Hurricane Preparedness Tips for Pets in Charleston, SC

If you've lived in the Lowcountry for any length of time, you already know the drill. Bottled water disappears from shelves, generators sell out, and everyone starts checking the tropics a little more often. Hurricane preparation is just part of life here.

Hurricane preparedness for pets is easiest when you start before a storm is anywhere near the coast. When you've already sorted out supplies, transportation, records, and a place to go, a hurricane watch becomes a lot less stressful. You're not scrambling. You're just following the plan you already made.

Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. The official 2026 South Carolina Hurricane Guide is available now at hurricane.sc, and it's worth bookmarking as a reliable source for evacuation zones and state preparedness information throughout the season.

Hurricane Preparedness for Pets Starts Before a Storm Is Named

The best time to think through your pet's hurricane plan is on an ordinary Tuesday with clear skies, not the night before a storm is expected to make landfall.

Before hurricane season ramps up, it helps to know:

• Where you'd go if you had to leave, and how each pet would travel

• What supplies you'd need to bring

• Where carriers, leashes, and go-bags are stored (and whether everyone in the house knows)

• What documentation should travel with your pet

• Who could help if you're out of town when a storm develops

• How you'll get official updates and instructions

None of this has to be complicated. It just has to be decided ahead of time, so a hurricane watch doesn't turn into a dozen last-minute decisions.

PAWS UP! Pro Tip: Keep your pet's carrier, leash, and emergency supplies somewhere you can grab quickly, not buried in the back of a closet or garage. A hurricane kit isn't much help if you're digging for pieces of it while you're trying to get out the door.

Build a Pet Hurricane Emergency Kit Before You Need It

A pet hurricane kit should hold what your pet would need if you had to evacuate or go a few days without normal services. According to South Carolina's official hurricane guidance, a pet emergency kit should include a carrier large enough for your pet to stand and turn around in, a leash and harness, food and water bowls, medications, health records, microchip information, and litter and cleanup supplies for cats.

Food and Water

South Carolina's current pet emergency guidance calls for at least three days of food and water set aside specifically for your pet. Some households choose to prepare a bit more depending on their evacuation plan, but three days is the baseline to start from.

Medications and Medical Information

Pack any medications your pet takes regularly, along with vaccination and health records and your veterinarian's contact information. If your pet has a condition that requires specific care, write out clear instructions in case someone else needs to step in.

Identification

Current ID tags matter, and so does microchip information, since collars can come off during an evacuation. It's also worth keeping a recent photo of your pet, and ideally a photo of you together, in case you ever need to prove ownership.

Safe Transportation

Have a leash and harness for dogs, and a secure carrier for cats and small animals, ready to go. If your pet doesn't travel often, a little practice with the carrier now will make a real difference later.

Cat-Specific Supplies

Cats need their own version of the kit: litter and a portable litter setup, waste bags or scoop, a carrier, and a familiar comfort item like a blanket or favorite toy. Cat care during a hurricane isn't just about getting them somewhere safe. It's about keeping things as calm and familiar as possible along the way.

Comfort and Cleanup Supplies

A familiar toy or blanket, waste bags, paper towels, and basic cleaning supplies round out the kit and help everyone, pets included, get through a stressful stretch a little more comfortably.e your pet is safely secured in the car. It’s the law in South Carolina, and it’s safer for everyone.

Know Where You and Your Pets Will Go If You Evacuate

This is one of the parts of hurricane planning that's easy to put off, but it matters more for pets than almost anything else on the list.

Check Your Evacuation Zone

Evacuation zones and routes can be updated, so it's best to check hurricane.sc directly rather than relying on what you remember from a previous year. The site lets you look up your specific zone and start building a plan around it.

Identify Pet-Friendly Accommodations Ahead of Time

Here's the honest version: most general emergency shelters don't accept pets, aside from service animals. Some communities designate pet-friendly shelter options during an actual emergency, but availability and rules vary by storm and aren't guaranteed in advance. The more dependable approach is to identify a pet-friendly hotel, or a family member or friend outside the area, well before a storm is on the way. If you're considering a hotel or shelter option, call and confirm their current pet policy directly, since these details can change quickly during an active emergency.

Have More Than One Evacuation Option

Plans change, and so does traffic, road access, and hotel availability during a regional evacuation. Having a backup destination and a second route gives your plan some flexibility if your first choice doesn't work out.

Make Sure Your Pet Can Leave Safely With You

Keep Carriers Accessible

This matters especially for cats. A carrier that's easy to reach means one less obstacle when you're trying to leave.

Help Pets Become Familiar With Their Carrier

A pet who's used to their carrier will be calmer getting into it during an actual emergency. Even a little practice, like feeding treats near the carrier or letting your cat explore it on a normal day, can help.

Practice Safe Transportation

Dogs should be appropriately restrained, and cats and small animals should travel in a secure carrier. Beyond being safer for everyone in the car, a calm, contained pet is also a much easier pet to manage if you hit unexpected delays during an evacuation.

What Should You Do When a Storm Starts Threatening the Charleston Area?

Once a storm is being tracked toward the region, it's time to move from planning into action:

• Check official forecasts and updates regularly

• Confirm current evacuation information for your zone

• Top off and recheck your pet's emergency kit

• Locate medications and records

• Move carriers and leashes somewhere immediately accessible

• Confirm your pet-friendly accommodation is still available

• Charge phones and any power banks

• Bring pets indoors as conditions start to change

• Follow official evacuation instructions if they're issued

If your pet has medication needs, significant anxiety, mobility limitations, or a medical condition that could complicate an evacuation, it's worth talking with your veterinarian about a plan before hurricane season, not during it.

If You're Away When Severe Weather Develops, Who Can Reach Your Pet?

Between work travel, vacations, and long workdays, plenty of pet parents aren't always home when severe weather starts developing. It's worth thinking through:

• Who has authorized access to your home

• Who knows your pet's routine

• Where carriers, leashes, and emergency supplies are kept

• Where your pet's records and emergency information are stored

• Who should be contacted if plans change

This is really an extension of something we believe in every day at PAWS UP!: good pet care depends on someone actually knowing your pet, your home, and your routine, not just showing up. That's true on an ordinary Tuesday, and it's just as true when weather gets serious.

Keep Pets Secure During the Storm

If you're staying home and local officials have said it's safe to do so, keep pets indoors, keep identification on and accessible, and keep carriers and leashes within reach. A secure interior room away from windows is the safest place for pets during the worst of the weather. Keep an eye on official alerts, and avoid letting a frightened pet outside unsecured, even briefly.

Don't Forget the Risks After the Hurricane Passes

The all-clear doesn't mean the risks are over. After a storm:

• Keep dogs leashed when they're outside

• Keep cats securely indoors

• Watch for debris and downed power lines

• Avoid unsafe floodwater

• Check fences and gates before letting dogs into the yard unsupervised

• Remember that familiar scents and landmarks may have changed, which can be disorienting for pets

Pets sometimes act differently after a stressful storm or evacuation, so keep an eye on their behavior in the days that follow, and check in with your veterinarian if anything seems off.

The Best Hurricane Plan Is the One You Make Before You Need It

You don't have to predict exactly what a given hurricane season will bring. What actually helps is having a plan, a stocked kit, safe transportation, reliable sources of information, and a backup option if your first plan falls through. Put those pieces in place now, and the rest of the season feels a lot more manageable, for you and for your pet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I put in a hurricane kit for my pet?

A pet hurricane kit should include at least three days of food and water, any medications, health and vaccination records, current ID and microchip information, a leash and harness or a secure carrier, and litter and cleanup supplies for cats. A familiar toy or blanket can also help keep your pet calmer during an unfamiliar situation.

How much food and water should I keep for my pet during hurricane season?

Current South Carolina emergency management guidance recommends at least three days of food and water set aside specifically for your pet. Some households choose to prepare additional supplies depending on their personal evacuation plan and their pet's needs.

Can I bring my pet to an emergency shelter during a hurricane?

It depends. Most general public shelters, including Red Cross shelters, don't accept pets other than service animals. Some areas designate pet-friendly shelter options during an active emergency, but availability isn't guaranteed and can vary by storm. The most reliable approach is to identify a pet-friendly hotel or a trusted contact outside the area ahead of time, and to confirm current pet policies directly if you're considering a shelter option.

What should I do with my cat if I need to evacuate?

Keep your cat's carrier accessible, along with litter, a litter container, food, water, and a familiar comfort item. Cats often do best when they're placed in their carrier early, before the stress of an active evacuation, rather than chased down at the last minute.

Should I evacuate with my pet during a hurricane?

If you evacuate, your pet should go with you. Leaving pets behind puts them at serious risk and makes it much harder to reunite with them afterward. If officials issue an evacuation order for your area, plan to bring your pet along using the arrangements you've made ahead of time.

How do I find my South Carolina hurricane evacuation zone?

You can look up your evacuation zone directly at hurricane.sc, the official South Carolina hurricane preparedness hub. It's a good idea to check this before hurricane season, since zone information can be updated.

When should I prepare my pet for hurricane season?

Before hurricane season begins, ideally in the spring or early summer. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, and having your pet's kit, plan, and documentation ready before that window starts means far less scrambling if a storm does threaten the area.

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About the Author

Kimberly Layman

Founder of PAWS UP! | Serving Charleston Area Pet Parents Since 2016

Kimberly is the founder of PAWS UP!, an award-winning dog walking and cat care company serving North Charleston, Hanahan, Goose Creek, Ladson, Park Circle, and select areas of Summerville since 2016. Kimberly and her team specialize in Midday Dog Walks, Adventure Walks, Cat Care, and personalized in-home pet care designed to keep pets happy, healthy, and enriched in the comfort of home.

Passionate about animal well-being, safety, and relationship-based care, Kimberly also supports local shelter dogs through PAWS UP!’s Sponsored Shelter Breakouts program. PAWS UP! has been recognized as a Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite for five consecutive years, a CommunityVotes North Charleston Award Winner, a Charleston’s Choice Finalist, and a Best of South Carolina Honorable Mention Award Winner.

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Have you already put together a hurricane kit for your pet, or is this the year you finally get it done? Let us know in the comments, we'd love to hear what's worked for you.