Hurricane Sandy Ordeal. How do I convince dad to leave his house next time?

SSansgal. i forgot to mention that when we did evacuate to a hotel, I left my cats back at the house and went twice a day to feed and change water and litter pans. Of course we were in hot weather. If you are not sure what to do, maybe you can contact a local cat rescue group for advice? and maybe there are groups that can help out in that situation in the event you couldn't get back to feed the cat. I donate to national organizations that are supposed to provide help for animals during disaster situations.

I live in the south so I don't know how cold it gets where you are but since there are cats outside who have to survive (I know some don't make it in the cold outside up north) it seems if the cat is insdie and in shelter of the house, it might be better to leave it in the house and come back to feed it than having the cat freaked out in a new place. In my case, i would try to take the cats if a hurricane is approaching b/c if it floods or the house destroyed, I would be horrified. I heard a true story from a friend that during hurricane Andrew they found a dog stilll in his crate blocks away, still alive that was picked up by the winds and dumped. I once had to evacuate to a hotel with my mother after we had no power or water for two weeks (took that long to get a hotel room vacancy). The room was not set up for someone in a wheelchair and it was a nightmare. So it is very hard on the elderly to relocate from the comforts of home.

Hi 2much2cover,
Thank again for the information. I mentioned that my father's cat hides and only comes out when hungary. So if we have another emergency situtation and if I can talk him into leaving the house (without the cat) do you think the cat would be ok in a cold house for a day or two? The cat has two furry beds, one upstairs and one downstairs. I would certainly come back and check on it. I also think you may be right when you said he maybe just doesn't want t leave his home. However, it's not that we would be going to a shelter or some strangers home, it would be at his grandson's home. Whenever he is there on holidays etc. he is waited on like a king, especially by my two daughters-in-law.

Yes, Ssangal, I understand your situation, I was just trying to come up with a solution. My mother won't even move in her bed if the cat is curled up next to her sleeping so not to disturb the cat. And I used to trap and spay/neuter ferals. So if you are really desperate, you could rent or buy a have a heart cat trap and capture the cat when a storm approaches and put it in a large kennel with a lot of dry food and a big bowl of water so maybe you wouldn't have to even open the crate if ony a day or two. Can you get a generator? Maybe your son could help you set it up and you could just stay put. Another reason is maybe he just doesn't want to leave his home where he feels safe.

Thank you all for responding to my problem with my 97 yr old father refusing to leave our home that was without power for 5 days during and after Hurricane Sandy. My first concern was getting him to a warm home with all the necessary facilities. He's always cold normally and turns the heat up to 73 degrees. I knitted him wool fingerless gloves to wear in the house. He's always saying he can't afford to get pneumonia. This is why I was upset when he refused to go to my son's home because of his cat. The problem with this cat is you hardly ever see it. It hides under funiture etc. It doesn't come out even when being called. So to get it and put it in a crate would almost be impossible. He doesn't take it to the vet anymore because he can't get it to put it in a crate. I hear him all the time calling for the cat and then searches the house looking for it. In an emergency situation it would not be easy to convince my father to leave, let alone to search for a cat. I am an animal lover and have always had pets. I certainly would be concerned and would have come back to the house to check it's water and food supply plus the care of the litter box. To me in an emergency situtation a human life is more important and should come first. Now I worry that if we have another similiar situation and loose power, I would have to go through this again. I will check with the Police Dept. and others sources so I can be prepared if it does occur again and know how to handle it. On the 5th day without heat etc.
the power finally went on so the problem was solve this time. Thanks again for your input. :-)

They can not force him to leave, they will try thier best to get him to understand, but they can't force him... and as 2much just shared many of us would not leave our pets.... I was in Hurricane Rita, My cat went with me.... I would have taken her no matter what... but as was said, many shelters are becoming more animal friendly,as in Hurricane Katrina, many would not leave their pets and they lost thier own life because of it... I understand how you feel, and I'm sorry he is so attached to his feral cat.... but the police can not make him leave... as a family, you may have to resort to some things you may not want to do to get him to safety.... My prayers are with you and your dad... let us know how things work out.....

If the cat is inside his house, Couldn't you not crate the cat in a very large dog crate, big enough to include a small litter pan and put it in an extra bathroom in case it escaped when opening to feed it in your son's big home to give your father peace of mind? I can understand his feelings for his cat. When hurricane Andrew hit Florida many years ago, people refused to leave their unsafe homes b/c they would not leave their animals behind. This still occurs today. Now some govt shelters are becoming pet friendly. If the cat is outside the house, couldn't you tell him you would come once a day and feed the cat outside? or even if the cat is inside you could do this. I wouldn't leave my animals either.

Have you ever called and checked to see what the police would actually DO when someone refuses to leave their house? I'm just wondering if they have the power to forcibly remove someone. Better hold off telling him what you're going to do next time, if you can't back it up legally.