Tip 21: keep pets leashed in a storm

Posted on the former site on 1 June 2013.

The old tip said animals sense storms before people do. If you are sheltering at home under a hurricane watch or warning, do not let a pet out unleashed. Keep it on a leash for a good while after the storm so it is not hurt by debris or downed wires.

Ready.gov says to bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm. The Red Cross says to keep animals under your direct control afterward because fences and gates may be damaged, and to watch for hazards at nose and paw level, such as debris and spilled chemicals.

This tip first appeared on the former Pet Safe Coalition website on 1 June 2013. The advice here was rewritten and checked against the sources below on 4 October 2026.