Disaster Preparedness for Horses and Livestock
By: WTAJ Staff
Updated: October 27, 2012
Tips on preparing horses and livestock for disaster from the Humane Society of the United States
Disaster Preparedness for Horses
Horses require extra consideration in disaster planning
A good disaster plan is vital to keeping yourself and your animal companions safe. But horses require extra consideration because of their size and specific transportation needs. Since you won't have much time to think or act during an emergency, take time now to create an effective emergency plan.
Planning for a disaster
Permanently identify each horse by tattoo, microchip, brand, or photograph. In your records, include the horse's age, sex, breed, and color. Keep this information with your important papers.
Keep halters ready for your horses. On each halter attach a luggage tag with the following information: the horse's name, your name, email address, your telephone number, and another emergency telephone number where someone can be reached. At the time of evacuation, consider additional temporary identification such as a leg band.
Place your horses' Coggins tests, veterinary papers, identification photographs, and vital information--such as medical history, allergies, and emergency telephone numbers (veterinarian, family members, etc.)--in a watertight envelope. Store the envelope with your other important papers in a safe place that will be easy for you to access, so you can take them with you when you and your horses evacuate.
Make arrangements in advance to have your horse trailered in case of an emergency. If you don't have your own trailer or don't have enough room in your trailer for horses, be sure you have several people on standby to help evacuate your horses.
Evacuation
It is important that your horses are comfortable being loaded onto a trailer. If your horses are unaccustomed to being loaded onto a trailer, practice the procedure so they become used to it.
Know where you can take your horses in an emergency evacuation. When possible, make arrangements with a friend or another horse owner to stable your horses well beyond the region at risk. Contact your local animal care and control agency, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management authorities for information about shelters in your area.
If you cannot evacuate with your horse
Have a back-up plan in case it's impossible to take your horse with your when you evacuate. Consider different types of disasters and whether your horses would be better off in a barn or loose in a field. Your local humane organization, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management agency may be able to provide you with information about your community's disaster response plans.
Share your evacuation plans with friends and neighbors. Post detailed instructions in several places--including the barn office or tack room, the horse trailer, and barn entrances--to ensure emergency workers can see them in case you are not able to evacuate your horses yourself.
When disaster strikes
Don't leave your horse behind. A situation that isn't safe for you won't be safe for your equine companion, either.
Evacuate immediately. If you wait until the last minute to evacuate, emergency management officials may tell you that you must leave your horses behind. In this case, your horses could be unattended for days without care, food, or water.
Supplies
Prepare a basic first aid kit that is portable and easily accessible.
Be sure to include enough water (12 to 20 gallons per day per horse), hay, feed, and medications for several days for each horse.
Disaster Preparedness for Farm Animals
Large animals and livestock need extra consideration in disaster planning
Why Livestock Owners Need to Be Prepared
Disaster preparedness is important for all animals, but it is especially important for livestock because of the size of the animals and their shelter and transportation needs. Disasters can happen anywhere and take many different forms--from hurricanes to barn fires, floods to hazardous materials spills--forcing possible evacuation. Whether you evacuate or shelter in place, it's important to be prepared to protect your livestock.
Take Precautions
One of the smartest things you can do to protect your family and livestock is to make sure you regularly review and update your disaster plan, supplies, and information regularly. Read more tips
Sheltering in Place
If evacuation is not possible, a decision must be made whether to confine large animals to an available shelter on your farm or leave them out in pastures. Many factors need to be taken into consideration to figure out what's best in varying situations. Read more
Barn Fires: The Most Common Disaster
Preventing barn fires and being prepared in the event of a fire can mean the difference between life and death for your livestock. Knowledge of the danger of fires and how to deal with them is essential, and vigilance is key to prevention. Read more
Evacuation Planning
A successful evacuation plan depends on many factors. We've compiled a detailed list of precautions and do's and don'ts to help you develop a foolproof strategy.
Farm Disaster Kit
Make a disaster kit so you have supplies on hand in the event of a disaster. Place the kit in a central location and let everyone know where it is. Check the contents regularly to ensure fresh and complete supplies. Here are suggested items to include then add items that you use every day.
Your local humane organization, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management agency may be able to provide you with information about your community's disaster response plans.
Disaster Preparedness for Horses
Horses require extra consideration in disaster planning
A good disaster plan is vital to keeping yourself and your animal companions safe. But horses require extra consideration because of their size and specific transportation needs. Since you won't have much time to think or act during an emergency, take time now to create an effective emergency plan.
Planning for a disaster
Permanently identify each horse by tattoo, microchip, brand, or photograph. In your records, include the horse's age, sex, breed, and color. Keep this information with your important papers.
Keep halters ready for your horses. On each halter attach a luggage tag with the following information: the horse's name, your name, email address, your telephone number, and another emergency telephone number where someone can be reached. At the time of evacuation, consider additional temporary identification such as a leg band.
Place your horses' Coggins tests, veterinary papers, identification photographs, and vital information--such as medical history, allergies, and emergency telephone numbers (veterinarian, family members, etc.)--in a watertight envelope. Store the envelope with your other important papers in a safe place that will be easy for you to access, so you can take them with you when you and your horses evacuate.
Make arrangements in advance to have your horse trailered in case of an emergency. If you don't have your own trailer or don't have enough room in your trailer for horses, be sure you have several people on standby to help evacuate your horses.
Evacuation
It is important that your horses are comfortable being loaded onto a trailer. If your horses are unaccustomed to being loaded onto a trailer, practice the procedure so they become used to it.
Know where you can take your horses in an emergency evacuation. When possible, make arrangements with a friend or another horse owner to stable your horses well beyond the region at risk. Contact your local animal care and control agency, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management authorities for information about shelters in your area.
If you cannot evacuate with your horse
Have a back-up plan in case it's impossible to take your horse with your when you evacuate. Consider different types of disasters and whether your horses would be better off in a barn or loose in a field. Your local humane organization, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management agency may be able to provide you with information about your community's disaster response plans.
Share your evacuation plans with friends and neighbors. Post detailed instructions in several places--including the barn office or tack room, the horse trailer, and barn entrances--to ensure emergency workers can see them in case you are not able to evacuate your horses yourself.
When disaster strikes
Don't leave your horse behind. A situation that isn't safe for you won't be safe for your equine companion, either.
Evacuate immediately. If you wait until the last minute to evacuate, emergency management officials may tell you that you must leave your horses behind. In this case, your horses could be unattended for days without care, food, or water.
Supplies
Prepare a basic first aid kit that is portable and easily accessible.
Be sure to include enough water (12 to 20 gallons per day per horse), hay, feed, and medications for several days for each horse.
Disaster Preparedness for Farm Animals
Large animals and livestock need extra consideration in disaster planning
Why Livestock Owners Need to Be Prepared
Disaster preparedness is important for all animals, but it is especially important for livestock because of the size of the animals and their shelter and transportation needs. Disasters can happen anywhere and take many different forms--from hurricanes to barn fires, floods to hazardous materials spills--forcing possible evacuation. Whether you evacuate or shelter in place, it's important to be prepared to protect your livestock.
Take Precautions
One of the smartest things you can do to protect your family and livestock is to make sure you regularly review and update your disaster plan, supplies, and information regularly. Read more tips
Sheltering in Place
If evacuation is not possible, a decision must be made whether to confine large animals to an available shelter on your farm or leave them out in pastures. Many factors need to be taken into consideration to figure out what's best in varying situations. Read more
Barn Fires: The Most Common Disaster
Preventing barn fires and being prepared in the event of a fire can mean the difference between life and death for your livestock. Knowledge of the danger of fires and how to deal with them is essential, and vigilance is key to prevention. Read more
Evacuation Planning
A successful evacuation plan depends on many factors. We've compiled a detailed list of precautions and do's and don'ts to help you develop a foolproof strategy.
Farm Disaster Kit
Make a disaster kit so you have supplies on hand in the event of a disaster. Place the kit in a central location and let everyone know where it is. Check the contents regularly to ensure fresh and complete supplies. Here are suggested items to include then add items that you use every day.
Your local humane organization, agricultural extension agent, or local emergency management agency may be able to provide you with information about your community's disaster response plans.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.