It's been nearly seven years since the profound lessons from Hurricane Katrina drove home the importance of preparing for worst-case scenarios.

We in New Hampshire live far from the areas most often and hardest hit by hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, mudslides and earthquakes, so it's easy to feel relatively safe — at least from the most common major natural disasters.

The reality is, however, that we're not immune. Just two weeks ago, torrential rains wrought havoc on the western parts of New Hampshire. And we are certainly familiar with winter events like the “snow-tober” storm last Halloween, the ice storm just before Christmas in 2008, and fire is a year-round danger.

I recall a few years ago when there was a wildfire deep in the woods in Hooksett that was far off the road, inaccessible to fire trucks, with the potential to quickly spread out of control, threatening homes. Fortunately firemen were able to contain it, and there were no injuries or major property damage.

Earlier this week I wrote to a friend who lives in the mountains of Colorado to find out if she was safe from the massive fire that's burning out of control out there. She wrote that she is ... at the moment. I know she's prepared to evacuate with her pets should the fire threaten her safety.

I am not a worst-case-scenario person, but events like these remind us how important it is to have disaster and evacuation plans for our families, including our pets. What if someone knocked on your door and told you that I had to leave . . . right now!” What would you do? Could you use your car? Could you take all your pets? What if the roads were impassible? What if you had to take only what you could carry and walk away?

A number of organizations' websites provide information about disaster preparedness plans, such as the HSUS, ASPCA and FEMA sites, just to name a few.

Noah's Wish (www.noahswish.org) has a series of checklists to help people prepare. It starts with considering what disasters might happen where we live or work, pointing out that no one is exempt. In addition to such universal disasters as wildfires or house fires, the world has changed, so we all need to think about a terrorist attack.

I doubt there is a pet owner who hasn't thought about the tragic dilemma faced by someone who has to be rescued by a boat or helicopter and is forced to abandon their pets. If prior planning can eliminate being faced such a horrifying choice, it's little enough to spend a few minutes writing up an evacuation plan, discussing it with your family, and reviewing it together at least once a year such as on your pet's birthday, or on Sept. 11, a date no one will ever forget.

The most important consideration has to be the lives of the humans in the family. But with prior planning, your pets' safety and well-being can be planned for, too.

Next week I'll offer some specific ideas to help you plan ahead, along with suggestions for your pet's disaster supply kit.

Gail Fisher, author of “The Thinking Dog,” runs All Dogs Gym & Inn in Manchester. To suggest a column topic, email gail@alldogsgym.com or write c/o All Dogs Gym & Inn, 505 Sheffield Road, Manchester, NH 03103. You'll find past columns on her website.