Do you have a pet plan ready for Hurricane Helene? Tips to keep your pet prepared

In Florida's Panhandle, Steve Brown's 10-year-old cat Max knows the drill.

Hurricane Helene is the third time in five years that Brown's family evacuated from hurricanes and gone inland, staying at a friend's house in Perry, Florida. There, Max has his own pet-friendly evacuation bunker: The home's spare bathroom.

"He kind of just hunkers down, he's not scared of death," Brown, 72, said.

As millions in the southeast brace for Hurricane Helene's impact − and at a time when scientists stay climate change is making storms more intense − this is the time you should make sure your pet is part of your emergency preparedness plan, experts say.

"You're not going to have time to plan in the moment, so the more you can do ahead of time, the better," said Roberta Westbrook, chief animal welfare and medical officer at Houston's SPCA.While a new survey from Talker Research, conducted for the dog and cat kibble brand Hill's Pet Nutrition, found more than 80% of dog of cat owners said having a pet emergency plan is important, only one-third have actually made a plan.

Here's what you can do now to prepare to care for your pet if you have to evacuate a natural disaster.

Photos, collar, microchip

"The biggest issue that we see in a disaster is that people get separated from their pets," said Rebecca Tremble, a veterinary executive at Hill's Pet Nutrition.

In Houston, Westbrook said hundreds of lost animals were brought to the SPCA after they became separated from their owners during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The SPCA also carried out boat rescues to save animals who were stuck, she said.

"People had to leave in an emergency," Westbrook said. "They themselves had to get into boats and so they may not have been prepared to take their pets with them."

Microchips are a permanent form of ID for pets, Tremble said, and you can microchip your pet at the vet for a small fee. Also get a collar with tags showing your contact information if your pet doesn't already wear one.

Snap new photos of your pet now, Tremble said, so you can quickly share them with animal organizations and volunteers if you get separated.

"I know we all have some, but we don't want to be scrolling through hundreds of pictures," Tremble said.

Next most important: Carrier, leash

You may be traveling with your pet for an extended amount of time, Westbrook said, so it's crucial to remember the supplies that allow your pet to travel with you safely.

"You want to make sure that your pet is going to be able to stay close to you during those times when you're moving quickly," Westbrook said.

Tremble, who lives in the Midwest, said she keeps extra leashes for her dogs, Max and Riley, near the entrance to her basement, where her family has sheltered from storms.

"Generally in tornado season I live with a box at the top of the stairs to grab as I take the pets down to the basement," Tremble said.

In Texas, Westbrook travels north to Dallas for big hurricanes, which included Beryl this year, she said. Her dog Cloudy has a go-bag packed with her leash, a bed and extra medication.

"It's on the first floor by the door by her kennel and always has a bed in it," Westbrook said.

Daily items: Food, litter box

In Perry, Florida, Max the cat has his litterbox and a place to lie down in his bathroom evacuation shelter.

"He's accustomed to it, and he'll be well taken care of," Brown said.

Brown, who spoke to USA TODAY while taking items out of his shed to prepare his home for Hurricane Helene, said he's worried pets left behind may not be able to survive the storm.

The hurricane is expected roar ashore Thursday evening as a Category 3 or 4, and the coast of Florida's panhandle could see as much as 15 feet of storm surge, which is when seawater pushed down by a hurricane's force dramatically surges onto land and up rivers. Combined with daily high tides, storm surge can sweep homes off their foundations.

"This wouldn't be a survival storm for a cat, with that kind of surge − plus, you don't know how long that power is going to be out," Brown said. "If you have a pet and care about it, you're going to treat it like a family member."