Never ever leave your pet behind when evacuating be it a hurricane, a fire, or a man made disaster. Even of you think you are returning in a day or so, take your pets!

Hurricane Katrina has taught many that this is a fatal mistake, although most people quickly forgot and did the same thing during Hurricane Rita. As many as 600,000 pets suffered by drowning (still chain to their stake), starvation and dehydration. There were not enough rescue groups available to take in all the homeless animals.

It might be difficult to put a small or large animal in the car with you but make the necessary preparations for them when you know a storm is coming and know you have to leave suddenly.

They depend on you to protect them and not leave them chained to suffer and die. It should never be a choice between your pet(s) or your kids. You figure out a way to get EVERYONE to safety, including your pet who is your responsibility and also a member of your family.

If worse comes to worse and your pets absolutely, positively  must be left behind then unchain them. That's right. Open the door of their cage or wherever they are kept so they will have a chance to escape harm. Animals are pretty smart creatures, they know how to escape potential danger and return to their homes when conditions are favorable.
If you leave them chained, or in an outside open or inside the home in a locked room, chances are they WILL die if left for a prolonged period. If you take away their means of survival by leaving them penned up, it could mean disaster fore this member of your family.

Do the right thing, take precautions BEFORE a problem arises.