Emergency and Storm Preparedness for Exotic Pets on Long Island

If you live on Long Island, you already know that severe weather doesn't wait for hurricane season. 

This past July 2026, thunderstorms with wind gusts over 80 mph downed nearly 400 trees across the island and knocked out power to roughly 40,000 customers.

This triggered state of emergency declarations in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. And in February, a blizzard left close to 50,000 Long Islanders without electricity. 

For dog and cat owners, a power outage is an inconvenience. For those of us caring for birds, reptiles, and small mammals, a medical emergency can develop within hours without power. 

• Your bird's respiratory system is more sensitive to airborne toxins than any other pet in your home. 

• Your reptile cannot digest food without external heat. 

• Your rabbit or chinchilla can experience heat stress when indoor temperatures climb above 80°F without air conditioning.

I put this guide together to help exotic pet owners on Long Island build a real plan, grounded in what actually happens here and what your specific pets need when things go wrong.

Before the Storm: Build Your Plan First

Supplies are useless without a plan behind them. Here's what every exotic pet household on Long Island should have in place before storm season.

Sign up for emergency alerts. 

Nassau County uses the NY-Alert system for weather warnings, evacuation orders, and shelter updates. 

You can register at nassaucountyny.gov/2920. For power outage tracking and restoration updates, text OUT to PSEGLI (773454) or download the PSEG Long Island app.

Know your evacuation zone. 

Nassau County's Office of Emergency Management publishes evacuation routes and zone maps at nassaucountyny.gov/1634. If you're in a flood-prone area, especially along the South Shore, know your route and practice it.

Identify your exotic emergency vet now. 

During a storm isn't the time to start searching for an emergency vet who can help with your exotic animal. Here are some Long Island facilities that handle avian and exotic emergencies:

• Long Island Veterinary Specialists (LIVS), Plainview. 24/7 emergency department with an avian and exotics team.

• Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island (VMCLI), West Islip. 24/7 emergency care, accepts exotic pets.

Save these numbers in your phone and keep a printed copy in your emergency kit.

Have a Shelter Plan

Pets are not permitted in Nassau County Red Cross emergency shelters. Only service animals are allowed. 

During declared emergencies, Nassau County activates separate pet shelters through its partnership with the Nassau County SPCA and the Pet Safe Coalition, the only organization in Nassau County dedicated to emergency management and disaster response for animals. 

The Pet Safe Coalition in Bethpage operates as the disaster-response arm of the Nassau County SPCA and coordinates directly with the Red Cross to shelter pets, while their owners shelter separately. 

In past emergencies, Nassau County's pet shelters have accepted birds, reptiles, ferrets, and guinea pigs in addition to cats and dogs.

Because pet shelter locations are announced at the time of the emergency, not in advance, you need a plan that doesn't depend on one.

Here are a few things to sort out before a local emergency:

• Contact the Nassau County SPCA's Pet Safe Coalition at 516-676-0808 to ask about current disaster-sheltering procedures for exotic pets.

• Identify a boarding provider, a friend, or a family member outside your immediate area who can take your pets on short notice.

• Research pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation route. Not all accept birds or reptiles, so call ahead and confirm before you need to.

• Keep proof of vaccinations, vet records, and photos of each pet with your emergency kit. Nassau County's pet shelters require proof of vaccination, and pets must arrive crated or caged.

Keep a laminated contact card in your emergency kit with your vet's number, the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic, your boarding provider, and an out-of-area emergency contact.

Emergency Carriers and Transport

Every pet in your home should have a designated carrier ready to go. 

Label each one with your name, phone number, the species inside, and any critical-care notes, such as medications, temperature requirements, or dietary restrictions.

• Birds do best in a smaller travel cage they've used before the emergency. Cover the cage to reduce visual stress during transport and make sure latches are secure. A large flight cage is not practical to move quickly.

• Reptiles can travel safely in ventilated plastic tubs or deli cups with secure lids. Punch ventilation holes in advance. Line with damp paper towels for humidity-dependent species, dry paper towels for arid species.

• Small mammals need a solid-bottom carrier, not a wire-bottom cage. Include a handful of their usual bedding for scent familiarity. Rabbits and guinea pigs in particular can panic in unfamiliar containers, so a few trial runs before storm season helps.

When the Power Goes Out

This is where the stakes are highest for exotic pets, and where Long Island's storm patterns create real urgency. 

A summer thunderstorm that takes out power for 12 to 24 hours can put a reptile's digestion at risk, overheat a chinchilla, or expose a bird to dangerous fumes from an improperly placed generator.

Preparedness for Reptiles

Stop feeding immediately when power goes out. Without heat, your reptile cannot digest food, and undigested food in the gut can cause serious complications. 

Most snakes and lizards can tolerate 6 to 12 hours without supplemental heat as long as the ambient temperature stays above 55°F.

• Use reptile-specific shipping heat packs (UniHeat or similar) to maintain warmth. Do not use hand warmers made for humans. They consume oxygen and can overheat unpredictably in an enclosed space.

• Wrap the enclosure in blankets or emergency Mylar blankets to retain heat.

• After power is restored and your reptile has had at least 24 hours at normal basking temperatures, watch for signs of respiratory infection over the following two weeks. If anything looks off, schedule a vet check.

Preparedness for Birds

Most parrots can tolerate temperatures down into the 50s, but they should be monitored closely for fluffed feathers, lethargy, or tail bobbing. The greater danger during a power outage is air quality.

• If you use a generator, it must run outdoors, at least 20 feet from any window, door, or vent.

• Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. Birds will show symptoms before you do because of how their respiratory systems work. Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.

• If your bird loses consciousness or shows signs of distress near a generator, move it to fresh air immediately and call your emergency vet.

Preparedness for Small Animals

Heat is the primary threat during summer outages. Rabbits and guinea pigs are at risk of heat stress above 80°F.

Chinchillas are even more sensitive, with safe temperatures topping out around 75°F. Lowering the Temperature

• Move enclosures to the coolest room in the house, away from windows.

• Place frozen water bottles, wrapped in a towel, near (not inside) the enclosure to help lower the temperature.

• Watch for open-mouth breathing, lethargy, red ears, or drooling. All of these signal heat stress and require immediate cooling and a call to a vet.

Storm Emergency Kits: What Every Exotic Pet Owner Needs

This section focuses on the storm-specific supplies that matter most during weather events and power outages.

Universal Emergency Kit (Every Exotic Pet Household)

• 3 to 5 days of food and clean water per pet

• Copies of veterinary records and a current medication list

• Laminated emergency contact card

• Flashlight with extra batteries

• Waterproof storage container

• Clean towels for restraint and warmth

• Gauze pads, vet wrap, and styptic powder

• Electrolyte solution (Pedialyte or species-appropriate equivalent)

• Carrier or transport container for each pet

• Cleaning and disinfecting supplies for cages and carriers specific to your species of pets

Bird Storm Kit Add-Ons

• Cage cover or blackout cover for stress reduction

• Battery-powered or USB-rechargeable light source to help maintain light cycle stability during extended outages

• Spray bottle for misting if temperatures rise

• Baby bird formula for syringe feeding if your bird stops eating under stress

For the full list of bird first aid essentials, see Parrot First Aid Kit: Essential Supplies Every Bird Owner Needs.

Reptile Storm Kit Add-Ons

• Reptile-specific shipping heat packs rated for 40 to 72 hours

• Digital thermometer to monitor ambient temperature without power

• Emergency Mylar blankets for enclosure insulation

• Extra substrate in a sealed bag

For the full list of reptile first aid essentials, see Reptile First Aid Kit: Be Prepared for Your Scaly Companion.

Small Mammal Storm Kit Add-Ons

• Several pre-frozen water bottles (keep a rotation in the freezer during summer storm season)

• Critical Care formula (Oxbow or equivalent) for GI support if appetite drops

• Large, sealed supply of species-appropriate hay. Hay is the dietary foundation for rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas, and it is not easy to find or order during emergencies.

For the full list of small mammal first aid essentials, see How to Build a First Aid Kit for Your Small Mammal.

Flooding and Water Damage

If you live in a flood-prone area of Nassau County, keep all enclosures and supplies elevated and out of basements. 

• Standing water introduces bacteria and mold that are especially dangerous for birds and reptiles. 

• After any flooding event, inspect enclosures for water damage, mold growth, or compromised electrical components before restoring heat and light sources. 

• Do not plug heat lamps, ceramic heat emitters, or under-tank heaters back in until you've confirmed they haven't been exposed to water.

After the Storm: What to Watch For

Once power is restored and conditions stabilize, monitor your pets closely for 48 to 72 hours. 

Stress from a storm or outage can suppress appetite, trigger respiratory symptoms, or cause behavioral changes that don't show up right away.

• Reptiles: Wait 24 hours after basking temperatures return to normal before offering food. Watch for wheezing, mucus around the nostrils, or open-mouth breathing in the following weeks.

• Birds: Watch for tail bobbing, fluffed feathers, or reduced vocalization. Any of these can indicate respiratory distress or illness developing after a stressful event.

• Small mammals: Monitor food and water intake carefully. A rabbit or guinea pig that stops eating for more than 12 hours needs veterinary attention. GI stasis can develop quickly under stress.

If anything looks off, contact your vet or your pet sitter. Catching problems early makes a real difference.

Need Help Planning?

If you board with Bird Girl Pet Services or use my in-home pet sitting services, I'm happy to walk you through emergency planning specific to your animals. 

Reach out through my contact page or give me a call at 516-902-2423.