Natural disasters are terrifying. You run the risk of having your home and personal belongings destroyed, and there is no guarantee regarding the safety of you or your family. During weather events, pets and animals have the potential to be in even more trouble than the people who love them.
Many dogs are strays who roam the streets, and without a safe space to go during a storm, they’re in immense danger. For one Bahamian dog, the struggle to survive after a massive storm was difficult. But he fought against the water and wind, determined to save his own life.
August through October, the entire southeastern United States is on edge. Hurricane season has coastal dwellers checking the local news around the clock, anticipating the arrival of various swirling storms sure to bring calamity.
Usually, there’s ample time to prepare your homes and families for even the most powerful of storms. Modern weather technology can provide you the insight you need to prepare or even evacuate if necessary. Not everyone is so fortunate, though.
Because the damage from hurricanes is detrimental, especially for animals who don’t have homes. In a perfect world, every dog would have a home. Sadly, in any storm, hundreds of dogs are left to fend for themselves in extreme conditions.
When Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas and Florida, the hugely powerful storm devastated the lives of many. Billions in dollars of damage left people in Florida and the Caribbean homeless and scrambling to get back on their feet.
Special teams of rescuers were sent out to find missing animals in the piles of debris created from ruined buildings and fallen trees. In some cases, animals are found within days of being lost and are returned to safety. Others are not so lucky.
In the weeks following Dorian, many rescue efforts began to slow. However, new technology aided enormously in the successful recovery of so many animals. According to Lauree Simmons of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, drones with thermal cameras play a crucial role.
Drones offer an expansive overhead view of disaster sites and cover more ground more quickly than anything tool before. This leads to many more animal and human lives being saved. Even when using drones, it can take a long time to locate everyone lost.
This was the case for one specific dog from Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas. The area received staggering damage from Hurricane Dorian. Buildings and homes were completely leveled. Some flooded all the way up to the second or third story.
