When the Storms Hit, the Community Stepped Up: How Emergency Fosters Save Lives

Foster Coordinator, Humane Society of North Central Florida. Photo Credit: Jordyn Chiodo

When hurricanes barrel toward Florida, animal shelters prepare for a flood of challenges. From overflowing kennels to flooded facilities, they face the daunting task of safeguarding animals while clearing space for displaced pets.

While there are usually days of warning that a hurricane is approaching, location of impact and track can change at the last minute. Impacts to shelters can include flooding, roof damage, and a loss of power and potable water. Access to animal shelters, especially in rural areas, can be obstructed by downed trees and washed-out roads. 

Shelters need extra space for pets displaced by the storm and for longer hold times to support reunification with their families. Unfortunately, Florida shelters are at or near capacity year-round and have little flexibility to create room in the facility for animals impacted by hurricanes. One previous safety valve is no longer available: Large-scale out-of-state evacuations of animals before and after storms are not possible anymore due to diminishing transport options in the post-pandemic era.

Shelter staff can be stretched thin by staffing pet friendly human evacuation shelters and conducting animal search and rescue missions, leaving fewer staff to care for animals in the shelter. And of course, shelter staff and their families are often themselves impacted by the storm or unable to reach the shelter location, making on-site animal care and disaster response difficult.

The good news is that all of this can be mitigated if the shelters are evacuated into emergency foster homes before the storm hits. That’s just what happened during the lead-up to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, when three Florida shelters – Miami-Dade Animal Services, Humane Society of North Central Florida, and Alachua County Animal Resources – turned to their communities for help, including specific outreach to people who had never fostered before.

The result? Hundreds of animals found temporary refuge in foster homes, sparking adoptions and new foster commitments. The lesson? With transparency, flexibility, and strong networks, shelters can save lives even in the face of disaster.

A Call for Help: Clearing Space and Saving Lives

For Miami-Dade Animal Services, the storm foster program began as a desperate move to protect animals in their flood-prone overflow facility. Director Annette Jose described the situation: “We put out the call on a Sunday, and by 3 PM Monday, we had completely emptied the shelter.” Lines to foster were out the door, and by the time the storm hit on Thursday, 388 animals were in foster homes, with some fosters even coordinating out-of-state adoptions and transportation for the pets they took in.

At Alachua County Animal Resources, the need was equally pressing. Staff were deployed to community emergency response, leaving fewer hands to care for the animals remaining onsite. “We wanted to focus on helping people with pets seeking refuge,” said Sarah Gilley. “So we asked the community to step in, and they did.”

A streamlined process placed a combined 168 animals in foster care before Hurricanes Helene and Milton, freeing staff to focus on the larger emergency response. The immediate clearing of the shelter was extraordinary, but even more good news emerged as a result:

  • 33 fosters extended the foster period
  • 39 dogs were adopted by their storm foster or someone the foster knew
  • Every single animal returned with in-home behavior notes. Fosters completed report cards and met with coordinators at the time of return
Storm fosters leaderboard and happy staff during Hurricane Milton
Alachua County Animal Services, Hurricane Milton

For the Humane Society of North Central Florida, the hurricanes presented an opportunity to refine an already successful emergency foster model. Development Director Franziska Raeber explained, “The more animals we could move into foster homes, the more we could help rural shelters evacuate their animals. It was a push-and-pull effort that required our whole network to come together.” During the two hurricanes, they placed nearly 170 in foster, many of whom found long-term placements or adoption.

Podge (dog) looking at his storm foster caregiver
Podge in storm foster care. Photo: Humane Society of North Central Florida

Turning Panic into Process

Media interviewing storm fosters at Miami-Dade Animal Services
Media interviewing storm fosters at Miami-Dade Animal Services

Due to the urgency, each shelter kept the process simple to remove barriers for first-time fosters. Miami-Dade focused on saying “yes” to anyone willing to help. Jose recalled, “We didn’t ask for long-term commitments, just a few days. Once the storm passed, many fosters extended their care, and adoptions started happening.”

Alachua County refined their approach by combining speed with matchmaking. “For our second storm, we used quick interviews to pair fosters with the right pets,” Gilley said. “That led to more long-term placements and adoptions.”

At HSNCF, Raeber emphasized transparency and preparation. “We told people exactly what to expect and had food and medical supplies ready to go,” she explained. “Clear communication calmed nerves and made it easy for people to say yes.”

Scaling Up: Managing Logistics Under Pressure

One of the most impressive aspects of these programs was how quickly each shelter cut red tape and scaled up operations to meet the need. In Miami-Dade, staff extended hours, staying until nearly 10 PM to process fosters. Jose noted, “We handed out bags of food and supplies so no one left feeling unprepared. Flexibility was key—we adjusted on the fly to keep things running smoothly.”

In Alachua County, staff balanced care for shelter animals with emergency shelter duties. “Our team was stretched thin, so we focused on efficiency,” said Gilley. “We used social media blasts and word-of-mouth to bring people in quickly.”

The Humane Society of North Central Florida took preparation one step further to prepare for helping rural shelters with fewer resources. “We planned ahead by identifying the shelters most likely to need evacuation support,” Raeber said. “That meant we were ready to act immediately when the storms hit.”

Community Connections: Building Trust and Momentum

ACAR dog Hufflepup, adopted by her storm foster
ACAR dog Hufflepup, adopted by her storm foster

The success of these programs wasn’t just in moving animals out of shelters—it was in the connections they created.

In Miami-Dade, social media influencers and university students amplified the call, leading to huge turnout. In Alachua County, Gilley said fosters spread the word, bringing in roommates and friends.

Raeber, whose organization is located near the University of Florida, noted how volunteers and students in Gainesville worked together to create a ripple effect: “Our fosters became ambassadors, posting photos and sharing updates that drove even more support.”

Lasting Impact

The shelters agree that emergency foster programs don’t just save lives in a crisis – they strengthen long-term foster networks. Gilley emphasized the value of building relationships: “We gained fosters who want to do this again. They trust us now.”

Jose shared how Miami-Dade is applying the lessons to everyday operations: “We’re promoting fostering just as much as adoption now. Even a short foster stay can change an animal’s life.”

Raeber urged shelters to prepare now for future disasters: “Have a plan, build partnerships, and be ready to communicate clearly. When the community sees your urgency, they respond.”

These same short-term pleas honed in disasters can also be used for mass short-term fostering for holiday breaks, preparation for large events, and other times when foster surge capacity is needed.

The benefit extends beyond the immediate decrease in animals onsite and includes  recruitment of new foster families, improved relations in the community, and some short-term fosters that turn into long-termers or even adopters.

When shelters remove barriers and make urgent, clear pleas for help, communities respond enthusiastically. As Jose put it, “We said yes to everyone who wanted to help, and they said yes to us.”