Dealing With Disasters

As I write this, Hurricane Milton is knocking on my window….I spent the week of Hurricane Helene in Lake Como for the wedding of one of my daughter’s, safe in knowing that the hurricane would spare our farm, located more towards the east part of Florida, and with the animals in the good hands of one of my former pony clubbers. I was not expecting to return to find myself prepping for a hurricane so soon after Helene.

Watching the events unfold from Italy, I was shocked and deeply saddened at the videos I watched of the west coast of Florida being hit hard, and my beloved mountains in the Carolina’s being obliterated. Just two years ago we spent our anniversary in the Blue Ridge mountains. I stood in that stream in Chimney Rock, walked along both the Flowering and Rainbow Bridges, and ate at a darling cafe in Lake Lure. It is hard to process that all of that is now gone.

And how is it that less than two weeks later, pretty much the entire state of Florida is under threat by what is being called one of the worst hurricanes to hit us? And in October, no less. I should be decorating for autumn and Halloween, not preparing for a hurricane.

I have spent the days leading up to today, posting as much information on social media as possible about disaster preparedness…how to ID your horses, whether to leave them in or out, and what to have in your evacuation kit. Most of the time it has been welcomed information, but I had one group suspend me for “promoting myself” when I posted my ID chart information, and another group said they would not post my information as it was insensitive to those in the Carolina’s.

How is it that posting information that could save the life of your animals be considered self-promotion or insensitive?

We know we will lose power, the question is for how long? I don’t do hurricanes well and if I could, I would return to West Virginia in a heartbeat! The only consolation to a hurricane in the fall is that at least the weather will be cooler and make having no power somewhat bearable.

Before I lose power, I wanted to schedule this blog and include a list of reputable groups in which to donate. These include:

These are three organization who are doing tremendous help to assist equines.

I pray that you are safe from the hurricanes or whatever disaster you are facing at this time. The wildfires in Wyoming have been overshadowed by Helene and Milton. Please remember that no matter where you live, you should always have a disaster plan!

*UPDATE* It has been 4..or 5 days… I have lost track of the days since Hurricane Milton slammed Florida. We were very fortunate; we just had lots and lots of tree debris everywhere. Incredibly, 2 large branches landed on my fencing, but the fencing stood strong and did not break! We got our power back on within 30 hours (one of the benefits of having your power supplied by a good old country co-op…in 2004, when we lived in the suburbs, we lost power for a total of 3 weeks between Hurricanes Charlie, Frances and Jeanine) and by yesterday evening, 90% of our debris has been picked up and put into either a burn pile, onto a cargo trailer, into 2 large piles along the road for the county to pick up, as well as cut up for firewood. It was a lot!

I may even attempt to lunge Gabe today, who has been out of commission for a month due to a freak pasture accident and a hoof abscess in the same leg!

If you follow me on Facebook, I posted videos of the hurricane blowing through while doing my last barn check before we lost power, as well as videos showing what steps I take to prep for a hurricane.

I have extended my fundraiser for equine disaster relief. Royalties from my book sales during the month of October will go to equine disaster relief! The book must be purchased through my link: Common Sense Horse Keeping

And don’t forget to come see me at Equine Affaire! I will be speaking on Fire Prevention on Sunday, November 10 at 1:00 at the Seminar Stage in the Better Living Center. I will also have books to sell!

Don’t forget to hug your horse!