Develop
a Barn Safety and Evacuation Plan
Your evacuation plan should outline each type of disaster and determine
specific scenarios best suited for each situation. It should include
a list of resources such as trucks, trailers, pasture and/or feed
which might be needed in an evacuation as well as a designated person
who will unlock gates and doors and make your facility easily accessible
to emergency personnel.
Post
your plan in a clearly visible place.
Make
sure that everyone who lives, works or boards at your barn is familiar
with the plan.
-Get to know your neighbors and their animals.
-Select a Neighborhood Coordinator who is familiar with
your evacuation plan and will be ready to assist should
a disaster occur when you are not at home.
-Learn to handle your neighbors' animals and identify
those which have special handling needs (i.e. stallions).
-Post an updated phone list (home and office) of all
neighbors and anyone who boards at your facility.
Food
and Water Requirements
-Water should ALWAYS given so that all animals
have access to it all the time. Animals (except birds), like people,
can go extended periods of time without food, but can only
last a couple of days at the most without water. The
values, below, are approximate per adult animal
per day and may vary greatly with temperature, workload, stress
and disease.
-Sources of feed should be identified before a disaster.
-In general most herbivorous animals are going to eat
approximately 1-2% of their body weight in some form of
"roughage." Roughage is hay or hay-like products
(pellets, cubes, hay, etc.) In an emergency grain products ("concentrates")
need not be given.
During
and Following a Disaster
Your personal safety and that of those around you should always
be your first concern. A pre-determined plan will help you remain
calm and think clearly. Remember to communicate and cooperate with
all emergency personnel. If you must leave the premises let someone
know where you are going and try to remain in contact with that
person.
In
the Event of a Fire
Do not enter buildings that are already burning--smoke inhalation
will slow you down and possibly kill you. Contact emergency personnel
immediately. Report changes in wind direction, speed and fire behavior.
Post a lookout for possible dangers. Have your trailer hitched and
pointed towards the road. Leave barn doors unlocked and keys in
the ignition. Put halters on animals and keep gates unlocked but
secure. If you believe that the barn will burn before emergency
personnel will arrive, release the animals to a safer location.
Animals often will return to a place they know as home, but you
should not enter buildings that are already burning. Leave this
to fully equipped emergency personnel. Smoke inhalation can slow
you down and kill you.
If
you are caught out in the open when the fire hits, seek areas with
sparse vegetation or bare ground. Lie face down in a depression
and cover yourself with anything that will protect you from the
heat. Avoid trying to outrun the head of a fire, instead watch for
slower burning flanks. Do not attempt to control the animals that
are with you. Let them go free--they will have a better chance of
escaping the fire.
In
the Event of an Earthquake
During the quake remember to Drop, Cover, or Hold On. Once the tremors
have stopped, take a good look around. Do not enter buildings that
may have become unstable during the quake. Like you, your animals
will be frightened and need reassurance. If an animal has become
injured or trapped, call emergency personnel immediately. Be prepared
for aftershocks.
In
the Event of an Flood
If you receive notice of rapidly rising waters, move all animals,
feed and water to higher ground. Escape routes may be cut off quickly
so avoid leaving animals in standing water or in areas that may
be easily cut off by the flood.
If
You Must Leave Animals Behind
Post a highly visible sign (either on a window or a door) letting
rescue workers know the breed and amount of animals which remain.
Leave plenty of food and water in an adequate container that cannot
be tipped over. Place extra food close to the animals so rescue
workers may feed them daily. Do not tie the animals or leave them
confined in an area that may be easily destroyed. Loose animals
on roads or highways can be easily injured and interfere with emergency
rescue vehicles, so the animals should be directed towards a safer
area such as a pasture.
If
Your Animal Becomes Lost
Immediately call or visit the nearest animals shelter or emergency
command post. When deemed safe, return to your neighborhood to post
and distribute lost animal posters, which include your name, address,
phone number and a picture of the animal. Animals may stay hidden
for weeks, so be patient and continue searching your area.
If
You Find a Lost Animal
If you should find a lost animal, please notify the local animal
shelter as soon as possible and be prepared to give a full description
of the animal (i.e. color, breed, sex) and its location. Remember
that sick and/or injured animals can become unpredictable from the
stress of injury, and should be handled by a professional familiar
with proper handling techniques.
What
Can You Do to Help?
-Help organize a neighborhood rescue group.
-Join an animal rescue team and learn techniques to
aid animals during a disaster.
Get
Your Veterinarian Involved.
Check to see if there is a local animal care organization in your
area that you can join.
Before
Disaster Strikes
Be Prepared
-Reduce
Hazards
-Maintain a firebreak around all buildings.
-Mow weeds and trim trees which reside close to any
buildings.
-Regularly clean roofs and gutters.
-Repair exposed wires, rotten supports and blocked waterways.
-Post No Smoking signs.
-Clearly label all shut-offs.
-Store combustibles such as hay, straw, wood, shavings
and/or gasoline away from animal barns.
-Remove overhanging trees that may fall on animals or
buildings.
-Keep an adequate water source
Identify
Your Pet
Keep animal vaccinations current and photographs, papers and other
identifying documents in a safe and easily accessible location.
Brand, tag, freeze marking, tattoo or implant your animals with
a permanent Microchip I.D.
Prepare
a Disaster Kit
Successful disaster preparedness depends on knowing where emergency
equipment is stored and keeping it easily accessible. Your facility
should be equipped with ladder(s) long enough to reach the roof,
cotton ropes, shovels, rakes, water buckets, flashlights or lanterns,
blankets and a minimum of 100 feet of hose. Restraining equipment
such as cotton halters, cotton lead ropes, collars, whips, hot shot,
hog snares, blindfolds, fence panels and hot wire kits are also
a must in an emergency. Have an adequate, portable first-aid kit
and a battery powered radio ready at all times.
Information obtained
from American
Red Cross and the Humane
Society of the United States
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