As a small shelter, 10 is my maximum INCLUDING my personal ferrets. I also have 3 indoor cats. I don't have the room for any more critters than this unless it is a VERY SERIOUS EMERGENCY! Space, money, time, etc. I have enough carriers to hold 10 ferrets and a few more, as well as a carrier for each cat. We don't have a basement and the only safe(?) place in the event of a tornado is an old closet that has a permanent wooden stairway inside. A few of the boards are hinged so that they can be "folded" up and back out of the way. Behind these stairs is where I keep my carriers stacked one upon the other. They each have a towel, food bowl and water container. The doors stay open. I keep several human blankets, a WORKING flashlight, an emergency kit, and a couple of gallon jugs of water. (I refresh regularly and if we are not in "tornado" season, I don't have any water in there. And of course, food. If we are under a watch, I put on my shoes, get a jacket, my purse, and my CHARGED cell phone. I put all the critters in the cages in their proper social grouping, latch the cage doors and leave the closet door open for ventilation. If/when the watch becomes a warning, I close the closet door and lower the stairs. Friends know that is where they can find me (hopefully). Oh, BTW, I include my daughter and husband too! Thankfully, we have not had a tornado in our community. They have been within a twenty to thirty minute drive. THEY CAN STRIKE ANYWHERE! Are you prepared? (My husband laughs at me. I figure it's better to be safe than sorry). I don't have any cages that won't fit through the door. Peter Koch is the one who alerted me to that point. Big cages are great but they should fit through the door in the event of a fire or other tragedy. All my ferrets have their play times in one 16' X 29' foot room. Right now, I only have two separate groups. This is NOT a flame or judgment on anyone's preparations or the lack thereof. "YOU" probably have better plans and ideas I've never thought of. All suggestions/ideas are welcome to make my critters safer. BTW, I also have their medical records in a tupperware type container. Should there be water and wind, they hopefully will still be dry and together. I hope this helps someone prepare for their babies. Those of you on the list with bearded dragons please contact me privately. I have a problem......(Thanks BIG...) Tequita Williamson Ferret Haven The Piedmont Ferret Association [Posted in FML issue 2814]