Protecting loved ones (especially pets) during hurricane season.

• Author: Landy, Don
• Position: Natural Disasters

WE SAT in the closet of our master bedroom surrounded by essentials: water, a first aid kit, some food, pillows, blankets, a handheld radio from off of our boat, cellphones, flashlights with extra batteries, and our German shepherd, Sabrina. Hurricane Charley was close.

Suddenly, it felt as though the house was breathing: expanding and contracting, probably because of the pressure built up as Charley grew closer. We listened as the sounds of destruction began to take place, finally realizing it was our house that was coming apart with us in it. My wife Carla and I hugged and said our last goodbyes, just in case. You do not stand in the way of a 156 mile-per-hour hurricane with high expectations of living through it.

Sabrina, even with a cast on one of her hind legs, was our ever-present protector, straining on her leash in an effort to get into the house to take on whoever--or whatever--was out there. This is not where you and your pets want to be when a hurricane pays a visit, but time was against us. At first, Charley was going to hit more than 100 miles south of us; then, 100 miles north of us. Either way, our house was shuttered and protected to in excess of a 200 mph storm--nothing to worry about. With less than an hour's notice, Charley now was headed straight at us. There was not enough time to pack a car and head for Orlando or safer points to the north unless we wanted to chance being caught standing in line on the interstate as Charley swept over all of us. There was just enough time to protect ourselves and our pets--as I reminded myself not to sound anxious, to speak softly in a reassuring voice. Pets can sense fear.

There were two areas in our house that were completely enclosed and surrounded by outside walls, the laundry room off the garage and my closet. With no time for debate, we placed our cats in their carriers and moved them into the laundry room along with essentials: food, water, and small litter boxes that fit inside their carrier. We placed protective covering around and over their carriers and then moved quickly to address our own needs.

We emptied my closet onto our bed in order to give us as much room as possible to take refuge. One of the improvements we had made when we bought our house was to add built-in shelves in the closets, great for neatly arranging your clothes, but not so good when you are looking for as much room in a safe haven as possible.

Carla, the cats, Sabrina, and I took the full force of...