By Ruth-Anne Richter BSc (Hon), DVM, MS
As we all watched the
news earlier this spring when our neighbors in the northwest were preparing for
the Red River to flood, it brought to mind that hurricane season is almost
here. Our mid-spring storm was a ‘wake up call’: Are you ready? The key to
surviving a natural disaster is to be prepared, especially if you own horses,
pets and livestock. Having a plan before a hurricane bears down on us, or any
other natural disaster for that matter will increase the probability that the
casualties (animal and human) are kept to a minimum. Much of this article is
common sense, but it never hurts to go over it again.
While we can never really
predict a sudden catastrophic event, we generally have an idea when a hurricane
is looming in our direction a number of days in advance. Having a plan in place
before the storm makes landfall will make getting through the event easier than
if it is all done at the last minute. There should be two phases (at least) to
your plan: The first phase obviously involves being prepared for the impending
storm, and will take time and a certain amount of research. The second phase
occurs after the storm has passed when the work begins to “pick up the pieces”,
assess the horses, the property, and survive until the area returns to normal.
As you feed your horses
today, look at your barn. Is it safe? Are there any loose boards, roofing,
broken latches, broken hinges, cobwebs, nails/bolts sticking out etc.? Are the
doorways and barn aisle free of clutter? Is there more than one exit from the
barn? Look at the fencing, is it in good shape? Do you know which way your
gates open? (This may seem like a silly question, but in a rush when you are
panicked you may forget) Do you have a fire extinguisher? How about a crow bar,
hammer, nails etc.? I know these may be mundane questions, but valid points to
cover when a potential disaster is looming. Loose boards or roofing, garbage,
tack, barn equipment and construction debris can become flying projectiles and
shrapnel in the event of high winds during a hurricane. Cobwebs and dust can
add fuel to a fire. Junk in the doorway or barn aisle can slow down an escape
effort, or can cause a horse (or human) to become trapped. Take the time now to
assess your property and make repairs, before it is too late. As always, a barn
and pastures that are kept in good shape all year round reduces the risk and
severity of accidents.
Other things to consider
are the halters and lead ropes, are they in good condition? Does each horse
have a halter and a lead rope? Leather halters are the best; alternatively, use
a nylon halter with a leather ‘break away strap’, this will break should the
horse become entangled. Having enough halters and lead ropes is vital when you
need to evacuate the horses from the barn in a hurry. Planning an escape route,
and practicing it, saves minutes (and lives) in the event of a fire or flood.
A most important item to
consider whether you stay or leave the area is the provision of food, water and
first aid. Having hay, grain and water for at least 72 hours is recommended. (A
week or more would be better) A good idea is to fill several garbage cans (with
a lid) with water in the 24 hours prior to an impending event. Having one
garbage can of water per horse is ideal. Be sure that your hay and grain is
stored in a dry area.
Do you have an evacuation
plan? Know where to go in the event that you are required to leave your
property. Follow the instructions of your local officials, don’t try to stay
and ‘fight off the storm’, nature is too much of an opponent to face. If there
is a mandatory evacuation order, obey it. There are a number of places that
have been identified by the state and local counties where you could evacuate
the horses. But don’t just show up; call well in advance so that a stall/stalls
can be made available to you. The Sunshine State Horse Council is a good
resource for names of evacuation facilities. Some of these facilities may be
able to offer shelter for your family pets as well. Many hotels do not
regularly permit pets, however because of recent experiences, some of the
hotels and evacuation shelters are now pet “friendly”. This does not
necessarily mean that you and your pet can stay together, but they may be able
to stay in a dedicated room with other pets (in cages). Should you decide to
leave the state, be sure to have a health certificate for the horses. The state
may waive the need to have a health certificate to leave the state during a
hurricane, but you will need one to re-enter Florida. With evacuation in mind,
does your horse load well? Consider the horses that you will need to move, for
example, it is probably not a good idea to move a mare and foal with a stallion
if they have never been in the trailer together. That is, you may need to make
more than one trip or arrange for separate transportation. If you decide to
evacuate, do so early. High profile vehicles will not be allowed on the
highways once wind speeds reach 40 mph.
Service your truck and
trailer; be sure that you have spare tires and plenty of gas in the tank. If
you do not know how to change a tire, find out now so that you are not
stranded. While there are many good Samaritans, realistically, most people will
fend for themselves and leave you on the side of the road. If you have
additional gas tanks, it would be a good idea to have them filled. If you do
not own a trailer investigate who in your area will be able to provide
transportation for your horse(s) and make arrangements early.
Of utmost importance is
that your horses’ Coggin's tests are current, as well as their vaccinations. If
you are evacuated to a large communal site, your horses will be exposed to others
from different regions, and with different vaccination histories; at least
reduce the risk for your own horses. While some facilities may not ask about
vaccination status, all will require a current Coggin's. (Keep the original, and
keep a copy with your horse). The other very important thing to remember, even
if you don’t have the other vaccines current, is to be sure that your horse is
vaccinated for tetanus. Any other pertinent documents such as ownership papers,
insurance papers and photographs (for identification purposes) should all be
with you in a dry and secure container (not with your horse).
If you stay, and decide
to turn your horses out in a field during a hurricane, check the fence lines,
make sure that there is no junk in the pasture or near it, look out for buried
and overhead electrical wires; electrocution is a hazard that is very often
overlooked! Also be cognizant of your neighbors – debris from other properties
can travel a long way in high winds! Make sure that there is some form of identifying
marking (paint, tags etc) on your horse if it is to be let loose. Fences often
come down (or may be taken down by officials) leaving the horse to fend for
itself.
Identification during
this chaotic time is crucial. Many owners will use temporary forms of
identification, including telephone numbers/address etc. A more permanent way
to identify your horse(s) is to microchip. This method is an almost fail-safe
way of identifying your horse should it become misplaced. Keep the supporting
papers with you at all times. This will also place your horse on a national
identification network that will aid in returning your horse to you.
Prepare a first aid kit
that will include bandage materials, antiseptic scrub and solution (to clean
wounds), antibiotic ointment both for the skin and for eyes, wound flush such
as saline, and eye wash. This should be kept in a clean and waterproof
container. Many of the injuries sustained after a hurricane or tornado are
lacerations from flying debris and will need to be cleaned and covered as much
as is possible. It would be best to discuss the contents of a first aid kit
with your veterinarian. If your horse is on medication, be sure that you have
enough to last you through the hurricane and for several days after it passes.
Your veterinarian can also educate you on some basic first aid techniques, and
how to recognize the severity of a wound. For example, wounds near a joint may
look benign, when in fact they do involve the joint, which will require
aggressive veterinary treatment. Eye injuries can similarly look mild
initially, but can rapidly become serious enough that the eye may be lost.
Another overlooked detail
is what you wish to happen to your horse should it become injured and you are
separated from it. A written document that outlines your wishes and how you
would want the horse to be treated should it become necessary can be included
with copied documents (Coggin's and ID) that you leave with the horse. This can
also be provided to your regular veterinarian, chances are he/she will be
around to help out once the danger has subsided.
Remember that after the
storm has passed, the emergency response teams will be occupied with the
immediate concerns of ensuring that the area is safe and that there are
adequate supplies and utilities. While it may seem harsh, human safety is the
primary concern. It may be days before your animals will be evaluated or for
you to return to your home with the horses. You will therefore need to have
sufficient supplies to maintain them (feed and water) as well as first aid
supplies. Veterinary and animal rescue teams are mobilized when there is a
catastrophic event, and they will be usually located at a central site where
animals can be treated and housed.
After the storm has
passed, be aware that there will be displaced wildlife such as snakes,
alligators, coyotes, etc. Be ready for these unexpected and unwilling visitors
– having Fish and Wildlife telephone numbers available is always useful.
Involving your
neighborhood in a plan will optimize resources so that you can help each other
when there is an emergency. If you belong to a local horse group, organizing a
disaster preparedness event with local officials and veterinarians will help to
inform group members. That will also identify those people that may need
transportation assistance, assistance with clearing up/repairing their property
etc. Having a team approach will also increase the probability of a positive
outcome. Make a list of important telephone numbers and distribute it to your neighbors
and relatives. Provide one or more neighbors with a key(s) to your property in
the event that you are unable to get into the home. Be sure that all of your
cell ‘phones are charged.
Surgi-Care Center for
Horses is having a Hurricane Preparedness Expo on Saturday June 13th, 2009 from
10 am – 2 pm. This event is for horse owners and is intended to provide
information about the many aspects of preparation for the new hurricane season.
The event will involve lectures following which groups will move through
several information stations and will include a microchip demonstrations and
sign-up for your horse.
Some useful informational
websites: Sunshine State Horse Council/AHOOF: www.sshc.org FEMA: www.fema.gov
American Association of Equine Practitioners: www.AAEP.org SPCA: www.spcafl.org
State of Florida: www.myflorida.com Humane Society of the United States:
www.hsus.org Florida Horse: www.floridahorse.com/hurricane
Contact
Surgi-Care Center for Horses at 813-643-7177 or
email lkuebelbeck@surgi-carecenter.com with
any questions regarding this topic.
This
article originally appeared in The Practitioner (FAEP in March, 2009 and in Horse & Pony magazine in June, 2009. It is reprinted with their permission.