Florida State Animal Response Coalition

06/01/2026

🌀 Hurricane Season Starts Today 🐾

Florida SARC and SPCA Florida are reminding you to include your pets in your emergency planning this hurricane season.

Disasters are stressful for both people and animals. Having a plan before a storm approaches can help keep your entire family safe when every minute counts.

Make sure you have: 🐶 5 days of food and water
🐱 A crate or carrier for each pet
💊 Medications and medical supplies
📄 Gather Important veterinary, vaccine, and microchip records
📸 Curent photos of your pets
🧸 Comfort items like toys, treats, and blankets

Know your county’s pet-friendly shelter options before an evacuation order is issued so you know where to go. Visit petswelcome.com to find pet friendly hotels

Start your pet emergency planning today at flsarc.org/prepare download pet emergency planning worksheets and supply checklists.

Visit The Florida Division of Emergency Management to get information to help you plan and prepare. https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare

Sign up for alert Florida for emergency messages right to your phone.
https://apps.floridadisaster.org/alertflorida/

No matter what you do make sure your pets are included. Because the whole family matters!!

05/30/2026

Florida SARC is looking forward to an incredible day connecting with communities across Central and West Florida! 💙🐾

Today our teams are out at the Central Florida Disaster Readiness Expo at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland and the Pinellas County Hurricane Preparedness Event helping families learn how to better prepare themselves and their pets for hurricane season.

From preparedness planning and pet emergency kits to sheltering information and volunteer opportunities, we had the chance to speak with so many amazing people dedicated to keeping their families and animals safe.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booths, asked questions, supported the mission, and helped spread awareness about pet preparedness throughout Florida. Together we are building stronger, more prepared communities for both people and pets. 🌪️🐶🐱

05/29/2026

We are a week away from the small animal emergency sheltering course in Seminole County Florida.
Seats are filling up fast so if you're in Central Florida around Orlando get signed up!

DISASTER READY: Join the Small Animal Emergency & Disaster Sheltering Awareness Level Course hosted by Seminole County Animal Services in partnership with Florida SARC, FL SART, and FDACS.

This grant-funded, FDME-certified Level 1 course provides the skills and hands-on experience needed to assist in emergency animal shelter operations during disasters.

📅 Friday, June 5 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
📍 150 Eslinger Way, Sanford

✔️ Open to the public (18+)
✔️ Government employees receive seating priority

Help protect and care for animals when disasters strike.

Register Here:https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/s4bxfke/lp/78f0add4-e12a-42d5-a3b2-40e098b12d46

05/27/2026

We need responders and are holding our basic level 1 awareness course FREE in Seminole County next week
If you live in Central Florida come out and get trained!!

The Florida State Animal Response Coalition (FL SARC),
in partnership with Seminole County Emergency Management and sponsored by the Florida State Agricultural Response Team (FL SART), will be hosting a Level 1 Small Animal Emergency Sheltering Awareness Course on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM at the Seminole County Emergency Operations Center!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/s4bxfke/lp/78f0add4-e12a-42d5-a3b2-40e098b12d46

The Florida State Animal Response Coalition in partnership with Seminole County Animal Services, FDACS & FL SART, is pleased to offer a Grant Funded, FDME Certified Awareness Level Small Animal Disaster and Emergency Sheltering Course. Prerequisites: Age 18+ *OPEN TO THE PUBLIC / GOVERMENT EMPLOYEES...

05/27/2026

🐾🌪️ Hurricane season is here — is your pet prepared?

When emergencies happen, pets depend on us to have a plan. Take time now to build a pet preparedness kit and make sure your entire family is ready before a storm approaches.

✅ Pet Preparedness Checklist:
• 7 days of food & water
• Medications & medical records
• Leash, harness (cat need them too)
• Carriers or crate
• Vaccination records
• Recent photos of your pet and you with your pet!
• ID tags & microchip information (Update information with the system)
• Food/water bowls as md toold
• Cleaning supplies & litter/box
• Comfort items like toys or blankets
•Treats

📋 Planning Objectives:
• Know where you will evacuate friends/family out of the area best option
• Identify pet-friendly hotels or shelters
• Practice loading pets into carriers/crates
• Make sure pets are microchipped and update the system
• Create a contact list for vets, family, and emergency resources
• Never leave pets behind during an evacuation!!

Prepared pets are safer pets. Start planning today — before the next storm is on the radar. 💙🐶🐱

🐾 Make a plan that includes every member of your household—furry friends included!

🦴 Food & water (3–7 days)
🏷️ ID, leash & carrier
💊 Medications & vet records

Planning ahead helps keep your pets safe, calm & cared for during any emergency.

FloridaDisaster.org/Pets

05/27/2026

We are in Sarasota Florida with the operations course today and tomorrow. Make sure to come see us at the hurricane preparedness events this weekend!!

05/26/2026

🐾 Have you completed the Level 1 Small Animal Emergency Sheltering course?

We need YOU at the Operations Course in Sarasota tomorrow and Thursday! This advanced course takes your training to the next level with hands-on shelter operations, leadership roles, planning, and response coordination.

Find your class at www.flsarc.org

There’s still time to sign up and join the team! 💙

05/25/2026

Today, we remember and honor the heroes who gave everything for our freedom. 🇺🇸🐾

From all of us at Florida State Animal Response Coalition and SPCA Florida , thank you to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.

05/25/2026

A big thank you to Tampa Bay 10 News for helping us spread the word about hurricane preparedness as we head into another Florida storm season. 🌪️🐾

We are especially grateful to SPCA Florida's Randa Richter and Florida State Animal Response Coalition (FL SARC) Program Manager Jeremy Hillengas for representing our organizations during the Impact Weather segment and sharing important tips to help keep pets and people safe before, during, and after a storm.

Hurricanes can affect communities across our state with little notice, making preparation essential. By encouraging families to create emergency plans, assemble disaster kits, and include their pets in those plans, we can help ensure no animal is left behind when severe weather strikes.

Thank you to Tampa Bay 10 News for helping us raise awareness and educate the community on the importance of being prepared. Together, we can help protect the animals we love when it matters most. ❤️🐶🐱

Click the link to check out the spot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-ZN-5rtx8U

05/24/2026

Thank you Tampa Bay 10 News for helping bring awareness to SPCA Florida and the Florida State Animal Response Coalition (FL SARC) this hurricane season. 🐾🌪️

Every year, storms impact thousands of families and their pets across Florida. By talking about preparedness now, we can help people make plans, build emergency kits, and ensure their animals are included in those plans before disaster strikes.

We appreciate the opportunity to share the mission of FL SARC and SPCA Florida and help educate the community on protecting the animals we all love. 💙