Disaster Preparedness
Looking back on 2025, disaster headlines have once again felt relentless. Floods, storms, and fires have continued to test communities, infrastructure, and emergency response systems. Climate change is worsening these weather related events. When disaster strikes, it can displace families with little warning, leaving many people scrambling to decide what to take, where to go, and how to keep their families and pets safe. For millions of households with animals, these events raise a familiar and deeply personal question: what happens to our pets when disaster strikes?
Despite growing awareness that disasters are becoming more frequent and severe, most pet owners remain unprepared. Veterinary clinics sit at a critical intersection of this challenge. They are trusted, routine points of contact for pet owners, yet conversations about disaster preparedness still rarely occur during veterinary visits. Two newly published studies from Colorado State University help explain why this gap persists and, importantly, how clinics can begin to close it without adding significant burden to already busy practices.
Why these new publications matter
The first study, led by veterinary student Jody Quintana and published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science in early 2025, explored how veterinary teams and pet owners across the United States perceive disaster risk and preparedness. National surveys revealed a striking disconnect. Most respondents believed disasters are more common than a decade ago and likely to affect them within the next ten years, yet only a small proportion of pet owners reported having an up-to-date disaster plan that includes their animals. At the same time, clients overwhelmingly described veterinary professionals as trustworthy sources of information and expressed strong interest in receiving help from their clinic to develop a pet-inclusive plan.
The second study, led by Dr. Danni Scott and published in JAVMA in December 2025, tested what actually works in a real clinical setting. Rather than asking whether disaster preparedness should be discussed, this research examined how clinics can effectively engage clients during routine visits. The study compared passive approaches, such as posting flyers, with active approaches, where a member of the veterinary team briefly handed clients a preparedness resource. The results were clear. Clients were more than five times as likely to engage with disaster preparedness materials when they were actively handed the resource. This interaction was brief and did not require lengthy counseling or specialized training.
What veterinary clinics can do right now
These publications show that disaster preparedness can be simple and easy. Clinics do not need to create new materials or extend appointment times to make an impact.
Preparedness can be normalized as part of preventive care. A simple question such as “Do you have an emergency plan for you and your pet?” can prompt action. Clinics can then share trusted, ready-to-use resources such as AVMA or Ready.gov checklists.
The JAVMA study also demonstrates that disaster preparedness conversations do not need to be led by the veterinarian alone. Veterinary technicians, students, client service representatives, and other team members can all play an active role, making preparedness a shared responsibility across the clinic team.
Disaster preparedness as clinic resilience
Disaster preparedness is a form of preventive medicine that protects animal health, supports human wellbeing, and strengthens community resilience. When pets are included in disaster plans, people are more likely to evacuate safely and less likely to re-enter dangerous areas.
For veterinary clinics, supporting preparedness also reinforces continuity of care and positions the clinic as a trusted community resource. From a sustainability perspective, preparedness is a low-cost, high-impact action that aligns with public health, environmental stewardship, and long-term clinic resilience.
A simple call to action
Veterinary teams do not need to wait for the next disaster to act. Choose one disaster preparedness resource your clinic trusts and decide how and when it will be shared. Empower your entire team to start the conversation. Small steps taken today can make a meaningful difference when it matters most.