Emergency Preparedness & Horses

[souvenir]

I just turned this post into a sticky. (My first sticky. I'm so proud of myself! sniff).

Please post your Horse-Related Emergency Preparedness Tips here. Also, please post where you're from, ie: tornado or hurricane area, etc. I would like to make this an easy reference. Thank you!

Finally I am working (no, really, I'm doing it this time) on my emergency preparedness kit with my family, which includes my husband, 3 kids, plus horses, barn cats and dog.

My mustang mare has the Mustang freeze brand on her neck, but how else do I identify my other horses in case of a natural disaster? Do any of you have your horses freeze branded? And, what is the best info to put on a halter tag? phone? cell? address? all of it?

After having lived through a devastating tornado here in the Ohio Valley in 1974, and noting the recent horrible weather across the nation, I am now officially concerned and trying to make a plan.

Also, at this point, should there be bad storms, I keep the horses in. Tornado? Turn Out or leave in? I'm saying turn out to give them a fighting chance but I may change on this.
Is anyone else going through emergency preparedness confusion like me?

[J Swan]

This won't help you since you're in Ohio - but in Virginia, the gubmint has suspended the sales tax on survival equipment for the upcoming hurricane season.

Not directly horse related - sorry. I don't have a list of the equipment in front of me - but things like generators I do know are on the list. Tarps, ropes, lanterns, etc.

Perhaps your state has something similar going on (not for hurricanes but just in general). If not, you can always contact your extension agent because those folks are always helping farmers prepare for natural disasters - and that includes their livestock. So things like evacuation sites, contact lists, etc. will be of great use to you.

In Virginia, the Horse Industry Board (pm a lady called RNB for more info) maintains a list of farms and grounds that people can reference if they need to evacuate. My farm is listed in case folks from the coast need to move inland with their livestock and need a place for them to stay. Often people need a place not only for their horses, but dog friendly places too (or goats, donkeys, etc.)

Perhaps your state horse industry board has something similar. Anyway, good luck and if I think of anything else I'll holler. :)

As far as tornadoes and storms - my rule is - if they're in - they stay in. If they're out - they stay out. I'm not risking my life trying to handle panicked livestock. (been there done that have the scars)

[Saidapal]

Living in Florida we have to deal with hurricanes. I always leave them out - actually they prefer to be out. They find the lowest spot in the pasture, stick their butts into the wind and ride it out. I do put fly masks on them to keep debris out of their eyes. I also use surveyors tape, and with a permanent marker I put my phone number on a strip. One goes in their mane and the other in their tails. The tape also reflects so if they do get out they can be seen in the dark.

[souvenir]

The tape idea in mane/tail is a great idea! JSwan, I'll look into my local government and see what they hve to offer. I'm building my list slowly.
I did find this link: http://www.xcodesign.com/aaep/displayArticles.cfm?ID=251
which gives some pretty good info. I didn't realize I should prepare an ID packet for each horse AND a photo of me with horse in case ownership is disputed in a rescue situation.

[saddleup]

Along the same lines, do you have enough water stored for your horses in an emergency? What's the bare minimum for them to survived per day?

[J Swan]

Yeah - that was a problem after Katrina - mostly with dogs. Some people ended up going to court trying to get their animals back.

So positive ID is a good idea.

[Lori T]

www.horseketeerspc.piczo.com

We have a site on there about emergencies.

[BLBGP]

Here's another helpful site about disaster preparedness. Mostly for cats and dogs, but it goes into livestock, as well.

http://www.spcamc.org/disaster-preparations.htm

[EquineDirectory.com]

Althought they are not as widely as they should be, RFID is a good way to go. There are no outward signs of ownership but if your horse is found and scanned, ownership is 100%. Also, you can add a name plate to a halter. I am originally from coastal NC, so we had hurricane halters made up with dog collar type tags, only a couple dollars a piece and they are rivited to the halter. If you use halters, make sure they are good leather or at least have a leather crown in case they get stuck in or on somehting. Finally, for identification, we used paint sticks. You can find them at most farm stores and they are usually used for hogs or cattle marking. We just wrote our phone numbers on the side of the horses. In florescent colors, you can see it from hundreds of feet away. We would start at the shoulder and put all 9 digits on each side in big print. The color may take a few weeks to wear off but its good piece of mind. As one of the other posters said, a good record of ownership is always a good idea. Photos, vet records, breed registrations, freeze brands and lip tatoos all help ID lost horses.

Regarding water, horses require between 5 and 15 gallons per day to survive. Depending on age, size, exercise activities. We always topped off water buckets, water troughs and then had several 50 gallon drums that we would fill up just in case.

Other things to think about:

1. Trailer or emergency access to one.
2. Stabling arrangements if you have to leave.
3. Enough feed for several days since many storms put businesses in a pinch.
4. If you are worried about bad weather, reconsider keeping your horses in or out. If you have 100% faith in your barn, I would keep them in. If you have any worries that it could blow down or cave in, turn them out. I know that most people turn their horses out, as I usually do. But if you have blowing winds, like a hurricane, flying debris can cause a lot of injuries. But keep them in only if you completely trust the structure.
5. Keep enough hay for a few days. Keep it covered well since most storms include high winds.
6. FIRE. I could go on for hours about fire prevention and protection. Don't smoke in or near the barn. Don't store hay in a hay loft. Keep a CHARGED fire extinguisher near each exit. Check for old wiring and rodent damage, they do eat wire. If you can afford it, consider a sprinkler system.

These are just a few ideas that came to mind when I read the post.

Hope this helps.

[souvenir]

I also did a search here on COTH using keywords "emergency prepare" and printed out the info. Is there a way to maybe have a standing list of how to prepare, tips, etc. for emergencies? Just a thought.

[J Swan]

That's a great idea! I was watching the news today and though hurricane season actually starts tomorrow - there is a tropical storm off Belize today. Lingering La Nina, I guess. Weather is unsettled.

So maybe you could PM a moderator and ask that she put a sticky up? I don't know how many horse owners in Virginia know that the sales tax on survival equipment has been suspended. It's a good time to buy emergency equipment for the farm!

[chai]

I just finished writing an article on this topic which will be out in a few months. In doing interviews and research, I realized that I am way behind on this, and most of my friends are, too. I think it's because we don't want to consider that our world can be turned upside down in an instant.

Petsmart and most vet offices sell small metal tags that you can have engraved with your horse's information. We should also keep a copy of all registration/ownership/vaccination records in an emergency kit. We should all have an emergency evacuation plan including a destination, medical kit, feed, money and transportation.

I learned so much more in my research and my article has lots more in it. I hope it will help other horse owners realize how close we all live to the unthinkable, even though we shouldn't live our lives worrying. But we should be prepared anyway.

The PETS Act was passed after Katrina to address the issue of pets and disaster preparedness. Each state must develop a disaster preparedness plan that includes animals in order to qualify for FEMA funding, so check out your local land grant university extension service for information, or read my article in a few months for more information. :-)

[souvenir]

Chai, please keep us posted on your article! Jswan I'll check with mods to see if we could get a sticky here. thanks!

[Moderator 1]

Duly stuck. :)

This would be an excellent thread to add to the reference section when everyone's through making additions. We can also merge it with existing threads containing similar info--if anyone's knows of particularly good ones, post a link and we'll merge them.

Thanks!
Mod 1

[BeastieSlave]

EquineDirectory.com is right about painting the beasties!
I'll see if I can find the picture (it's been a while) but when we were in MS after Katrina, I remember being very impressed with one horse who had its information painted in day-glow orange on its side. I know it had a phone number that was easily read from a distance.

[lorilu]

In addition to other suggestions,
Be sure to have a photo of you and your horse for ID, and be sure the names you put on the ID tags is the name on the Coggins and/or registration papers; hard to prove that "Buddy" really IS "Bud a roo light"....

We use two of the "dog tags" from the machine at Petsmart; one braided into tail the other braided into Mane.

[7HL]

The PETS Act was passed after Katrina to address the issue of pets and disaster preparedness. Each state must develop a disaster preparedness plan that includes animals in order to qualify for FEMA funding, so check out your local land grant university extension service for information, or read my article in a few months for more information.


That is correct. However some states have only put a token effort into following though. One of the things they have done is turn over the duries to a SART, State Animal Response Team, under them is CARTs, County/Community Animal Response Teams. Most are comprised of unpaid volunteers. Lots of people have volunteered in some locations and are dedicated to responding and helping. Other areas volunteers are scarce. Some of these people are small animal people (cats & dogs) not large animals like horses. All have families and in lots of cases animal of their own. Primary duty is for them to take care of their own first, yours and others are secondary in a disaster. They themselves may leave the area. Look how many firefighters, police and even school bus drivers left during Katrina. They were very much needed.

My point is everyone needs to look out for themselves have a plan, don't count on the government to be there for your animals. They have pawned their duties off to volunteers. In some cases I wonder if after all that happened after Katrina and all the complaints that they put it together this way to take the heat off them. They can say we had a plan, and nobody showed up, it's not our fault.

Lot of great suggestions have been placed here so far. Please have a plan in place that works for you, don't count on others to bail you out in a disaster.

[chai]

7HL, I agree with you. The horse owners I interviewed made it clear to me that even though the government is supposed to be there to help us in an emergency, the bottom line is that each of us has to be prepared to handle any emergency on our own. That means developing our own disaster preparedness plan including a 'safe' destination for our horses, a way to get them there and plans to feed and care for your horses at an evacuation site. It is also important to choose a rallying point for family members and a complete disaster preparedness kit including medical supplies, basic stable supplies, documents and cash.

[souvenir]

What makes for a good all-purpose Equine Emergency Medical Kit?

What things can double for horses along with the barndogs and barncats?

[tma]

We've had to evacuate in the past, and we've helped others to evacuate as well (fire, in both instances in the past).

All of our horses are freeze marked, so IDing them in an evacuation situation is simplified. All of thier information (including freeze marking info, registration papers, etc, are in the fire safe, easily at hand).

This is what we have in place:

1) We keep on hand at least one halter and lead for each and every horse.

Years ago, a client who lived in a very narrow canyon that caught fire (in Santa Ana wind conditions), had nine horses on the property...and just three halters and lead ropes. No trailer, either. They handed the horses off to complete strangers walking out of the canyon, using longe lines, bailing twine and anything else that they could find, wrapped around the horse's heads. I've never forgotten her story.

2) Each and every horse we have knows how to load in a trailer, easily.

Same client above, had several who had never been taught to load. When help finally did arrive for her horses (humane society, etc), they couldn't get over half of the horses into the trailers to be evacuated.

3) Emergency first aid kits - both human and equine. Our vets have helped us to develop the equine versions, as we are out in the "boonies" and in the case of say, a catastrophic earthquake, our area could concieveably be cut off and on it's own for a couple of weeks. We keep wound supplies, wraps, sterile cotton and such, as well as antibiotics, tranquilizers, and so on. Fly masks to protect eyes as best we can, also.

4) Depending on the emergency situation and location, we have several places lined up that we can take the horses to, and those property owners understand that we may not be able to contact them in advance, either - just load and go. In addition, we have several contacts who would come in with thier own trailers....more on that, below.

5) We have an emergency contact lined up out of state, who has agreed to relay messages and so on back and forth - should cell towers be out of commission and family and friends need to communicate.

6) Emergency water supply is kept on hand, along with supplies to purify water. In a really tight situation, and if roads were not passible, we could walk the horses about a mile to a reservior to water them a couple of times a day, if needed...or we could bring back additional water if necessary. Even should the dam break, there would remain some pockets of water.

7) If we had to leave horses behind, we would write ID and phone numbers of the out-of-state contact as well as our own cell numbers in permanent marker on thier hooves. We might also paint phone numbers on them also.

8) We keep a minimum of a couple of weeks' worth of feed on hand. If marooned in place, the horses would have plenty. If we evacuate, a sudden change in feed isn't a concern to add to everything else.

There is more to our plans that are in place, but the basics are here.

When we evacuated our own horses, we had five on the property (three of our own, and two of the neighbors) and just a two horse trailer at that time. We did, however, have a network of friends who came running with thier own trailers. Although road closures kept them from getting in, we were able rendevous at a spot a little over a mile away; we took the horses out of the closure area and transfered them to a waiting trailer, then as residents we were allowed to take back roads in to get the rest out.

Nowadays, we have just three on the property, and a three horse trailer in addition to the two-horse *grin* We could pull all of them out in one load, and a ton of other supplies as well (we do have two tow vehicles) - or we can help some nearby friends without a trailer, if need be.

When we helped someone evacuate 52 head last fall, they had a network of friends, clients and trainers who came running (naturally, thier own big trailer was in the shop!). They had a chart made up with which to record which horse(s) went with whom, and where. Each and every horse had a halter and lead, with the horse's ID, owner's name, and contact info on it in permanent marker, on duct tape wrapped around the cheek piece of the halter, and ranch help quickly loaded feed for the horses with each rig that left.

Oh...we also keep face masks/filters on hand, in case we find ourselves working in heavy smoke again. We also keep rags that we can dampen and hang from the halter nosebands and down over the horse's nostrils to help as much as we can in that respect, also. The horses are all accustomed to that kind of thing anyway.

[Walk_N_Gal88]

Get military-style dog tags (punched not engraved like the ones you can get at Wal-Mart kiosks) and braid one into your horses mane, one in the tail, and permanently keep one attached to the cheekpiece of the halter. Plus have a laminated picture of you and your horse to braid into the mane alongside the dogtag or taped to it.

[J Swan]

This book might help folks prepare for any type of emergency. It's not specifically horse related - but the section on ensuring you have potable water would be very applicable to livestock.

Where I live, I'm on a well. And the well water could easily become contaminated in a really bad storm or if there was a chemical spill somewhere.

Anyway - last time we had a hurricane I did store several hundred gallons of potable water but looking back, I do not think I did it very efficiently, or in a manner that would make it safe to drink for very long.

This information might apply mostly to rural dwellers who have livestock - but I do recall Richmond Virginia having food shortages and real problems after a hurricane.

Here it the link - take it for what it's worth. I have not read it.

http://athagan.members.atlantic.net/PFSFAQ/Prudent_Pantry.html

[carol_okc]

Now that the Arabian Horse Foundation has announced the Rescue/Rehoming Advisory Panel, I'm going to bite one very large bullet.

My first and biggest project as chair will be to work on a national disaster preparedness program, to involve all the breed/discipline organizations as well as rescue organizations. And we're going to need EVERYONE'S HELP!!

Should have been done long ago, but obviously hasn't been - and if we can support training of emergency personnel, facilitiate the credentials/certifications as first responders, build the network of trained, dedicated horse-owners so that the entire country is involved, the horses will benefit (as will the horse-owners).

Our initial task will be to expand existing training programs and information systems nation-wide, with the goal of 'teaching a man to fish': trained personnel can carry that training to their local communities, training those people and facilitating the credentialing process. We saw how many willing horse people were stymied, following Katrina and other huge events, because they didn't have the necessary credentials as first responders, and those people who had the credentials were more interested in helping (and better trained to help) smaller companion animals.

Pockets of people with their own disaster plants can be linked into networks... this will be a grass-roots effort initially, because we all care and have a vested interest in having effective plans in place. If we build the network and can actually be pro-active, we can be effective whether or not national bodies agree to buy in. This thing will have legs... but we all need to work together to coordinate them.

[OnCue]

There is a ton of excellent material in here...

"What Do I Do With My Horse. In Fire, Flood, and/or Earthquake?”

http://www.etinational.com/docs/Red%20Book%20Revision%209-2004.pdf

[pwynnnorman]

I am so frustrated with this (have been ever since I moved here)!

My address is Ocala, but I actually live right behind the high and middle schools of Belleview, FL. And I have been TOTALLY unable to find ANY information on where the heck the disaster shelters are located here! Is that incredible or what?

I cannot for the life of me believe that this information isn't super easy to find! Here is the complete list of services for the county: http://www.marioncountyfl.org/services_home.htm.

See any listing for "Emergency Shelters" (for humans) on it? Why in heavens name isn't that the easiest thing to find? If a tornado were headed my way, I'd have no way to find out where the heck to go QUICKLY! (Indeed, as of this writing, I still don't know whether the high school half a mile away is actually a shelter that would be open).

And here is the page for Pet Shelters: http://www.marioncountyfl.org/Disaster/DP_PetShelters.htm

See any indication of where the heck there ARE pet shelters? Check out the last paragraph--it gives the address for some high school in Ocala (remember, I'm in Belleview), but it doesn't actually SAY that is a pet shelter--and is that the ONLY shelter???? And, for me, the biggie: this is the "horse capital of the world"--and yet there's not one word about shelters for horses ANYWHERE!

Why, why, why is such important information left up to people can't even figure out how to prioritize communication?

I hope everyone has checked their town or county's website to make sure that information is easy to find--not just online, but in other locations, too (like the phone book--for example, why the heck do phone books have so much drivvel in them: from how to choose your seat at the civic centers to where to find a park, but no maps pointing to the location of emergency shelters???).

I can figure stuff out on my own, but I really worry about folks who are more dependent (like the elderly and the less educated/experienced). I have complained up the whazoo about this to my town (no replies -- couldn't even get the newspaper to publish a letter to the editor about it!), and I keep complaining. I hope others will check and complain, too--again, not necessarily for yourselves, but for others, too.

[pwynnnorman]

Oh, just one more thing: no email addresses! The only email address I could find on that site was for the webmaster--and it included a disclaimer about how some emails don't even get through!

Ya think they really want to hear from their constituents, huh? :mad:

[NovDressageRdr]

I'm very near fire country. The ranch where I am at has never had to evacuate but we have had the option and the BO didnt want to evacuate. I keep a weeks worth of food on hand and a weeks worth of water, the water is changed out every 6 weeks. The food the same.

I have extremely bright halters that I can easily put on my mare, she also has bright polos that I can use if necessary. I have all scars pictured as well as pictures of her sparkling clean and filthy dirty. I have several fly masks ranging from the supermask to super fine mesh ones that I use for riding when the flies get bad.

I have access to several trailers as well. I have basically made up an emergency plan for the ranch I am at because the BO doesnt have one, or he has one but he wont tell the boarders what it is. Both my friend and I know how to haul a trailer, the arena has huge sprinklers and the ranch has 4" fire hoses which I know how to use and have used for fun. Theres a hose in every mare motel and one by the stallion and steers.

If need be I would shave my name, phone number and another phone number (trusted friend) into my horses sides. I have Orange, neon blue, neon green, and neon yellow paint so putting info on horses wont be hard. Both my friend and I have the ability and knowledge to handle all 25 horses on the ranch if we ever had to evacuate. All the horses have BRIGHT neon cotton halters to identify them the cotton halters also have as someone mentioned dog tags with the horses name, age breed, color (if they are dirty) and phone number. the leads are also cotton same color as the halters.

[RNB]

Great topic!! And one that every person should research. Everyone has posted some great information and I wanted to touch upon two that have been mentioned.

JSwan, thanks for the 'plug'! Yes, many state Horse Councils have listings of farms, etc. who are willing to help during a disaster. Try contacting your state horse organizations to see which ones have disaster plans in effect.

7HL, you also hit upon something I do not think most people know about...SART. Here is a link showing which states already have this in place. http://www.sartusa.org Some of them have their own websites but please look over the site in it's entirety....there is quite a bit of information available. I strongly recommend you contact your state to see how to register and more importantly....help!

Having said all that....the MOST important thing you can do is to have a plan and be prepared!! If you wait until a hurricane is approaching....it is too late.

[J Swan]

Oh, just one more thing: no email addresses! The only email address I could find on that site was for the webmaster--and it included a disclaimer about how some emails don't even get through!

Ya think they really want to hear from their constituents, huh? :mad:


I know it can be frustrating - VERY frustrating. And I'm sorry to learn that you've had such trouble.

What I'm suggesting may be in bad taste, so please forgive me if I cause offense. Since there appears to be a bit of a mishmash in your area, could you use your reputation and name and fame as a catalyst? Sometimes what all this mishmash needs is a unifying force. I'm not suggesting that you shoulder this burden yourself. But your name and your pony (may he rest in peace) are not exactly obscure in the horse world. Perhaps there might be a way for you to help streamline things - by offering Teddy's memory as a... not a "cause" , that's too strong a word. Maybe making this "issue" moved up a little in someone's in box.

Does that make any sense?


RNB - hey - I was going to email you because I went to the website and could not find any information about the program I signed up for. Am I looking in the wrong place? Since hurricane season is here, I thought there would be a hot link or blurb or banner horse owners could click on.

Probably stared right at it and missed it. How is that program going, anyway? Will they be working with the State Vet in case of a disaster or will this be administered separately?

The rural horse/farm owners tend to be a bit more self-sufficient in general, though we'd sure as heck need help just like anyone else. I was wondering about folks in boarding barns closer to urban areas - lots of horses in one place that might need to be moved en masse.

(the scenario I have in my head is a hurricane coming up the Bay, or a bad one hitting the Norfolk area) The Norfolk area has evacuation routes, I would hope that residents are capable of following them and getting out without killing each other. I wonder if Daydream Believer could comment on that as she's lives down that way. I know my family in NC can get out in minutes (and they've had to)

If one comes up the Bay - that entire Metro area is completely and totally screwed. They don't have any designated evacuation routes - which is crazy especially after 9/11.


Can you give us an update on that program and point us to a place where horse owners can get more information? Thanks!!

[Gnalli]

Get military-style dog tags (punched not engraved like the ones you can get at Wal-Mart kiosks) and braid one into your horses mane, one in the tail, and permanently keep one attached to the cheekpiece of the halter. Plus have a laminated picture of you and your horse to braid into the mane alongside the dogtag or taped to it.

When did you get so smart and why have you not told me about this so I could do this for YOUR horse? :D

[pwynnnorman]

J Swan, not my style, really. Just not me at all.

I did get a response from my query to the local admins.

However, all the respondant did was list the shelters (for humans). Not one single word about why there's no information on the website. Totally ignored the bulk of my "query."

Our tax dollars at work.

Arrogant pricks. :mad:

[J Swan]

Sure thing - no problem.

Sorry that your area isn't doing what it's supposed to. Localities are supposed to be factoring in animals into their emergency plans. (pets and livestock)

Guess some localities didn't get the memo. Best of luck to you.

[Oldenburg Mom]

There were some very helpful ideas in a thread I started a while ago, if anyone is interested: http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=145271

[7HL]

Highly recommend this site:

http://www.tlaer.org/
Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue

Some great links and resources. If you can take one of their classes it's a great plus.

[pwynnnorman]

I just don't get why, when it comes to such an important subject, our govenments (in plural, to encompass states and towns, not just the federal government) don't hire professional consultants to make sure they are communicating effectively. I just don't GET that. But I'll stop whining now.

Actually, I've found discussions here far, far more helpful, like OMom's.

Indeed, I have a question for folks that hasn't been answered in other discussions.

My barn is pretty well built--lots of 6x6s and 2x8s, concrete foundation, double walls, etc. The roof I'm not thrilled it as it is an ordinary galvalume one, but everythign else is very solid. In fact, it occurred to me that my barn may be safer in, say, a tornado, than my house, which is a big, modern doublewide with 2x6 sidewalls and hurricane ties--but it's still based on this, well, "crack" down the middle (I envision the thing splitting in two and me getting sucked out cuz, of course, it's alongside the center that all the interior rooms are...).

But the feed and tack rooms in the barn are not only have only one side exposed to the outside (so they are almost "interior" rooms, being surrounded by the aisle, stalls and hay area and run in), they have their own ceilings (with stuff stored above, under the barn roof) and are double-walled, too.

So do you think I'd be crazy to just stay in the barn if a tornado approached? The whole place is also surrounded by horse fencing (woven 2x4 squares) that it is said can "catch" dangerous debris. WWYD?

[pwynnnorman]

Ummm, I forgot to mention this is something I'm truly paranoid about. I have a real hangup about natural disasters--my nightmares usually take the form of a natural disaster (or getting stuck in the middle of a bombing raid).

[J Swan]

Try living next to a floodplain...:no:

You'd think this half of the county was the drainage area for the entire state.

I plan, I watch, I prepare, I have backup plans... and still I worry.

[philosoraptor]

We're not as likely to be hit as some areas, but it is good to plan for in advance.

All horses on my property are microchipped & I'm working on getting the dogs & cats done, too. When fences go down in a storm and you can't catch all of the horses fast enough, this is how authorities can contact us if a horse is found. Or if you have to evacuate your home and a dog runs off, he has some chance of reuniting with you.

My horses are left out in a storm. I don't want them trapped inside a barn if a tree falls on it or if a tornado tears it apart. I try to check on them as often as possible, even if I'm out there with a raincoat & flashlight.

A first-aid kit on a hand is a must (people and pets). Also a vet who will call you back 24-7. Even if roads are closed, a vet can walk you though alot and help stabilize the animal.

I really hate to mention this, but do give some thought to what you'd do if you found a horse suffering badly, critically injured from a storm but roads are closed. Could you call a neighbor to put him down if a vet can't get to you?

It's also important to plan in advance where you could go with your animals. Do you have friend/family nearby that have a fenced yard or barn? Do your horses tie or stay in portable paddocks, so you could camp out somewhere with them if need be?

What is the plan for supplying water if your power goes off? How much water can you store? Do you have friend/family near enough where you can refill big water containers? My parents live 5 miles away and are on a different power grid than I am, so when my power is out they ususally have power.

Do you have a way of getting to help if trees block your road? Do you have a chainsaw to clear your own driveway? A 4x4 truck to get out in a blizzard or flooding? Would you be able to ride to a neighbor's home to get help if you can't get a car out?

Maybe we can make a list of must-have items, such as first aid kit, multiple flashlights and extra batteries, a well charged cellphone, extra water & jugs, and duct-tape. I have an inverter so I can plug any small item into a vehicle (eg. cell phone charger or laptop) and get AC power. I keep a highway safety kit in my truck including flares.

I just don't get why, when it comes to such an important subject, our govenments (in plural, to encompass states and towns, not just the federal government) don't hire professional consultants to make sure they are communicating effectively. I just don't GET that.

Since a couple of big incidents such as 9-11 and Katrina, they have spent a great deal of time figuring all this out. There is a whole system in place that organizes all the various federal-military-state-local-volunteer systems into a chain of command. I got my training through FEMA (http://www.fema.gov/emergency/index.shtm) as part of my Search-and-Rescue training. FEMA works with state/local levels to make sure everyone is on the same page, communicating, and following orders.

[LexInVA]

I have been told that the VA Horse Council and the state Ag agency is in the process of trying to organize and formulate some sort of mass plan for dealing with horses during emergencies such as a hurricane, tornadoes, massive storm systems, and clearance sales at WalMart.

[pwynnnorman]

FEMA works with state/local levels to make sure everyone is on the same page, communicating, and following orders.

:lol::lol: Yeah, MayS, with each other, sure. But not with us!

I wonder how many town/county websites in Florida are like Marion County's: lacking an easy-to-find list of shelters, etc., etc. Wish I were back in school needing something to do a study and write a paper on.

[J Swan]

I have been told that the VA Horse Council and the state Ag agency is in the process of trying to organize and formulate some sort of mass plan for dealing with horses during emergencies such as a hurricane, tornadoes, massive storm systems, and clearance sales at WalMart.


Lex - contact RNB from this board for further info. I worked with her to put my farm on a "list" of placed people can bring their livestock.

I'm pretty sure she's up to speed on everything. Virginia suspended the sales tax on emergency equipment in late May; but it's over.

Anyway - contact RNB and I'm sure she can give you an update. I went to the website and was surprised that I couldn't find any info on this subject. Maybe I missed it.

[RNB]

JSwan ~ I think you'd be the first person to have said I was 'up to speed'!! :lol: Maybe I'll at least get an "A" for effort! I apologize for not getting back to this thread. I was gone for almost a week and came home last Sunday to 100+ heat and NO a/c :dead: or computer :cry: or...... Needless to say it's been miserable!

But to answer a few questions. Yes the VA Horse Council has been putting together a list of farms willing to help during a disaster. Thank you JSwan for filling out the form!! :yes: And you are correct, at this very moment there is nothing listed on the new website. I hope to change that within the next couple of weeks. We have redesigned, updated, changed servers and everything else imaginable regarding the site. In doing so, we ran into a few problems which have been worked out so we can now start adding info.

The State Animal Rescue Team (SART) is in it's beginning phases. I honestly believe, if organized properly, this will be a good thing. NC already has an excellent program in place and VA is trying to copy what they have done. What is now needed are CART (County Animal Rescue Team) organizations...in other words local groups throughout the state. As far as I know there are only two CART groups. One is in my area, southeastern VA, and the other in northern VA. I believe my CART is a little further along in it's planning, etc. We have been meeting monthly since the first of the year. Meetings are open to everyone and we now have an ongoing list of people willing to help. We have divided up in to groups such as...commmunications, rescue, administration, etc. While some folks may not want to be the hands-on rescue types, there is a huge need for folks to do the admin work, ID-ing names, locating food, etc.

The plan is...once the local CART groups are formed and organized they would report and work with the group on the state level. In a perfect world, should my area be hit by a hurricane our area CART would set-up a staging area to help with the displaced horses, people, etc. Prior to landfall we would be able to help folks get to 'safe' areas/barns/farms by contact of other CART groups throughout the state. Our contacts not only include farms such as JSwan's but vets, ferriers, people willing to trailer, hay and feed sources, etc. Other CART groups may also go to a hard hit area to assist.

We have a meeting this coming Wednesday in Chesapeake and not only will I report to you guys what was discussed but also bring up at the meeting that the topic is being discussed here on COTH.

One of the biggest obstacles is getting the information out to horse folks and having them get info to the organization. This is going to take some time but I believe it is a worthwhile undertaking.

LexInVA ~ Where are you located in VA? Perhaps I can put you in contact with the group in Nor.VA.

Wynne ~ It is my understanding that the SART group in FL is doing a good job as well. I just don't think as many people have heard of it as hoped. I can try and get contact info for you if you would like.

As I think I mentioned in an earlier post, the most important thing a horse owner can do is have an emergency plan and be ready at a moments notice. If you wait until you need it....it's too late.

Another thing I might mention. Many horse organizations have emergency contacts. Example: Our area is mainly made up of Hunters and we have quite a few large show barns. Because of this most of the barns evacuated to other show barns around the state.....they knew other show barns and contacted them in advance. If you happen to belong to a certain group ask if they know where one might go during an emergency. Never hurts to ask.

Preparedness and communication are essential. However, no matter how organized an area might be I firmly believe every person must be prepared to go it alone.

If you would like, I will be glad to start posting info that is discussed at the CART meetings.

[LexInVA]

I live in Fairfax County but I don't have any horses here. I would be interested in helping to organize the few folks here that do though. I was talking with one of the meeting attendees at the Frying Pan Park meeting and she told me that someone on the horse council was organizing something for the various regions. Here, all it would take is one big fire or storm to sweep through Clifton and parts of Prince William to give us a nightmare. To my knowledge, the county I live in doesn't have anything on the books for animals as far as disaster prep and recovery goes. The various animal rescue groups (LOST, HART, FOHA, FCHS) would be expected to handle whatever comes up.

[pwynnnorman]

Well, because I was such a b***h about it, I thought I'd report back on my trials and tribulations with emergency preparedness communication in the Horse Capital of the USA.

I got an email listing the shelters a few days ago, but it ignored my complaint about the information not being on the Marion County website. Today, I got another email saying the person had passed my concerns along to someone. The email also gave me two other URLS--none from Marion County--indicating they "should be familiar to me since they are the ones noted in the public service announcements."

WHAT public service announcements? And to think that this person thinks that should be ALL that is necessary to make sure everyone has vital information.

I remain stunned, stunned, stunned that those URLS aren't screaming at you from the Marion County website, especially on the specific pages of the site that deal with emergency preparedness.

My take home message is: Don't rely on others to safeguard you and yours. Be proactive and have your OWN plans!

Still, I am very disappointed about this. I think I'll continue the battle--it's my tax dollars, too, after all.

[BLBGP]

My take home message is: Don't rely on others to safeguard you and yours. Be proactive and have your OWN plans!


That is a very good message for people to understand. Nationally, there is only one firefighter for every 280 people, only one EMT for every 325 people, and only one sworn officer for every 385 people. Since trained animal control officers and humane officers are generally the only ones allowed behind fire lines to help evacuate pets and livestock, I am sure the rescuer to horse number is even worse than this. The only way to ensure your safety is to prepare yourself and inspire your friends and neighbors to do the same.

But since disasters don't have dates scheduled on the calendar, it's really easy for people to let those preparations slip. If I had a dollar for every canine Katrina evacuee whose owners told me "I just got his new tags but I didn't put them on yet" I'd be able to have a great night on the town.

When you break it down, disaster preparedness is really very simple. Teach your horses to load, have collars and leashes for your dogs, and pillowcases for your small pets. Keep necessary medications handy. Microchip your pets and keep color photos of them (with you in the photo!) handy in case you are separated. Have extra food and lots of water, especially if you are on an electric pump. Know how you can reach friends and family if cell or internet service is down. Send copies of vital documents to a trusted friend in a different state or put them on a protected thumb drive in case your house falls down and you lose everything. Have a plan about which way you'd run/drive/ride and where you'd stay if the waters suddenly rise or the fires head your way. The rest is gravy.

It's sad, and telling, to look at how many views this thread has compared to other threads. Disaster preparedness isn't often seen as a priority and is something that is uncomfortable to think about (or read about, I guess).