If you have large animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats or pigs on your property, be sure to prepare before a disaster.
♦ Ensure all animals have some form of identification.
♦ Evacuate animals whenever possible. Map out primary and secondary routes in advance.
♦ Make available vehicles and trailers needed for transporting and supporting each type of animal. Also make available experienced handlers and drivers.
♦ Ensure destinations have food, water, veterinary care and handling equipment.
♦ If evacuation is not possible, animal owners must decide whether to move large animals to shelter or turn them outside.
Equine identification
- microchip
- tattoo
- halter tag
- neck collars
- leg band
- brand
- mane clip
- luggage tag braided into tail or mane
- clipper-shaved information in the animal’s hair
- livestock marking crayon, non-toxic, non-water-soluble spray paint, or non-water-soluble markers to write on the animal’s side
- permanent marker to mark hooves
Livestock identification
- neck chain
- ear notches
- leg band
- ear tag
- brand
- livestock marking crayon, non-toxic, non-water-soluble spray paint, or markers to write on the animal’s side
- wattle notching
- ear tattoo
- back or tail tag
Evacuating large animals
Equine and livestock evacuation can be challenging. Develop an evacuation plan in advance and make sure animals are familiar with being loaded onto a trailer. Locate and prearrange an evacuation site for your animals outside your immediate area. Possible sites include:
- veterinary or land grant colleges
- racetracks
- show grounds
- pastures
- stables
- fairgrounds
- equestrian centers
- livestock corrals
- stockyards or auction facilities
- other boarding facilities
If you do not have enough trailers to quickly transport all of your animals to an evacuation site, contact neighbors, local haulers, farmers, producers or other transportation providers to establish a network of available and reliable resources that can provide transportation in the event of a disaster.
If evacuation of horses/livestock is impossible, relocate them to the safest place possible based on the type of imminent disaster and the environment, realizing that the situation could be life threatening. Make sure they have access to hay or another appropriate and safe food source, as well as clean water and the safest living area possible. Do not rely on automatic watering systems, because power may be lost.
The decision to leave your horses/livestock in the field or in the barn should be based on the risks of injury resulting from the disaster and from the immediate environment during that disaster.