It’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when will emergency situations happen to you! With all of the wild weather around the country, from flooding to wildfires and tornados, somewhere there are horses and other animals that have gone missing and may never return.
Questions you need to ask yourself:
What is my emergency or evacuation plan?
Do I have proof of ownership and current photos of my animals?
What about a First Aid kit ready and adequate feed supplies in the event I need to leave my home location for a period of time?
The time to really think about these things is when you don’t need them. The time for the NOW to put your plan in place! It’s spring, but with the record rainfall we had through the Midwest and South just the last few weeks, have a bumper crop of weeds, wildflowers, and overgrowth of native forest, trees, and plants. When fall comes around after a hot summer is when the threat of wildfires occurs, (although in North Carolina, Texas and other areas). Small ones in relation to what has happened in the past, but fires, nonetheless.
We also have earthquakes here in our great nation. California is affected almost annually by earthquakes, North Carolina/Tennessee just experience a few as well. But what if one occurred and your barn. Do you have a plan?
Planning is so very important in so many situations from relocating horses, to traveling long or short distances, from fires, flood, tornados, and hurricanes; emergency planning needs to be considered for even show days, trail rides, camping, hunting, and endurance races. I can’t think of a situation where planning should not be a part of your preparedness.
Here are some basic items to have in your emergency kit:
Flashlight with extra batteries
Radio – battery operated
Medications & feed for 2-3 days
Halter & lead rope for every horse
Contact information for you, veterinarian and other contacts
Feeding instructions & restrictions
Fuel in your vehicles
Fire Extinguisher
Water buckets
Identification for your horses – either an ID band or Evacuation Collar
