Frigga and Odin the Rabbits

As the Community Disaster Education Specialist, I take emergencies seriously. Sometimes to the extent that it irritates my family and friends. Like when I tell them, “you know, you really should be in your basement during a tornado warning instead of upstairs looking out your window,” or “you know, you really should make sure that you have a working flashlight in case your power goes out instead of trying to use your cell phone as a flashlight.” I just can’t help it; preparedness is more than my job, it’s a way of life.

Needless to say, on Friday during the tornado warning, I was hunkered down in my basement waiting it out. In my house, it’s not just me and my husband, it’s also five rabbits. Four of them are our pets (Thor, Valkyrie, Odin and Frigga) and the fifth is a foster rabbit (Studio) for the Missouri House Rabbit Society.

When we saw that there was potential severe weather coming our way, my husband and I went up to the rabbits’ room, loaded them up in their travel carriers- which they weren’t too excited about- and hauled them down to the basement. We also made sure we had our supplies- things like food and water for us and the rabbits, sturdy shoes, flashlights, a radio and a first aid kit.

Luckily nothing happened while we were in the basement surrounded by rabbits, but if something did, we were ready. We’ll be down there again with the five rabbits when the next storm comes our way, and I hope you are too!

For more information, check out these safey checklists for Pets and Disasters, Thunderstorms, and Tornadoes.

Elena

Elena Sabin is the Community Disaster Education Specialist for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.