Mother Nature can hand out some of the most terrifying weather and natural disasters…are you prepared? Natural disasters are terrifying and deadly to humans..what about our livestock and pets? Are you prepared to evacuate your pets and livestock in the event of a natural disaster and care for them somewhere, afterwards?

Unless you have already survived a natural disaster already, the answer probably is no. Who thinks about fire, flood or wind at the height of show season? All pet owners and livestock owners need to be prepared for what could come their way 12 months out of the year, as mother nature is a force to be reckoned with every day.

If your animals all live at home, you should a personal plan of escape and maybe a plan with your neighbors to gather animals and evacuate when you know they are not home or visa versa. If your horses are stabled or pastured elsewhere, ask the barn owner or manager what their plans are so that you are actively involved in a situation where evacuation is the order of the day instead of RESCUE! And NEVER think that it won't happen to you…it can and possibly will!

Earthquake, Fire, Flood, Blizzard, Hurricane or Ice Storm - where ever you live, you are at the mercy of mother nature. Having a plan gives you and your animals the best chance of surviving. Disaster-proofing your barn, home and property can give you the extra time you need to safely escape. Knowing what type of natural disasters are common in your area also helps, although the "100 year event" can leave many feeling woefully unprepared.

Identifying your animals should the worst beset you can be another traumatic event unless you can identify yourself as the owner of the animal! Prepare ahead of time by fitting animals with microchips, freeze branding, branding or lip tattoos. These are permanent identifications and all you need. "Grease pencils" can be used to mark livestock in a hurry (they are sold to mark cattle with). You can label animals with your vet's name and number on one side and yours on another. You need to keep ownership papers (brand inspections, registration papers, bill of sale, etc. along with proof of your identity in a safe place so you will have it after the disaster is over.

Store all your combustibles (to include but not limited to gas, manure, hay, bedding, oils, cleaning supplies) away from your main barn area. Make sure the rest of the property is kept litter and weed free - in a fire the lack of fuel might save your home and barns! If you are in a wind or tornado prone area, remember that wooden boards can become high speed and deadly objects to horses which do not have the ability to dodge 100 mph projectiles. Opinions vary on whether horses are safer inside a barn or turned out in a tornado or hurricane. Evacuation is always a better as a precaution than at the last minute if enough warning is given.

In order to evacuate, you need your vehicles and trailers in working order. A broken trailer hitch or a flat tire can spell the difference between life and death for your horses if you only have a moments notice of an impending disaster and need to evacuate. In a tense evacuation situation, even the best of horses can panic. So it is important to have practiced loading your horses under adverse conditions such as in the dark or in the wind. Keeping towels on hand to either hang wet or dry over both your nostrils and your horses will keep you both from inhaling too much smoke while evacuating a barn or wild fire.

If enough notice is given, and you are not evacuating, you should stock up on feed and store water and fuel for the generator and gas for the vehicles. Oh, and do not forget the stores for yourself and family. Lots of batteries, kerosene, lanterns, etc. Having water stored in case of an earthquake is an excellent idea as water is always a critical issue no matter what the disaster is.

Having a good plan, planned in advance, increases your chances of survival in a natural disaster. Keeping a calm, cool head to implement that plan is a must, too. Always try to move your horses, livestock, pets and yourselves to higher ground BEFORE high water covers your neighborhood!

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