Saving Animals from Hurricanes

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast with heavy rain and winds that whipped at speeds of up to 140 miles per hour. Thousands of people had already evacuated the city, but many were not able to take their pets. Instead, they left extra food and water for the animals—thinking they would be back in just a few days. Unfortunately, that was not the case. As young readers relive the dramatic events surrounding the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, they will witness firsthand the dramatic and courageous rescue attempts that saved the lives of thousands of innocent animals that were trapped in the Gulf Coast region after Katrina. From rescue workers floating in boats down the flooded streets of New Orleans looking for stranded pets to marine biologists searching for dolphins that were washed out to sea. 

Hurricane Katrina’s devastating impact caught everyone off guard, especially the countless pets left behind when the city was evacuated. Hundreds of thousands of animals found themselves trapped in the flooded city, forced to survive on their own. Saving Animals from Hurricanes by Stephen Person tells the inspiring story of the people who risked everything to rescue these abandoned animals.  

The book reveals little-known dangers faced by major animal facilities like the Aquarium of the Americas. When the power failed, the electrical systems that cleaned water tanks and pumped oxygen to the fish stopped working. Without these life-support systems, nearly 10,000 fish died at the aquarium. However, one dedicated employee, Don Kinney, remained at the facility throughout the disaster, feeding the alligators, otters, and penguins. His heroic efforts saved many animals from starvation. 

The Aquarium of the Americas wasn’t the only facility that faced catastrophic challenges. At the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, Mississippi, eight Atlantic bottlenose dolphins were swept out to sea by the storm surge. Having lived their entire lives in captivity, these dolphins lacked the skills to hunt for food or protect themselves from predators like sharks. Fortunately, all eight dolphins were eventually rescued and relocated to a new home in the Bahamas. 

Saving Animals from Hurricanes engages readers through its compelling visual design. Each page combines striking photographs with text boxes featuring bold headlines and concise paragraphs. Red circles draw attention to fascinating facts, while detailed captions provide important context. The book balances heart-wrenching images of animals in peril—swimming through flooded streets or trapped in debris—with uplifting photographs of successful rescues. 

The book concludes with valuable reference materials, including a list of animals most vulnerable from hurricanes, accounts of famous hurricanes, and a helpful glossary. Important vocabulary terms appear in bold throughout the text, making complex concepts accessible to readers. Saving Animals from Hurricanes is an engaging and educational book that also teaches vocabulary words such as storm surge, tropical storm, and evacuate.  

The animal rescue operation following Hurricane Katrina became the largest in history. Through the combined efforts of volunteers and animal rescue organizations, more than 15,000 animals were saved from the disaster zone. While many animals tragically perished during the hurricane, the book concludes with an optimistic message that will resonate with readers: “Saving just one dog won’t change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog.” To learn more about hurricanes, read Carrie and The Great Storm: A Galveston Hurricane Survival Story and Hurricane Rescue. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

 Violence  

• The book includes photographs of pets among the destruction following Hurricane Katrina. “No one knows how many animals were killed because of Hurricane Katrina. It is estimated that more than 100,000 pets died in the days and weeks after the hurricane.” 
• A photograph shows a dead chicken. “Animals on farms all over the Gulf Coast region were killed because of Hurricane Katrina. Many cows and horses drowned, or were killed when barns collapsed.” 
• The hurricane almost killed a pony named Molly. “Molly was left alone in a barn for more than two weeks.” Rescuers moved Molly to a farm. “However, dogs that had been rescued from the hurricane were also living on the farm. One of them attacked Molly, badly injuring her right leg.” Molly lost her leg and doctors “attached a replacement leg made out of plastic and metal.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• None

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None