The last great disaster I was involved in concerning floods was the Great Flood of 1993 when the Mississippi River overflowed its banks. The recent flooding in our area reminded me of a story about Billy, caught in the flood of 1993.

Knowing the river was rising, Billy evacuated immediately. He soon realized he had left an important possession behind, his dog Zephyr. He was a special pet for Billy.

He was an older man, widowed for several years. Zephyr was his companion, friend, and reason for living. They were nearly inseparable. So back to his home he went, wading through deep waters charged with live electrical wires.

Billy grew tired wading through the fast rising waters trying to return to get Zephyr. He wasn’t sure that he could reach him, let alone find a safe spot for himself. He was becoming alarmed for his own safety.

Time and time again, people are willing to ignore personal safety to rescue their pets in flood disasters. As many as 30 percent of pet owners go back to retrieve their pets.

During a flood, many people panic and forget their pets. Some decide to leave their pets and hope that they’ll be OK. Others lock them in the basement, tie them to the porch or leave them in a car hoping they’ll be safe. Often what really happens in a flood is much different than they expect.

So what should pet owners do with animals in floods? The rule of thumb is simple: if you have to leave, so does the pet. If that’s not possible, or you leave without your pet like Billy, know that animals have built-in survival instincts and a strong chance of living through disasters even when on their own.

Both cats and dogs respond to floods as den-dwellers; as soon as they sense an ominous change in the weather, they instinctively want to run and hide in a safe, cozy place.

Billy had nearly given up. He knew he was in serious trouble. He was exhausted and barely able to move any farther.

Somehow sensing this, Zephyr came out of his hiding place to rescue his master. With Zephyr’s help, they made it to safety together.

The tale of Billy and Zephyr had a storybook ending. It doesn’t always work out so well, but Zephyr was a special dog. At least that’s how Billy saw it.

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