Disaster Plan

Sitter Discretion & Safety Protocol
In the event of severe weather, natural disasters (such as hurricanes or floods), mandatory evacuation orders, or critical home emergencies (like fire or extended home utility failure), Sara Roberts Pet Sitting reserves the right to take any necessary actions to protect your pets.

Sitter safety is paramount. Evacuation and transport attempts will only occur when local authorities and weather conditions permit safe travel without risking human life.

Evacuation Destinations
If your home becomes unsafe or a mandatory evacuation is issued, pets will be moved according to this priority list:

• Local Emergency Proxy: I will first attempt to hand custody over to your designated local emergency contact.

• Sitter's Safe Zone: If your contact is unreachable or also evacuating, pets will be brought to the sitter's personal residence or secondary shelter outside the active danger zone.

• Commercial Boarding or Vet Facility: If the sitter's home is compromised or full, pets will be placed in a local boarding kennel, veterinary hospital, or government-run pet-friendly disaster shelter that is accepting animals.

Client Requirements & Preparedness
To ensure your pets can be safely evacuated in an emergency, you must leave the following items easily accessible near your main entryway or in an area where they can easily be transported to a vehicle: 

• Secure Gear: One carrier and /or crate per animal clearly and securely tagged with the animal's name, owner's name & phone number. A working, intact harness or leash for each dog.

• Disaster "To Go Bag": A 7-day supply of food in a watertight container. 1 bowl for each pet. Medications: These are not expected to be included in this "To-Go-bag", however, any medications with clear dosing instructions, must be in a sealable container or bag, clearly labeled with the owners contact information, to be left in a common area such as a kitchen. Include a familiar toy or blanket in the bag  so they have something that feels like home to them. For cats, include a throwaway foil pan and a small bag of cat litter.

• Paperwork: Printed copies of current vaccination records, medical history, and a copy of their microchip information if applicable. 

• County License Tag: All pets must have collars with this tag. If your pet does not typically wear a collar under normal circumstances, place it in the "To Go Bag". 

• Local Proxy: You must provide the name, phone number, and address of a local emergency contact who is authorized to take over pet care if the sitter cannot reach your home. 

Emergency Authorization & Disaster Expense Invoicing

The client authorizes Sara Roberts Pet Sitting to transport pet(s) via personal vehicles if an evacuation or severe storm makes the home or remaining in the home unsafe. The client agrees to reimburse all necessary third-party costs incurred to keep the pet safe (such as emergency boarding, essential food/medications, or urgent vet treatment).

Because Sara Roberts Pet Sitting uses secure payment processing through Stripe and never stores financial information, any unexpected emergency expenses will be invoiced separately after the emergency passes.

• Grace Period: I understand that natural disasters disrupt lives, communication, and personal finances. Invoices issued as a result of a declared emergency or severe weather event carry a 30-day grace period.

• Hardship Communication: If extensive storm recovery impacts your ability to settle the balance within 30 days, I ask that you contact me before the deadline so we can arrange an extended payment plan. 

• Late Fee: Balances remaining unpaid after the 30-day grace period without an agreed-upon payment plan will incur a $25 flat monthly late fee until the balance is resolved.