For the last 20 years, I have always tried to have emergency Supplies on hand. First it was because of the ‘millennium bug’ which threatened to shut down utilities and other essential services. Then it was the warnings of New Zealand officials about being ready for earthquakes. I accessed and used many of my supplies during our 2010 and 2011 earthquakes and was pleased to have been prepared.

Since then, I have reviewed my supplies and attempted to keep them re-stocked. A busy life means that I haven’t always been as diligent as I should in doing this (my water purifying tablets expired 3 years ago, for example).

Earlier this year, regions of our North Island were hit by Cyclone Gabrielle and severe flooding. Many people lost their homes. Over the last 10 days, though, I have watched the events in Lahaina, Maui unfold. Climate change has me worried; everyone on this planet is at risk of severe weather events and that includes our pets.

As I write this, there are suggestions that upwards of 3,000 pets on Maui are missing or injured. Many will never be found, which seems to be likely for many human victims, too, because of the heat and destruction of the fires.

The time to prepare is today. Don’t wait.

I have re-vamped my Grab Bag with an updated pair of glasses, masks, clothes for both Sox and I, a harness (because in the hurry to get him into the car, I may not have time to saddle him up as I usually do), pain medication, an asthma inhaler, a charging cord for my mobile phone, heavy work gloves, and other items.

The bag will be the first thing taken if we have to evacuate in a hurry. The box contains dog treats, batteries, an emergency torch, toilet paper, liquid soap and other hygiene items. I keep a bag of dog food nearby, too, to Grab on the way out.

From what has been reported, it seems that many in Lahaina had no idea that they were under threat and that evacuation orders were haphazard. There will be lessons learned from this disaster.

In Canterbury, we get very dry in summer with strong winds. Climate change is supposed to exacerbate this. We live with the ever-present threat of earthquakes. Storms will be more severe in the years to come. Please give some thought to the hazards where you live and plan accordingly.

It’s my hope that I never need these supplies, but it gives me comfort to know that I have them on hand and ready to go if we have to leave our home quickly. I plan to do better at reviewing the supplies; much like the batteries in smoke alarms, they should be reviewed each year when we change clocks to/from daylight savings time.

Kathleen Crisley, Fear-Free certified professional and specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and canine fitness,  The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand