---
title: "Tennessee Storm Preparedness for Dog Businesses | DogServ"
description: "Tennessee storm plan for dog businesses: when to stop intake, where dogs shelter in a tornado warning, flood and winter storm steps, records and reopening."
url: "https://dogserv.com/storm-and-flood-planning-for-dog-businesses-in-tennessee/"
lang: "en"
published: "2026-09-09"
image: "https://dogserv.com/og/blog-storm-and-flood-planning-for-dog-businesses-in-tennessee.jpg"
alternates:
  es: "https://dogserv.com/es/plan-de-tormentas-e-inundaciones-para-negocios-de-perros-en-tennessee.md"
---

# Tennessee Storm Preparedness for Dog Businesses: Tornado, Flood and Winter Storm Plans

By [Cal Hewitt](https://dogserv.com/authors/calvin-hewitt/) · Published September 9, 2026

![Calm brindle Plott hound sitting beside a packed travel crate and a closed supply bin inside the open door of a brick storm shelter room](https://dogserv.com/blog/storm-and-flood-planning-for-dog-businesses-in-tennessee/featured.jpg)

If you have other people's dogs in your care, write your storm plan before the weather turns. Start with official alerts. Stop pickup, drop-off and new intake when roads or your building become unsafe. Move dogs to a set interior room during a tornado warning, and never walk, swim or drive through floodwater.

Keep each dog's records with the dog, stock food, water, crates and leashes, line up an alternate site, and reopen only when officials, utilities and your own checks say the building and roads are usable.

### Key takeaways

- Tennessee's [Department of Health](https://www.tn.gov/health/prepare) names floods, tornadoes and ice storms as state hazards, so plan for all three.
- Write your own triggers for stopping intake, pickup and drop-off before a bad day arrives.
- In a tornado warning, go to a basement, safe room or interior room away from windows, with crates, leashes and a count sheet.
- Never walk, swim or drive through floodwater, even to reach a dog or an owner.
- Keep an ID, owner contacts, feeding and medication notes, and a recent photo for every dog in your care.
- Public people shelters generally do not take pets, so confirm animal arrangements with your county emergency-management office.

I'm Cal, and my day job is websites and marketing for dog businesses. I'm not an emergency official, lawyer or insurance agent, so I point you to the offices that decide. A plan written on a quiet Tuesday beats one written at 2 a.m. with a warning on your phone.

## What do I do the moment a warning arrives and dogs are in my care?

The first minutes are a sequence, and it helps to have it on one laminated page by the door. This is the order I would put on that page.

1.  Check the alert type and what it covers. A tornado warning means shelter now. A flash flood warning means stay off the roads.
2.  Pause pickup, drop-off and any outdoor play or walks.
3.  Move dogs to your chosen interior shelter area, leashed or crated, and count them.
4.  Message owners that pickup is paused and why.
5.  Keep staff with the dogs until officials say the danger has passed.
6.  Check the building, the roads and the dogs before you do anything else.

The rest of this page fills in each step. If you only have time for one thing today, pick your shelter room and write its capacity on the wall.

## When should I stop intake, pickup and drop-off?

Only you can set the exact line for your business, and writing it down is the point. The [Tennessee Department of Health](https://www.tn.gov/health/prepare) tells businesses to know how they will receive alerts, where they will shelter or evacuate, and how they will communicate. Turn that into triggers you can follow without debate.

A solid trigger list covers:

- slowing or stopping new intake when severe weather is forecast;
- ending outdoor play and walks, and pausing pickup and drop-off;
- moving dogs to the shelter area and calling in backup staff;
- starting the alternate site, with transport sent only when roads are safe;
- evacuating when officials direct it or your building is threatened;
- suspending operations after a utility, structural, water, sanitation or temperature-control failure.

Learn the National Weather Service terms, because they drive the triggers. A watch means conditions are favorable for a tornado, so you prepare. A warning means a tornado has been spotted or indicated by radar, so you shelter immediately. The Department of Health also recommends knowing the difference between the two and practicing your response.

Use a watch to get ready, not to wait. Do not hold off on preparing until an evacuation order is issued. Prepare when alerts point to a possible threat, then follow official evacuation instructions the moment they come.

![Boston terrier sitting beside the closed wooden front door of a small daycare with a rain-streaked glass panel and a plain doormat](https://dogserv.com/blog/storm-and-flood-planning-for-dog-businesses-in-tennessee/stop-intake.jpg)

## Where do the dogs go in a tornado warning?

The [National Weather Service](https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado-during) says that in a tornado warning people should go to a basement, safe room or interior room away from windows. At a workplace, follow the designated shelter area and stay out of large open rooms such as gyms and auditoriums. Your dogs go where your people go.

Pick the room ahead of time and record these details:

- the exact room, ideally the lowest floor, with no windows;
- the most dogs and crates it can hold;
- which dogs move first;
- where leashes, collars, harnesses and crates are stored;
- a paper or digital count sheet;
- who carries which dogs;
- how you will separate dogs that should not share space;
- a final count once everyone is inside.

Measure your own room and write the number down, because your business sets its own crate-capacity figure. If a bathtub in an interior bathroom is the only option you have, treat it by the same rule: an interior room, away from windows, with enough floor space for the people and crates you actually have. A small bathroom that holds two staff and two crates does not become safe for twelve dogs.

Practice it with the real crates. [TEMA](https://www.tn.gov/tema/news-info/the-pit/2025/6/16/is-your-pet-ready-for-an-emergency.html) says owners may have only minutes to act and recommends practicing loading animals into carriers or vehicles.

## How do I handle flash floods and evacuation?

The Tennessee Department of Health says to evacuate flooded areas when directed, never drive around barricades, and never walk, swim or drive through floodwater. It also warns that six inches of moving water can knock a person down. That rule covers staff retrieving a dog, an owner racing to the door, and a van carrying a full load of crates.

So, the flash-flood plan is mostly a decision to pause early. Write down that pickup and drop-off stop before roads become unsafe, tell owners not to drive to you through water, and keep dogs sheltered until pickup is safe or a planned move can happen. Use official alerts and road information to decide, and set your own cancellation threshold in writing, since no single number fits every business.

Do not assume you are safe because you sit outside a mapped flood zone. [TEMA's flooding guidance](https://homebuilding.tn.gov/tema/new-tema/prepare/know-your-risks/flooding.html) says not to assume safety solely because a property lies outside a mapped high-risk flood zone. Flash floods can arrive with little travel time, so higher ground and an early decision matter more than a map.

Two Tennessee events show why. The National Weather Service documents the [May 2010 Nashville flood](https://www.weather.gov/ohx/may2010flood) as a record-rainfall event that flooded or closed roads, with the Cumberland River cresting near 52 feet, along with water rescues and evacuations. After that flood, the [Tennessee Department of Health](https://www.tn.gov/news/2010/5/5/pets-wild-animals-in-flood-affected-areas.html) advised that pets left behind could be disoriented and that people should keep pets leashed or secured.

The [Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency](https://www.tn.gov/news/2010/6/21/twra-lauded-by-legislature-for-efforts-during-may-flood.html) reported helping with pet rescues. The National Weather Service also documents the August 21, 2021 Waverly flash flood as the deadliest to affect Middle Tennessee, with 20 deaths. For a boarder, the lesson is to decide ahead of time who stays, where dogs shelter, how they move, and how owners hear from you if roads or your building fail.

![Saint Bernard standing on a dry wooden porch deck looking out at a flooded gravel driveway under a grey sky, a green hillside beyond](https://dogserv.com/blog/storm-and-flood-planning-for-dog-businesses-in-tennessee/flash-flood.jpg)

## What if my building is unusable?

Plan for this one while things are calm. The [Tennessee Emergency Management Plan 2018](https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tema/documents/planning-section/TEMP%202018.pdf) says facilities set aside for animal housing before a disaster may be destroyed or rendered inoperable. It also says temporary emergency facilities need food, water, veterinary care and other services, and that utilities, water, sewer and other infrastructure may be unavailable for several days, so you need alternative arrangements to keep a healthy living environment.

Copy those categories into your plan:

- a food supply;
- drinking water;
- a veterinary-care contact;
- sanitation and waste arrangements;
- backup utilities;
- identification and records for each dog;
- transport;
- alternate housing;
- owner communication;
- a procedure for lost or displaced animals.

Then name the alternate site and call them now. Ask whether it is legally and physically suitable for dogs from several owners, and ask your zoning office whether it may be used for boarding. Record how many dogs, crates, vehicles and staff you can move in one trip.

## How do I prepare for ice, power loss and heat?

Winter storms and ice can make roads unsafe, keep staff from reaching you, freeze pipes, cut utilities and delay owner pickup. Write down your backup staff, your minimum staffing, your food and water reserves, how you will heat safely, how often you will check temperatures, and the closure message you will send.

Power loss needs a decision about which systems are essential: ventilation, cooling, heating, refrigeration, water pumps, communications and security. If you use a generator, the Tennessee Department of Health says it must be outdoors and away from doors and windows. Ask an electrician or your local fire office to look at the installation.

Heat and humidity belong on the same page. Plan for water access, shade or indoor cooling, temperature checks and less outdoor time, plus a move-out plan if cooling fails. My [heat safety guide for dog businesses](https://dogserv.com/heat-safety-for-dog-businesses/) covers that side in more detail.

Register with the county or municipal emergency-management agency that serves your address. [TEMA](https://www.tn.gov/tema/emergency-community.html) calls county emergency-management agencies the first line of defense and keeps a [directory of local contacts](https://www.tn.gov/tema/prepare/regional-ema-contacts.html).

![White Samoyed lying on a thick blanket in a living room lit by a battery lantern, frosted window glass behind it and folded blankets on a chair](https://dogserv.com/blog/storm-and-flood-planning-for-dog-businesses-in-tennessee/winter-power-loss.jpg)

## What records and supplies travel with each dog?

Each dog needs a record that can leave with it. Include identification, owner and emergency contacts, feeding instructions, medication instructions, veterinary information, handling notes that matter for safe movement, and a recent photograph. Keep copies in a waterproof sleeve and a digital copy stored away from your building, since the [IRS](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/preparing-for-a-disaster) advises electronic backups and copies kept away from the disaster area.

TEMA's pet-preparedness guidance recommends at least three days of food and water, medications and medical records, a leash, collar, harness and ID tags, a carrier or crate, sanitation supplies, comfort items and a recent photo. For dogs in business care, add:

- a printed dog roster and a count sheet;
- a reunification log;
- spare collars, leashes and harnesses;
- labeled crates;
- food and water containers;
- waste bags, cleaner and towels;
- a flashlight, batteries, a radio and chargers;
- a staff contact list;
- the alternate site's details.

Figures worth writing into your plan

| Data point | Figure | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Data pointWater | FigureAt least 1 gallon per person or pet per day (household baseline, not a business rule) | Source [Tennessee Department of Health](https://www.tn.gov/health/prepare) |
| Data pointPet food and water | FigureAt least 3 days | Source [TEMA, June 16, 2025](https://www.tn.gov/tema/news-info/the-pit/2025/6/16/is-your-pet-ready-for-an-emergency.html) |
| Data pointMoving floodwater | FigureSix inches can knock a person down | Source [Tennessee Department of Health](https://www.tn.gov/health/prepare) |
| Data pointUtility outages at temporary animal sites | FigurePossibly several days | Source [TEMP 2018](https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tema/documents/planning-section/TEMP%202018.pdf) |

These are starting points, not a required number of dogs, crates, staff or vehicles. Size your own supplies to the dogs you actually board.

## Who tells the owners, and will a public shelter take the dogs?

Write your owner messages before you need them: closure, "dogs are safe and sheltered," pickup paused, reunification instructions and reopening time. Keep owner phone numbers offline too, and send updates on a set schedule.

Do not count on a public people shelter for the dogs. The Tennessee Emergency Management Plan says mass-care facilities for people generally do not permit animals other than service animals. Local arrangements may differ, so ask your county emergency-management office, the shelter operator, your animal-control agency and local humane organizations which sites take pets, and ask in writing if you can. Put the answer in your plan next to the alternate-site details.

![Cavalier King Charles spaniel sitting on a bench in a tidy office nook beside a closed laptop and a sealed pet food bin, gentle rain on the window](https://dogserv.com/blog/storm-and-flood-planning-for-dog-businesses-in-tennessee/owner-messages.jpg)

## When can I reopen, and what local rules sit beside this?

Reopen after you have checked, in this order, official instructions, building condition, utilities, drinking water, sanitation, temperature control, staff access, records, animal capacity and owner communication. If floodwater reached the building, treat electrical systems and cleanup with care, and follow the Department of Health's [Healthy Homes guidance](https://www.tn.gov/health/healthyhomes) on reentry. Document damage with photos for your insurer, and ask your agent or insurer what your policy covers, since flood coverage is a separate question from standard property cover. My [guide to dog business insurance](https://dogserv.com/dog-business-insurance/) lists the questions to ask.

A few Tennessee offices sit beside the storm plan:

- **City or county zoning, codes, fire and animal control:** ask about zoning use, home occupation, animal limits, boarding or daycare use, building occupancy, fire protection, generator placement and whether an alternate site may be used. Tennessee has no one statewide occupational license that answers these for you, and facility questions commonly depend on local government. My guides on [opening a dog boarding kennel in Tennessee](https://dogserv.com/opening-a-dog-boarding-kennel-in-tennessee/) and [running a dog business from home in Tennessee](https://dogserv.com/running-a-dog-business-from-home-in-tennessee/) go further.
- **County or municipal clerk and the Department of Revenue:** the [Department of Revenue](https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/business-tax/registration-and-licensing.html.html) says in-state businesses with more than $3,000 but less than $100,000 in gross receipts need a minimal activity license from the clerk, and a standard business license starts at $100,000 or more, with a separate $15 registration fee under Tenn. Code Ann. § 67-4-723. See my [Tennessee dog business license guide](https://dogserv.com/tennessee-dog-business-license-requirements/).
- **Secretary of State:** business-entity registration is a separate filing.
- **Tennessee Department of Agriculture Animal Health:** its [rules page](https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/animals/animal-health-resources/animal-health-forms-regs.html) lists Dogs and Cats, Chapter 0080-02-12, and Dog and Cat Dealers, Chapter 0080-02-15. Ask the office whether they apply to you.
- **County emergency management:** alerts, shelters, evacuation information and animal arrangements.

**Quiz: Quick check: Tennessee storm plans**

1. What does a tornado warning mean?
   - A tornado has been spotted or indicated by radar, so shelter immediately **(correct answer)**
   - Conditions might produce a tornado later
   - Only schools need to shelter
2. Can staff drive through floodwater to retrieve a dog?
   - Yes, if the water looks shallow
   - No, never walk, swim or drive through floodwater **(correct answer)**
   - Only in a large vehicle
3. Who is the local first line of emergency management?
   - The county emergency-management agency **(correct answer)**
   - The nearest grooming salon
   - The Secretary of State

## Questions Tennessee dog business owners ask about storm plans

### How do I keep dogs safe during a tornado?

Move people and dogs to a basement, safe room or lowest-floor interior room away from windows, using the shelter area you chose ahead of time. Keep each dog leashed or crated as conditions allow, and take a count when everyone is inside.

### What should be in an emergency kit for a tornado?

Pack food and water for at least three days, medications and records, leashes, collars, harnesses and ID tags, crates, sanitation supplies and a recent photo of each dog. Add a flashlight, radio, batteries, chargers, your count sheet and owner contact list.

### Is a bathtub safe during a tornado?

The rule is an interior room away from windows, on the lowest floor you can reach. An interior bathroom can work if it has that location and enough space for your people and crates, but ask your county emergency-management office about your building.

### What if my facility is damaged?

Use your prearranged alternate site only if it is legally and physically suitable, and tell your county emergency-management office and veterinary contact what you are doing. Bring the records, food, water, crates and a count sheet with the dogs.

## Your next step this week

Pick one hour. Choose your shelter room and write its dog and crate capacity on the wall. Call your county emergency-management office and ask how to register and where pets can go. Phone your alternate site. Then write your triggers on one page and tape it by the door. You will have a working plan before the next watch, and you can refine it from there.

If you want your storm closure notice and client updates ready on your website before the season, [get in touch](https://dogserv.com/contact/). Stay safe, and keep the dogs close.

## Sources

- **homebuilding.tn.gov**: [TEMA's flooding guidance](https://homebuilding.tn.gov/tema/new-tema/prepare/know-your-risks/flooding.html)
- **irs.gov**: [IRS](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/preparing-for-a-disaster)
- **tn.gov**: [Department of Health](https://www.tn.gov/health/prepare)
- **tn.gov**: [Department of Revenue](https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/business-tax/registration-and-licensing.html.html)
- **tn.gov**: [directory of local contacts](https://www.tn.gov/tema/prepare/regional-ema-contacts.html)
- **tn.gov**: [Healthy Homes guidance](https://www.tn.gov/health/healthyhomes)
- **tn.gov**: [rules page](https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/animals/animal-health-resources/animal-health-forms-regs.html)
- **tn.gov**: [TEMA](https://www.tn.gov/tema/emergency-community.html)
- **tn.gov**: [TEMA](https://www.tn.gov/tema/news-info/the-pit/2025/6/16/is-your-pet-ready-for-an-emergency.html)
- **tn.gov**: [Tennessee Department of Health](https://www.tn.gov/news/2010/5/5/pets-wild-animals-in-flood-affected-areas.html)
- **tn.gov**: [Tennessee Emergency Management Plan 2018](https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tema/documents/planning-section/TEMP%202018.pdf)
- **tn.gov**: [Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency](https://www.tn.gov/news/2010/6/21/twra-lauded-by-legislature-for-efforts-during-may-flood.html)
- **weather.gov**: [May 2010 Nashville flood](https://www.weather.gov/ohx/may2010flood)
- **weather.gov**: [National Weather Service](https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado-during)