Two devastating hurricanes hit the southern and southwestern regions of the United States as the summer of 2017 was winding down, causing fatalities and displacing people and animals.
On August 25, Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas coast as a Category 4 storm, dumping some 50 inches of rain on Houston before drenching southwestern Louisiana. Even after the record rainfall stopped, flooding continued to destroy homes and endanger people, pets, and other animals. The death toll climbed to at least 70, and the hurricane caused an estimated $75 billion in damage.
Two weeks later, on September 10, Hurricane Irma barreled across Florida, hitting the Keys as a Category 4 storm before weakening and moving along the state’s west coast. The storm caused dangerous flooding and storm surges and left more than 6 million people without power.
As those back-to-back hurricanes wreaked havoc, Alley Cat Allies sprang to action to ensure community cats and other animals were rescued and cared for. We deployed an expert bilingual disaster response team to assist with rescue, veterinary care, and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) of community cats. We also provided critical supplies and emergency funds to local organizations to support their relief efforts.
We can’t control natural disasters, but we can help you prepare for them. Read our disaster preparation tips for pets and community cat colonies.
