Emergency preparedness?

BethW · #1 08/31/08, 10:15 AM

With Gustav bearing down on the coast, we've been talking about what we'd do with our animals in an emergency. We're considering a horse/stock trailer for our few goats since we'd have a real problem leaving them behind. Obviously, farms with more animals would have much more limited options.

I'm interested, do any of you all have plans for your livestock?

Minelson · #2 08/31/08, 10:31 AM

My horse trailer is big enough (3 horse slant goose with tack room) Between that and my truck I can fit the whole family in to evacuate. 2 horses, 3 mini goats, 3 dogs, 7 cats, 10 chickens...oh, and hubby can come too

I worry about tornados...All you really can do is hope for the best.

jill.costello · #3 08/31/08, 11:18 AM

While you have the time, TAG the animals! Plastic luggage tags with your info written in permanent marker.

My friend in Corpus Christi, Texas braids these tags into her horses manes and tails and wires them to her goats' horns. That way, JUST IN CASE she has to turn them loose or they GET loose, she might get them back.

If I was in a situation where I HAD to turn them loose to find higher ground for themselves, this is what I would do, as well.

Queen Bee · #4 08/31/08, 11:27 AM

Right now we have enough equip., crates and room to take care of all our animals. I do worry about all those people that are now leaving the Gulf Coast, leaving their animals behind.. Many shelters, hotels, etc will not allow animals. I couldn't leave mine behind.. I wish I had room to invite others to come and bring their animals..

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #5 08/31/08, 04:45 PM

Although we will get the rain and wind, we are the highest point in our county the people around us would be in a world of hurt if we flooded so that we would have to evacuate. We get flooded in because of the smaller rivers around us landlocking our county, especially when they have to let water out of the dam, but we are self sufficient. If we ever had to leave (fire) there is a livestock show barn about 2 hours north of us, I would break in, house my stock and pay the fine or go to jail when it is over. Several of us have talked about this and we would actually all meet there.

I couldn't live like folks do in the gulf, every storm an emergency, every rain a flood, I would never rebuild I would move...it's why we built where we did.

Goatworld.com used to have an emergency 911 site for just this, we housed lots of animals during Katrina and Rita and the storms before that. Vicki

Freeholder · #6 08/31/08, 05:22 PM

Vicki, wouldn't it be a good idea to talk to whoever manages that show barn and make arrangements in advance for it to be a shelter in case you needed it? Then you wouldn't have to worry about fines or jail afterwards!

Anyone who is going to need to evacuate had better get on the ball. People who wait until the last minute end up stuck in traffic -- not a good place to be with a trailer full of animals.

Kathleen

jill.costello · #7 08/31/08, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueJuniperFarm

Vicki, wouldn't it be a good idea to talk to whoever manages that show barn and make arrangements in advance for it to be a shelter in case you needed it? Then you wouldn't have to worry about fines or jail afterwards!

Anyone who is going to need to evacuate had better get on the ball. People who wait until the last minute end up stuck in traffic -- not a good place to be with a trailer full of animals.

Kathleen

It always seems so much easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission!

If she got an out-right "NO!" now and her animals were lost, she would be worse off than if she got punished afterward but had all her stock safe, donchya' think?

Wolf mom · #8 08/31/08, 10:38 PM

After the Rodeo-Chadeski fire, where towns were evacuated here, I decided to be prepared for any emergency.

There's a tack box ready to go with bandages, medicines, dog dishes, leashes, buckets, extra tack for the equine - including an electric fence set up - whatever is needed. Crates are ready for the chickens. Horses are trained to load quickly, trailer tie overnight if needed.

I have a small fire proof lock box with all legal paperwork and cash already inside.

I've made arrangements with 2 people (with land for the animals) on different sides of the state where I can stay at a moments notice. I've said I'd recirocate...

All I need to do is load my tack box, the lock box, food & water, the animals, toss in a couple jeans & some T-shirts for me & I'm on my way. Oh, and my toothbrush - maybe one needs to go in my tack box....

After watching the news the past couple of days, the only other thing I would have is a couple gas cans full as I'm hearing of people caught in traffic for hours.

Only took a little while to get things together, isn't a huge box, & sure is better than worring at the last minute about did I remember this or that...

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #9 08/31/08, 10:47 PM

It's abandoned, owned by a man who is out of state. We have tried to get him to let us get insurance on the arena to put on a regional goat show. And yes especially in Texas.......Ummm officer I am so sorry I had no idea that this would be considered tresspassing (smile pretty here) as soon as the roads are clear we will clean everything up and leave....

Yep Wolfmom being prepared is key, I keep all my show tack together all the time, add fresh hay and feed to it, fill the water barrell and the gas for the generator (my truck is diesel) and I am on the road. Vicki

KimM · #10 08/31/08, 11:15 PM

Lots of great ideas here. I think I'll be getting to work on my own plan. I'm going to include some camping gear as well since one might be able to stay at a camp ground in an emergency. We have a 16" flatbed trailer that a large pen could be set up on if need be, between that and the truckbed, we could take all our critters along.

Shazza · #11 09/01/08, 06:38 AM

Gustav was on our news tonight....Be safe you New Orleans people.