacuation destination that is nearest to your home, preferably in the same county, or at least minimize the distance over which you must travel in order to reach your intended shelter location. In choosing your destination, keep in mind that the hotels and other sheltering options in most inland metropolitan areas are likely to be filled very quickly in a large, multi-county hurricane evacuation event. If you decide to evacuate to another county or region, be prepared to wait in traffic. The large number of people in this state who must evacuate during a hurricane will probably cause massive delays and major congestion along most designated evacuation routes; the larger the storm, the greater the probability of traffic jams and extended travel times. If possible, make arrangements to stay with the friend or relative who resides closest to your home and who will not have to evacuate. Discuss with your intended host the details of your family evacuation plan well before the beginning of the hurricane season. If a hotel or motel is your final intended destination during an evacuation, make reservations before you leave. Most hotel and motels will fill quickly once evacuations begin. The longer you wait to make reservations, even if an official evacuation order has not been issued for your area or county, the less likely you are to find hotel/motel room vacancies, especially along interstate highways and in major metropolitan areas. If you are unable to stay with friends or family and no hotels/motels rooms are available, then as a last resort go to a shelter. Remember, shelters are not designed for comfort and do not usually accept pets. Bring your disaster supply kit with you to the shelter. Find Pet-Friendly hotels and motels.
Make sure that you fill up your car with gas, before you leave.
Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days — non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices — foods for infants or the elderly — snack foods — non-electric can opener — cooking tools / fuel — paper plates / plastic utensils
Blankets / Pillows, etc.
Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes
First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
Special Items - for babies and the elderly
Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes
Flashlight / Batteries
Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra bat-tery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set
Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
Keys
Toys, Books and Games
Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag — insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.
Tools - keep a set with you during the storm
Vehicle fuel tanks filled
Pet care items — proper identification / immunization records / medications — ample supply of food and water — a carrier or cage
RETROFITTING YOUR HOME The most important precaution you can take to reduce damage to your home and property is to protect the areas where wind can enter. According to recent wind technology research, it's important to strengthen the exterior of your house so wind and debris do not tear large openings in it. You can do this by protecting and reinforcing these five critical areas:
ROOF | STRAPS | SHUTTERS | DOORS | GARAGE DOORS
A great time to start securing - or retrofitting - your house is when you are making other improvements or adding an addition. Remember: building codes reflect the lessons experts have learned from past catastrophes. Contact the local building code official to find out what requirements are necessary for your home improvement projects. FLOOD INSURANCE The National Flood Insurance Program, is a pre-disaster flood mitigation and insurance protection program designed to reduce the escalating cost of disasters. The National Flood Insurance Program makes federally backed flood insurance available to residents and business owners
Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance. Do not make assumptions. Check your policy.
Contact your veterinarian or local humane society for information on preparing your pets for an emergency. BEFORE THE DISASTER
Make sure that your pets are current on their vaccinations. Pet shelters may require proof of vaccines.
Have a current photograph
Keep a collar with identification on your pet and have a leash on hand to control your pet. Have a properly-sized pet carrier for each animal - carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand and turn around. Plan your evacuation strategy and don't forget your pet! Specialized pet shelters, animal control shelters, veterinary clinics and friends
and relatives out of harm's way are ALL potential refuges for your pet during a disaster. If you plan to shelter your pet - work it into your evacuation route planning.
DURING THE DISASTER
Animals brought to a pet shelter are required to have: Proper identification collar and rabies tag, proper identification on all belong-ings, a carrier or cage, a leash, an ample supply of food, water and food bowls, any necessary medications, specific care instruc-tions and news papers or trash bags for clean-up.
Bring pets indoor well in advance of a storm - reassure them and remain calm. Pet shelters will be filled on first come, first served basis. Call ahead and determine availability.
AFTER THE DISASTER
Walk pets on a leash until they become re-oriented to their home - often familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and pets could easily be confused and become lost. Also, downed power lines, reptiles brought in with high water and debris can all pose a threat for animals after a disaster.
If pets cannot be found after a disaster, contact the local animal control office to find out where lost animals can be recovered. Bring along a picture of your pet if possible.
After a disaster animals can become aggressive or defensive - monitor their behavior. Don't forget your pet when preparing a family disaster plan.
PET DISASTER SUPPLY KIT
• Proper identification including immunization records • Ample supply of food and water • A carrier or cage • Medications • Muzzle, collar and leash
