Keeping Your Pets Safe in an Outage
Last verified: September 2026
Our pets are family, and an outage is confusing for them. Here's how to keep your animals fed, comfortable, calm, and safe — with a pet kit, a warmth or cooling plan, and a plan if you have to leave. Call (330) 200-8042.
Your Pet's Outage Plan, at a Glance
Our pets are family, and an outage is confusing and stressful for them. This guide makes sure your dog, cat, or other companion is part of your plan — with a little kit, a plan for warmth or cooling, a way to keep them calm, and a plan if you ever have to leave. Whatever you do to stay warm or cool, do for your pets — and never leave an animal in a hot or cold car. There's a printable 29-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 What should be in a pet outage kit?
A few days of their usual food and a manual can opener, extra water and bowls, any medicines and the vet's number, a leash and carrier, waste supplies, a comfort item, and copies of medical records — kept near the family kit.
2 How do I keep my pet warm or cool during an outage?
In winter, bring them into the warm room and keep them off the cold floor with a bed or blanket. In summer, keep them in the coolest spot with plenty of water, and never leave them in a hot car. Watch for shivering in cold or heavy panting in heat.
3 How do I calm a frightened pet in a storm?
Keep them close, speak calmly, and offer a familiar bed or toy. A covered crate or a small quiet room makes a soothing den. Keep dogs leashed and cats secured so a scared animal can't bolt and get lost.
4 What if I have to evacuate with my pets?
Take them and their kit — never leave pets behind. Have a carrier or leash for each, bring food, water, medicines, and records, and know a pet-friendly place to go ahead of time, since not every shelter accepts animals.
5 How do I make sure a lost pet can get home?
Keep current ID tags on collars and make sure any microchip is registered with your up-to-date contact information. Keep a recent photo of each pet too — storms are a common time for frightened animals to slip out.
6 What about livestock and outdoor animals?
They depend on well water that stops in an outage, so store or plan to supply water, keep shelters sound against weather, keep feed on hand, and have a backup for any powered barn systems. Check on them often through a storm.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
Your animals are family, and I'm glad to help you fold them into your outage plan — a pet kit, a comfort and cooling or warming plan, and a plan if you have to leave. $99 flat for a visit, 30-day come-back-free.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).