Disaster Planning: Shelter In Place and Evacuation Check Lists

Hurricane/Disaster Shelter In Place and Evacuation Check Lists

(This checklist applies to most disasters!)

For the past month, Common Sense Horse Keeping has been posting a series of blogs on Disaster Planning, covering hurricanes, wildfires, HAZMAT, tornadoes and more. The series concludes today with your checklist for being prepared if you decide to shelter in place, and your evacuation checklist.

Sheltering in place and having an evacuation checklist will apply to just about every disaster that can affect your stable. If you decide to ride out the storm, you have a lot of work to do:

· Fill every bucket, trash can, and other containers with fresh, clean water. At a minimum, plan on 15 gallons of water per horse per day. Therefore, consider investing in barrels to be used for water storage. You cannot rely on the fire department to provide water.

· Pick up enough hay and feed to last a week if roads become impassable or the feed store is damaged and can't open. Cover with a tarp to keep dry and safe.

· Pick up and store away every item that isn't tied down: flower planters, flags, barn decorations, chairs, tools, etc. Even if this turns out to be just a drill, at least your barn is getting a good cleaning and organizing! Knock over jumps and any other object that can blow over.

· Identify potential low areas around the barn and fix them. Make sandbags and add dirt, rock, etc. to low-lying areas.

· Identify your horses using at least two methods of ID. These can include:

-Body marking with livestock paint. Available at Tractor Supply and from most livestock supply companies. Be aware that these do dry out, so check them and replace them as needed. Put your address and phone number on the sides of your horse.

-Write your info on the hooves with a sharpie.

-Neck banding

-ID tag on halters. When leaving halters on, be sure to use a breakaway halter only. (note that halters should never be left on in the event of a wildfire)

-Braid ID into mane or tail. Use a small baggie with emergency info inside of the baggie, or make a laminated tag. Laminated luggage tags from any office supply store work well. With a baggie, you can include more info, such as dietary concerns or medical issues, in case your horse is lost.

· When using a phone number, be sure to include two numbers, including a landline or the number of a friend or relative from out of state. Just let them know you are using them as an emergency contact. It is not uncommon for phone lines to be down in a major hurricane or after a tornado.

· NEVER attach your horse's Coggins to his body!

· Microchipping is the best bet to identify your horse. It is becoming more common with breed registries and will aid in getting a lost horse back home.

· Keep current photos of your horse, along with their Coggins and vet records, in your personal files so you can identify them should they become missing. Store this in a safe place.

· Attach reflective tape to your halter. Some livestock supply stores also carry reflective paper strips to apply around the hooves and neck. These will help make the horse visible to cars should it get loose.

· Inform others of your plans.

EVACUATION KIT

· 3-7 days' supply of grain and hay for each animal

· Blankets if needed

· Cash

· Copies of vet records, coggins, and proof of ownership. Keep copies in the truck or dressing room ahead of time: Keep them in Emergency Binder.

· Dog/cat carriers

· Duct tape

· Emergency contact list: vets, friends, relatives, evacuation sites: Keep Emergency Binder

· Emergency or weather radio

· Fans

· First Aid Kit

· Flashlights

· Fly Spray

· Filled gas can

· Heavy work gloves

· Identification for each horse, a minimum of 2 methods

· Instructions for feeding and medications

· Knife

· Leg wraps

· Map of local and alternative evacuation routes (phone service may not be working)

· Medications

· Extra halters and leads

· Plastic tubs to store water and feed

· Rope

· Supplements

· Tack and supplies

· Tarps

· Temporary Fencing

· Tools in case the vehicle gets stuck (shovel)

· Twitch

· Water for several days: 12-20 gallons per horse per day

· Water and feed buckets

· Wire cutters

· Wire purifier

Barn owners, managers, and horse owners must take responsibility for the horses in their care. Not only will the disaster itself be traumatic, but the days or weeks following will be chaotic, with the possibility of impassible roads, no access to feed or water, and no electricity. Barn owners should be self-reliant and not rely on outside help, which may or may not be immediately available, as horses will not be given priority in a disaster, especially the more rural the facility is. This fact makes it all that more important for a barn to have planned ahead of time. Employees and horse owners may not be able to commute to the barn, so you may be on your own to care for all the animals. What will your plan be in such a situation?

You can develop a well-thought-out plan based on their assessment by contacting your local fire department or emergency manager. In addition, FEMA offers several online courses and several Facebook groups that will help you prepare and handle disasters. In addition, CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) offers training sessions for handling animals in disasters.

Daily management routines in your barn will also increase the efficiency and confidence in how your barn handles disasters. For example, by following basic fire safety rules, your barn will be able to react in a more proactive manner in case of wildfires. Barns that practice good vet management should be able to prevent the transmission of diseases, which can not only result in sick or dead horses but can also result in a barn being placed under quarantine. 

  Disasters can strike anywhere, at any time. Being prepared by developing a plan, holding drills, and making improvements will help your horses survive.

Thank you for reading this series on Disaster Planning. The entire blog will be available online as well as in the book, Common Sense Horse Keeping, coming summer 2024. Please share this series on disaster planning with your boarders, your barn owner or manager, and your friends. It could just possibly save a life!