Hurrican Katrina - Not sure what to do

[floridajumper]

As I sit here watching the news I heard the mayor of New Orleans has just issued a MANDATORY EVACUATION of New Orleans. Good luck with whatever you decide. Please keep us updated when you can.

[Barn Bum]

Hi Bopper. As you may already know, this storm has now turned to a Catagory 5. It's understandable that you don't want to leave, but please, for your and your animal's safety, pack up and get out of there! This storm could turn at the last minute and turn into an even more devastating storm, but then again, it could turn away. But to be on the safe side, evacuate even just to the next town. Which ever you choose, hope you and your horses stay safe! Good luck


Member of the No Horses To Slaughter and Mighty Thoroughbred Cliques

[Cartier]

Bopper… we hear this is a Cat 5. It's time to be blunt. People on this board would like you and your horses out of there… what is the hold up? DO you need a horse trailer or trailers? How many horses (and other animals do you have?) There may be people on this forum close to you who can help you get out. I’d even come get you if I could.

[shawnee_Acres]

I would leave now while you have the opportunity. Howeer, if you do not be warned this rain will cause MAJOR flooding in your area. We lived (barely) thru the flooding of Hurricane Floyd in eastern NC MANY MANY animals drowned, THOUSANDS of lviestock were killed, many died from being trapped in barns or small pastures where they could not get to higher ground if you MAUT stay put your hroses in a field NOT A BARN with the highest ground there is. I never keep my hroses in a barn during hurriances and we have many of them in eastern NC

[Louise]

I'm going to add one more thing to your list, and its one that each and every one of us hates to even think about.

If you are going to stay, make sure you have something that will enable you to euthanize one or more of your animals, should it be necessary.

Gawd, I hate to even say that, or think about it, but, you never can tell what sort of catastrophic injuries might occur, and you will not want them to suffer needlessly.

[FLF]

Wow - first of all good luck to all that are going to be hit by this storm. To those knowingly in the path of imminent destruction, while you putting yourself at risk is your business, it's heartbreaking to know your animals will likely suffer because of it. There have been some very generous offers of shelter on here to evacuate animals and people.

Someone else mentioned knowing how to get in touch with your vet - in reality you won't be able to. Phones lines, cell towers all power will be out. This may sound horrible - but be sure you have some method of putting down animals that may sustain major injuries and will otherwise lay there in pain until they die. What will you do if your barn collapses on them? Or even a tree - or more likely they just injure themselves trying to run away in a blind panic?

Thy're saying on CNN now that it could take up to 4 months to just pump the water back out of NO - regardless of how hard the outlying areas get hit, the limited resources will all be diverted to the biggest crisis area.

Please keep your animals safe, it is your obligation.

[pmc]

A horrible but compassionate addition to the supply list, Louise.

[hunt_jump]

Our horses stayed in the barn for Charley and Jeanne last year and were evacuated for Frances. However, our barn is 50 miles inland from the east coast (and probably 100 miles north of where Frances and Jeanne made landfall) and well over 100 miles inland from where Charley came aground. Given that we had part of the barn roof ripped off during Charley and enough trees down that the only way in/out of the farm was to walk/cut your way in/out - and that was from a CAT 1 or 2. During Andrew we knew people in Miami that lost horses to barn roofs falling in. A barn, if it is not hurricane code for 200mph winds, in a CAT 5 can be a death trap. I don't know that turning out is any safer, but I would consider it depending on the trees in the area and the setup of the property. I would also be concerned about flooding if you are low-lying (is there anywhere in souther LA that isn't low-lying).

Things to do in preparation are to take inside anything that could be picked up by tornados (and you will have tornados) and turned into missiles. We lost a solid stucco cement block wall around the pool at my condo not once, but twice in the hurricanes last year. Also, have meds on hand for the horses and cut down/out the grain (horses are prone to colic with this type of pressure change). Have Lots and Lots and Lots of water. Fill everything you have with drinking water for you and the horses and water for the toilets. Even if the water is restored quickly (assuming you are not on a well) it is often not safe to drink. Have bleach on hand and know how to use it to create clean drinking water. Clip your phone number into your horses if you can, if not (or in addition) paint it on their sides large enough to read from 50-100ft. Often if horses get out during the storm people cannot get close enough to them after the storm to read a number in the mane or on the hoof - these animals have been through a traumatic event if it comes to that and are scared. Also, put them in leather halters with waterproof information attached to the halter and braided in the mane to identify the horse.

Honestly, forget trying to heat food - go with can goods and dry foods (bread/peanut butter) that do not need refrigeration and heating - that is of course unless you are like most Floridians these days and have your own personal generator

I honestly agree with everyone else that recommend evacuation. So far this looks to be one of the strongest storms in my memory (granted I am under 30, but I remember Andrew well). At 175 MPH winds currently you are talking about gusts likely well over 200mph - I just heard that this is much like an F3 tornado sustained for hours!! Beyond that the hurricane winds stretch over 100 miles from the eye (which itself this am was 20 miles wide).

Good luck and Stay Safe whatever decision you make.


BTW, everyone else prepare for another hike in gas prices as much of the fuel for the nation comes through or from the gulf and into ports that are and have been closed this week.

[hunt_jump]

Very true Louise. On the other hand, DO NOT GO OUTSIDE DURING THE STORM!!! There are always a number of people killed during storms because they insist on going outside to secure something or check on a fallen tree on the house etc. Once the storm is there your time is up - whetever is still loose should remain loose. Your time to take care of the damage including injuries is after the storm is over.

[JanWeber]

Not to add to the anxiety level, but please have a firearm available in case one of your horses is seriously injured and needs to be put down. Read the thread from the lady in Wisconsin who was fortunate enough to have a kind stranger put her filly out of pain after their tornado experience.

[shakeytails]

A link to hurricane preparedness from FloridaHorse- http://www.floridahorse.com/hurricane/hurricane.html

[anita m]

I had a friend that lived through Andrew and their house literally fell down around them. The only reason they survived was because they all huddled in an interior windowless room. Once the roof comes off, the drywall gets wet and falls apart. Everything becomes a torpedo. The casualty rate in the midst of a hurricane of this size and intensity, with a lot of rainfall is very high. Your horses will likely be injured at the very least. Your home and buildings and landscaping will likely be obliterated. Your area will be decalred a disaster area. It may look like a bomb exploded. PLEASE, if you haven't already done so, LEAVE. PEOPLE may die as a result of this storm. Do you want to be one of them?

[carolprudm]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Zydeco Farm:
Hi guys, you may find this link to a weather forum in New Orleans intersting and quite sobering. If you click on the individual links on the post, you can see anticipated impact from this monster storm. I think the track it plots is pretty close to the current track by the National Weather Service. I'm located about 50 miles north of New Orleans and will be moving my horses to a concrete block barn this afternoon. Planning on driving about 25 miles further north for the peak of the storm armed with rope and chain saws so that we can get back in quickly.

http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1657

I'll be praying. Good luck to all and post when you can!

Terri </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Unless you have a very strong roof the barn could be a death trap.

[beausgirl]

Why are you staying? Do you need transport for your animals? I am sure that there are people here who would help. If I lived closer I would. Never underestimate Mother Nature. She'll win every single time.

Are you going to be able to live with yourself if something should happen to your animals?

I agree that you will need to have the ability to humanely put down an animal if necessary.

[carosello]

They are also telling people on CNN to have CASH, do not depend on your credit card or debit card as power will be out for some time!


Please if you can just move them 50 miles further north. They are saying on the Weather channel that west isnt going to cut it either...go north!

[SLW]

Bopper- one last thing in case you are still checking in. During Hugo the radio and t.v. stations & broadcast towers were physically damaged and not able to report any news once the storm made landfall. Therefore, no matter how many batteries one had one did not get news. Keep this in mind if you stay- if damage occurs outsiders and national guard may be your first source of news and updates a day or so after the storm hits. This was the case in Charleston.

Again, stay safe and hang in there. We will all be waiting for news of your safety.

[Andrew]

FIRST, our thoughts are with you which is going to be catostrophic...

I JUST got to work and got out of the Homesead area of Mimai, in which we all didn't take head to a Cat 1 of Katrina. We all are of the belief that it was a cat 2 that hit the South Miami Homestead/Redland area. I will not have power more than likely till Firday...


NOW....EVERYON....PACK UP AND HEAD AS FAR NORTHWEST YOU CAN. Andrew was a Cat 5 without the rain, this is a Cat 5 WITH RAIN!!! NO BODY should brave this storm out NO BODY....

GOD SPEED TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!

[Arado]

Louise that is a sobering thought. If there is any chance for you to evac PLEASE do it.They are likening this to Andrew only worse.I've lived through enough to know there isn't a snowballs chance in the "bad place" I would stay wher you are. Please get out. BE SAFE.
Does anyone have an "AFTER" PLAN FOR CONTACTING US??[COTHERS] I wold be glad to pt my cell to anyone that would like to use me as a contact.I will do what I can to help or pass along info.

[JulieMontgomery]

I am sickened at watching all of this being shown on CNN and other cable networks .... I am so terrified for all in the area to be affected.

God bless you all.

[equest]

This is frightening. I lived in New Orleans for eight years and Lafayette Louisiana for one. Both areas flooded terribly even in fairly mundane rainstorms. If you must stay, please undertake all necessary preparations for the safety of yourself and your animals.