What are Your Plans in Case of Emergency?

[TortMom6]

There is a large, very un-contained wild fire raging about 2.5 hours from where I live. While I feel safe that it will not come as far as Sacramento it has gotten me to thinking about emergency preparations for my tortoises (and all my other pets too), not just fire emergencies, but any emergency that would require me to leave quickly.

Do any of you have emergency plans for your tortoises? If so what are they?

I am thinking about making a bail-out box of emergency supplies. Just not sure what it should include.

I hate thinking about this, my greatest fear is not being able to get everyone out in time. I imagine there will be nightmares for a good few nights now, but better prepared than not.

 

[wellington]

No real plan except every living thing gets out of the house. I do want to pic up a couple small cages for my lizards and possibly one for each tortoise. I just figure if it's cold out and it's a house fire, everyone can keep warm in the tortoise shed or my cars.

 

[jsheffield]

We live in NH, so the climate is the big potential challenge for my exotic pets.

We lose power 10-20 times each year, generally short duration interruptions, but we have a generator sized and wired for the house that picks up the slack a few seconds after the power goes out.

If the power stays out for a week, or we have to leave the house for some reason, I've got a travel kit for Darwin, my redfoot.



It's a 60 quart container, by Ziploc.



Everything fits inside, until such time as Darwin needs to go in.



Two Rubbermaid containers: one with cypress for the big box, then a soaking tub when Darwin needs it; one with a cutout that can be used as a hide in the big box.



A waterproof heating pad, thermostat power supply, and an inverter for running the heater in my car (and on the road).



Water for soaking the cypress, hydrating the food, and washing Darwin.

Food and plastic lid: dehydrated fruit and veg and bugs, tortoise kibble.

Jamie

PS - we've got go-bags for the dogs, and Beulah, the marine toad, is tough as nails, and can wait out the power outage

 

[TortMom6]

We live in NH, so the climate is the big potential challenge for my exotic pets.

We lose power 10-20 times each year, generally short duration interruptions, but we have a generator sized and wired for the house that picks up the slack a few seconds after the power goes out.

If the power stays out for a week, or we have to leave the house for some reason, I've got a travel kit for Darwin, my redfoot.

View attachment 256735

It's a 60 quart container, by Ziploc.

View attachment 256737

Everything fits inside, until such time as Darwin needs to go in.

View attachment 256738

Two Rubbermaid containers: one with cypress for the big box, then a soaking tub when Darwin needs it; one with a cutout that can be used as a hide in the big box.

View attachment 256740

A waterproof heating pad, thermostat power supply, and an inverter for running the heater in my car (and on the road).

View attachment 256741

Water for soaking the cypress, hydrating the food, and washing Darwin.

Food and plastic lid: dehydrated fruit and veg and bugs, tortoise kibble.

Jamie

PS - we've got go-bags for the dogs, and Beulah, the marine toad, is tough as nails, and can wait out the power outage

I think I'm going to have to put one of these together for peace of mind if nothing else.
I'll make one for everyone: box turtle, leopard tortoise, Greek Tortoise, White's tree frogs, and guinea pigs.

Might even put some extras in my car just in case.

 

[jsheffield]

I think I'm going to have to put one of these together for peace of mind if nothing else.
I'll make one for everyone: box turtle, leopard tortoise, Greek Tortoise, White's tree frogs, and guinea pigs.

Might even put some extras in my car just in case.

I got the containers from Wal-Mart, in a four-pack ... they're a great deal.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ziploc-60-Qt-15-Gal-WeatherShield-Storage-Box-4-Pack-Clear/37299945

Jamie

 

[Yvonne G]

My head is in a hole in the ground, my fingers are crossed, and I'm hoping there will never be such an event.

 

[TortMom6]

I got the containers from Wal-Mart, in a four-pack ... they're a great deal.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ziploc-60-Qt-15-Gal-WeatherShield-Storage-Box-4-Pack-Clear/37299945

Jamie

Thanks

 

[Big Charlie]

My head is in a hole in the ground, my fingers are crossed, and I'm hoping there will never be such an event.

I'm with you. I would have a great deal of difficulty getting Charlie out of the yard and into the car. It is probably impossible for my husband and me to pick him up by ourselves. I just have one tortoise to worry about. I can't imagine what you could do to deal with all of yours.

 

[vladimir]

I'm with you. I would have a great deal of difficulty getting Charlie out of the yard and into the car. It is probably impossible for my husband and me to pick him up by ourselves. I just have one tortoise to worry about. I can't imagine what you could do to deal with all of yours.

(approximately) How much does Charlie weigh these days?

 

[Big Charlie]

(approximately) How much does Charlie weigh these days?

I have no idea, but I've been saying 100 pounds for the last 4 years, and I know he is much bigger now.

 

[Pastel Tortie]

I'm with you. I would have a great deal of difficulty getting Charlie out of the yard and into the car. It is probably impossible for my husband and me to pick him up by ourselves. I just have one tortoise to worry about. I can't imagine what you could do to deal with all of yours.

Look into ways to move large dogs and furniture, and to get them into and out of vehicles. A visit to an agricultural supply place may give you a few ideas, too.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Look into ways to move large dogs and furniture, and to get them into and out of vehicles. A visit to an agricultural supply place may give you a few ideas, too.

Or a friendly strong neighbor. In desperate times like this, ppl do reach out and lend a hand.

 

[Pastel Tortie]

If you have any large tortoises and you live anywhere near cattle ranchers or people with horses, MAKE FRIENDS.

 

[Pastel Tortie]

My head is in a hole in the ground, my fingers are crossed, and I'm hoping there will never be such an event.

Aren't many of your tortoises prone to being in a hole in the ground? Literally?

 

[Pastel Tortie]

We live in NH, so the climate is the big potential challenge for my exotic pets.

We lose power 10-20 times each year, generally short duration interruptions, but we have a generator sized and wired for the house that picks up the slack a few seconds after the power goes out.

If the power stays out for a week, or we have to leave the house for some reason, I've got a travel kit for Darwin, my redfoot.

View attachment 256735

It's a 60 quart container, by Ziploc.

View attachment 256737

Everything fits inside, until such time as Darwin needs to go in.

View attachment 256738

Two Rubbermaid containers: one with cypress for the big box, then a soaking tub when Darwin needs it; one with a cutout that can be used as a hide in the big box.

View attachment 256740

A waterproof heating pad, thermostat power supply, and an inverter for running the heater in my car (and on the road).

View attachment 256741

Water for soaking the cypress, hydrating the food, and washing Darwin.

Food and plastic lid: dehydrated fruit and veg and bugs, tortoise kibble.

Jamie

PS - we've got go-bags for the dogs, and Beulah, the marine toad, is tough as nails, and can wait out the power outage

Jamie, I have a background in emergency management... and I'm IMPRESSED! There's both efficiency and elegance in how you have thought through the planning, and in how your kit includes key items that are multi-use.

 

[Pastel Tortie]

One of my preferred and most trusted websites for emergency preparedness:
www.ready.gov

 

[ShirleyTX]

Jamie, your post is wonderful. thank you.

 

[Gillian M]

We live in NH, so the climate is the big potential challenge for my exotic pets.

We lose power 10-20 times each year, generally short duration interruptions, but we have a generator sized and wired for the house that picks up the slack a few seconds after the power goes out.

If the power stays out for a week, or we have to leave the house for some reason, I've got a travel kit for Darwin, my redfoot.

View attachment 256735

It's a 60 quart container, by Ziploc.

View attachment 256737

Everything fits inside, until such time as Darwin needs to go in.

View attachment 256738

Two Rubbermaid containers: one with cypress for the big box, then a soaking tub when Darwin needs it; one with a cutout that can be used as a hide in the big box.

View attachment 256740

A waterproof heating pad, thermostat power supply, and an inverter for running the heater in my car (and on the road).

View attachment 256741

Water for soaking the cypress, hydrating the food, and washing Darwin.

Food and plastic lid: dehydrated fruit and veg and bugs, tortoise kibble.

Jamie

PS - we've got go-bags for the dogs, and Beulah, the marine toad, is tough as nails, and can wait out the power outage

A good idea.

 

[Gillian M]

There is a large, very un-contained wild fire raging about 2.5 hours from where I live. While I feel safe that it will not come as far as Sacramento it has gotten me to thinking about emergency preparations for my tortoises (and all my other pets too), not just fire emergencies, but any emergency that would require me to leave quickly.

Do any of you have emergency plans for your tortoises? If so what are they?

I am thinking about making a bail-out box of emergency supplies. Just not sure what it should include.

I hate thinking about this, my greatest fear is not being able to get everyone out in time. I imagine there will be nightmares for a good few nights now, but better prepared than not.

Frankly speaking I have no idea what I would do, despite the fact that we've had terrible floods here in Jordan. (12 dead).

 

[MaddOphelia]

There is a large, very un-contained wild fire raging about 2.5 hours from where I live. While I feel safe that it will not come as far as Sacramento it has gotten me to thinking about emergency preparations for my tortoises (and all my other pets too), not just fire emergencies, but any emergency that would require me to leave quickly.

Do any of you have emergency plans for your tortoises? If so what are they?

I am thinking about making a bail-out box of emergency supplies. Just not sure what it should include.

I hate thinking about this, my greatest fear is not being able to get everyone out in time. I imagine there will be nightmares for a good few nights now, but better prepared than not.

Thank you for starting this thread! We're down here in the East Bay, about an hour south of Sac, and even here, the air is bad enough that we're stuck in the house with the air filters running 24/7. It's definitely got me thinking in more detail about how to evacuate Coralie if need be.