Beyond the Hurricane Checklist | Salty & Happy

The storm is expected to arrive in just a couple of days.

That means most of us are thinking about the basics: stocking up on water, filling the gas tank, securing the house, charging our phones, and deciding whether we need to evacuate.

But there is another question we need to ask right now:

Who is looking out for the people and animals who cannot get to safety on their own?

That question weighs heavily on my heart.

I will be honest: I am struggling with the fear that comes with knowing a hurricane is only days away and not knowing exactly what lies ahead. Uncertainty can make us feel small and powerless, especially when we know vulnerable people and animals may need help.

At the same time, I keep reminding myself that fear and compassion can exist together. I may not be able to solve every problem or protect everyone, but I can pay attention, ask questions, make a phone call, offer support, and do what I can before the storm arrives.

Sometimes, helping begins with simply refusing to look away.

I think about the older neighbor who lives alone, the nursing home resident whose family lives far away, the person who depends on oxygen or daily medical care, and the pet owner who refuses to evacuate because they cannot bear to leave an animal behind.

I also think about the animals in shelters, outdoor cats cared for by neighbors, and horses and livestock that cannot simply be placed in a car.

These are the lives that can easily be overlooked when a storm is only a couple of days away. They need a plan, support, and someone willing to pay attention now.

Our Seniors: Who Has a Plan?

After nearly three decades working in senior care, I know that evacuating a nursing home or assisted living community is very different from leaving a private home.

It involves much more than transportation. Staff must coordinate medications, medical equipment, oxygen, mobility devices, food, medical records, staffing, and the personal needs of every resident.

For someone living with dementia, leaving a familiar place can also be frightening and confusing. A sudden change in surroundings and routine may cause significant distress.

Most care facilities are required to have emergency plans, but families should not assume they know the details. With the storm approaching in just a couple of days, now is the time to ask questions.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living community, ask:

• Will the facility shelter in place or evacuate?

• What conditions will determine that decision?

• If residents evacuate, where will they go?

• How will medications, oxygen, medical equipment, and records travel with them?

• How and when will families be notified?

• Who should families contact if phone service or internet access is interrupted?

It is also important to think about seniors who live independently.

That neighbor who waves every morning may no longer drive. They may not have nearby family, reliable transportation, or a clear understanding of evacuation instructions. They may be afraid to ask for help.

Please do not wait until the roads are crowded or an evacuation order has already been issued.

A simple visit or phone call today can make a meaningful difference.

Ask:

“Do you have a plan if we need to evacuate?”

If they do not, help them contact local emergency services, family members, transportation providers, or community organizations. Help them gather medications, important documents, mobility equipment, and anything else they may need to take with them.

Animals Need a Plan, Too

Our pets depend on us completely during an emergency.

They cannot read an evacuation notice, find shelter, or explain what they need. We must make those decisions for them.

But not every animal has a family ready to place them in a vehicle and leave.

What happens to the dogs and cats in local shelters? What about animals in foster care, community cats, horses, and livestock?

Animal shelters and rescue organizations may need emergency foster homes, transportation, crates, food, medications, volunteers, or financial support. Their needs may change quickly as the storm gets closer, so contact them today and ask how you can help.

Before the storm arrives, consider these steps:

• Contact local shelters and rescues to learn about their emergency plans.

• Ask whether they need foster homes, volunteers, supplies, or transportation assistance.

• Make sure your pets have identification and current microchip information.

• Keep vaccination records, medications, food, leashes, and carriers together.

• Identify pet-friendly hotels, shelters, or evacuation locations before you need them.

• Make a transportation plan for horses and livestock immediately.

• Check on neighbors with pets, especially older adults or people with disabilities.

Never assume that an emergency shelter will accept animals. Confirm the rules before you leave.

If you need to evacuate, do not leave pets behind. If you cannot safely transport them yourself, contact local animal services, shelters, rescue organizations, or emergency management officials as soon as possible.

No one should have to choose between personal safety and the safety of a beloved pet because there was no plan.

The People We See Every Day

Look around your neighborhood while there is still time to help.

Think about the older man walking his dog each morning.

The neighbor who uses a wheelchair.

The woman caring for her husband with Alzheimer’s disease.

The family without a dependable vehicle.

The person who lives alone and rarely asks for help.

We may see these people every day without knowing whether they have a safe way to evacuate or someone to call.

A conversation today can prevent a crisis tomorrow.

They may need help understanding an evacuation order. They may need transportation arranged through local emergency services. They may need assistance gathering medications, important documents, or medical equipment. Or they may simply need someone to make sure they are not forgotten when the storm arrives.

We do not have to be emergency responders to be good neighbors.

We just have to notice who may need help and be willing to ask.

Three Things You Can Do Before the Storm

1. Check on one person. Ask an older neighbor, someone living alone, or a family caregiver whether they have an evacuation and communication plan.

2. Contact one animal organization. Find out what a local shelter or rescue needs before the storm arrives, during the emergency, and afterward.

3. Make one neighborhood connection. Exchange phone numbers with a neighbor and decide who will check on whom if phone service becomes unreliable.

One Last Thought

Growing up in Tornado Alley and later living in wildfire country taught us that severe weather does not always give us much time to make decisions.

We created wildfire evacuation plans because we had to. Now, spending our winters on the Gulf Coast, we are facing hurricane preparation from a different perspective, with the storm only a couple of days away.

Supplies, shutters, evacuation routes, and emergency alerts all matter. But preparation is about more than what we keep in our homes.

A community is only as prepared as the people and animals who might otherwise be left behind.

I am still afraid. I still feel the weight of the unknown, and at times I feel helpless knowing I cannot control the storm or protect everyone who may be affected.

But I also believe that small acts of care matter. A phone call, a ride, a conversation, a safe place for an animal, or a simple offer to help can bring comfort and create a little more safety in an uncertain moment.

Before the storm arrives, look beyond your own front door.

Check on someone. Ask a question. Offer a ride. Make a phone call. Help create a plan.

That small act of kindness may matter more than anything in your hurricane supply kit.

From all of us at Salty & Happy and Camp and Glamp Properties, stay safe, look out for one another, and do not forget the four-legged ones.

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