What do you do with 70+ big cats when you hear a Cat 5 hurricane is heading your way?

You start to implement the critical disaster plans that you have prepared many years in advance.  Visit the link below to get the full details of the work we’ve done to protect the cats through the storm.

 

Some of that implementation means briefing the staff, which we did last Wednesday.  We assigned duties for gathering the supplies we have boarded up the gift shop and food prep windows.  They are the only two concrete block structures on the property, so we have custom steel shutters to cover the windows so we can use it as a command center.  The other concrete building is food prep and we also covered the windows there.

 

We’ve already updated our Amazon Wishlist for things we need after the storm.  Be sure to sign up for Smile.Amazon.com first so that you get the added benefit of your shopping dollars benefitting Big Cat Rescue.  We are busy checking and double checking all of the supplies we have on hand.

 

We have spent the several weeks taking down all of the trees that were killed in the drought, and chipping the wood so there aren’t logs flying around.  Even today we are still trimming up trees to remove broken or rotten branches.  We’ve been bringing everything in under cover so it won’t become a flying missile.

 

Volunteers are busy mowing because hurricanes dump a LOT of rain and it will dry out faster if the grass is short.  They always stay on top of removing debris and deadfall and keep the grounds spotless, so much of that work is already done.

 

It was accidental timing, but we are happy that our new fuel tanks are here, so now we have fuel for the generators if we lose power.

 

Volunteers moved stuff from the existing Gift Shop to the new gift shop so that about 20-30 of us can hunker down in there if needed. We’ve brought in blankets and pillows and have racks set up for the crates for everyone’s pets.

 

We boarded up Food Prep and set up pallets in there to bring in Babycakes Genet and are moving our ailing bobcats, Will and Divinity in there because our hospitals could blow away.   The pizza companies around us are loving that we are feeding all the volunteers and interns for the past few days, and will for as long as they will deliver.

 

The big cats are feeling the cooler, wetter air and getting friskier.  That or they sense our anxiety and are trying to let us know that we are all tough and will survive this.  Two cats have come here from other facilities.  One was driven in and we picked up the other this morning.  We are not releasing details on the animals because they are not owned by us and we don’t want to deter owners from surrendering animals to protect them during this hurricane.  Just suffice it to say they are here, safe and will have keepers tending to them until it’s safe for them to go back.

 

Coolaroos have been moved out of the cats’ areas into their safety entrances.  Trenches to move water away from cages have been dug and we will have two crews patrolling in trucks to keep an eye on the water as it rises and divert it where possible.

 

One thing that IS new, since our last bout with hurricanes, is that about 80+ acres to the north of us (up hill) has been transformed from woodlands to homes, offices and parking lots.  According to the flood maps, there would have to be a 39 foot high surge for the gulf to make it to our doors, but all of the run off, from all of the development that is around us could cause us a lot of flooding.  Many people are worried about our cats drowning and there isn’t much chance of that, since they all have platforms and hillside dens they can get on top of, if the waters were to rise suddenly.

 

Some people are asking why we didn’t evacuate.  If you have seen the news, it’s been bumper to bumper traffic at a crawl on all roads leaving Florida.  We have been involved in a number of rescues where facilities the size of ours had to be emptied out and it takes mont