* TIPS & GIVEAWAY * Creating an Emergency Plan For Your Pets & Clorox - $25 Visa Gift Card Giveway (ends 9/29 at 11:59 PM CDT)

Being in the Midwest, we are sometimes prone to severe weather, like snowstorms, flooding, tornadoes and other natural disasters.  For the next few weeks, I'll be sharing tips with you on how to prepare your household in case one of these emergencies happen to you.  Read last week's post about building an emergency preparedness kit.  Read the prior week's post about how to create an emergency preparedness plan.

It’s National Preparedness Month - Do you have an Emergency plan for your pets?

• For many people, pets are an integral member of the family; however, when disaster strikes pets are often left out of the emergency preparedness plan.

• As you design your plan, here are a few steps to keep in mind to make sure your beloved pets are taken care of:

o Create a pet survival kit along with your emergency preparedness kit.

Include:
- Pet food
- Vet records
- Can opener
- Cat litter/pans (if applicable)
- Medications (if applicable)

o Keep your pet’s identification tags up to date and securely fastened to their collar. In case you are separated, your pet’s locator will know exactly whom to contact

o Make sure to choose an alternate location within your emergency preparedness plan that allows pets. Keep in mind that many emergency shelters are unable to accept pets due to public health reasons

• If you’re ever concerned about including your pet in your emergency preparedness plan and need advice, contact your local animal shelter or animal control office.

• For more information please visit www.clorox.com/redcross and download the preparedness guide: Prepare Yourself Now for Peace of Mind Later

We are happy to be able to give one (1) lucky My Chicago Mommy reader a $25 Visa gift card to start your own Emergency Preparedness Kit!

Entries to the giveaway will be accepted until Wednesday, September 29th at 11:59 pm CDT. Here's how to enter:

Fill out the form below & hit "Submit" for each entry (i.e., submit your entry twice if you do the BONUS action).

Here are the ACTION CODES to use (one entry for each):

* Fill out your name & email address - use code: INFO

* Subscribe to the newsletter (do not need to be a new subscriber) - use code: SUBSCRIBE

* E-mail the giveaway to friends (cc: mychicagomommies@gmail.com & get 1 entry per friend up to 5 entries) - use code: EMAIL

* Follow MyChicagoMommy on Twitter - use code: TWITTER & enter your Twitter name after the code

* Tweet it out "Enter @mychicagomommy http://bit.ly/mcmclorox3 Clorox Giveaway" - use code: TWEET - please leave a comment with the link to your Tweet
* Leave a comment on My Chicago Mommy's Facebook Page saying "I want the gift card from Clorox!" - use code: FACEBOOK
* Follow Clorox on Twitter - use code: CLORTWIT & enter your Twitter name after the code
* Leave a comment on Clorox's Facebook Page saying "My Chicago Mommy sent me!" - use code: CLORFB 

* BONUS (2 entries): Visit Clorox & The Red Cross' website and answer the question "What is something you learned from visiting the site?” - use code: BONUS + comment on this post with your first name, last initial, & your answer.

Disclosure: As a blog tour participant, I received information and giveaways from The Clorox Company and Consumer Queen at no cost to me. I was compensated for my time by The Clorox Company for participating in this project. All views are my own.

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