Emergency Plan for Livestock

Below is a list of ways that livestock and horse owners can help to prepare for a disaster or if they have to evacuate. In Nash County, we have a Large Animal Rescue Unit trailer that has corral panels that can be used to make a temporary holding pin for livestock at a shelter or in the event of a motor vehicle accident involving livestock. There are several Large Animal Rescue Teams in the state that can be called to assist with rescuing livestock. Nash County Emergency Management also has a Companion Animal Mobile Equipment Trailer (CAMET) and Companion Animal Shelter Trailer (CAST) that can be used to help set up pet-friendly shelters.  

If you have to evacuate, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that owners prepare a livestock evacuation kit that includes feed, water, supplements, supplies (medications, rope/lariat, halters/leads, cleaning supplies, knives, etc.), and documents showing proof of ownership and medical records (See www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/usda-livestock-preparedness-fact-sheet.pdf).

• Write down a list of emergency telephone numbers, including those of your employees, neighbors, veterinarian, state veterinarian, poison control, local animal shelter, animal care and control, county extension service, local agricultural schools, trailering resources, and local volunteers. Include a contact person outside the disaster area. Give it to everyone involved in caring for your livestock.
• Contact your state department of agriculture and county extension service well in advance of a disaster to learn how they can help in the event of an evacuation. If your animals cannot be evacuated, these agencies may also be able to provide on-farm help or insight.
• Make sure every animal has durable and visible identification.
• Ensure that poultry has access to high perches if they are in a flood-prone area, as well as to food and clean water above the potential flood line.
• Reinforce your house, barn, and outbuildings with hurricane straps and other measures.
• Perform regular safety checks on all utilities, buildings, and facilities on your farm.
• Use only native and deep-rooted plants and trees in landscaping (non-native plants are less durable and hardy in your climate and may become dislodged by high winds or broken by ice and snow).
• Remove all barbed wire and consider rerouting permanent fencing so that animals may move to high ground in a flood and to low-lying areas during high winds.
• Install a hand pump and obtain enough large containers to water your animals for at least a week (municipal water supplies and wells are often contaminated during a disaster).
• Identify alternate water and power sources. A generator with a safely stored supply of fuel may be essential, especially if you have electrical equipment necessary for the well-being of your animals.
• Secure or remove anything that could become blowing debris. Make a habit of securing trailers, propane tanks, and other large objects. If you have boats, feed troughs, or other large containers, fill them with water before any high wind event. This prevents them from blowing around and will also give you an additional supply of water.
• If you use heat lamps or other electrical machinery, make sure the wiring is safe and that any heat source is clear of flammable debris.
• Label hazardous materials and place them all in the same safe area. Provide local fire and rescue and emergency management authorities with information about the location of any hazardous materials on your property.
• Remove old, buried trash, which is a potential source of hazardous materials during flooding that may leach into crops, feed supplies, water sources, and pasture.
• Review and update your disaster plan, supplies, and information regularly.