Lightening, thunder, hail and strong winds. The symptoms of summer weather bring with them concerns about your safety and the safety of your animals on the farm.

To help you in planning your response to rough weather, we've compiled information from several sources.

To Shelter or Not to Shelter Animals
Many livestock owners say it’s best to turn your farm animals loose, especially if the barn or shelter is not tornado safe. They’ll avoid injury in case an unstable structure threatens to come down around them. Others say if you can get them to a tornado-safe area, keep them indoors.

Sheltering Whether to move farm animals to shelter or leave them outside will depend on the integrity and location of the shelter being used and the type of disaster. During Hurricane Andrew, some horses left outside suffered less injury then those placed in shelters. This was because some shelters selected did not withstand the high winds. Horses were injured by collapsing structures and flying objects that may have been avoided on the outside.   Another reason for possibly leaving animals unsheltered is because flood waters that inundate a barn could trap animals inside, causing them to drown. During severe winter weather, shelter animals from icy wind, rain, and snow. Generally, if the structure is sound, the animals should be placed indoors. Once they are inside, secure all openings to the outside. As mentioned previously, the sheltering should be ordered and completed before similar action is taken for humans. Farm cats and dogs should either be placed in a disaster-proof place or turned loose, as they generally will stay close to their home in the immediate period following a disaster. If they are loose, however, attempts must be made to immediately catch them after the threat is over to prevent these animals from becoming feral and a public health hazard.                   Source: USDA

Read the sidebar for more information from the USDA regarding sheltering your farm animals.

Planning Ahead
Knowing that your household and animals are prepared for an emergency, such as fire or destructive weather, gives you peace of mind, which is better than the finest insurance policy, writes Kathleen Ewing in “Get Out Now!" from the January/February 2007 Hobby Farms.

Her article offers numerous tips and checklists to help farm and livestock owners prepare for disasters.

Getting Started
In any successful evacuation, the initial steps begin months before the actual event. Kay Addrisi, former Emergency Management Director for Garfield County, Colo., recommends creating a written emergency plan. This plan should include drawing and posting maps of escape paths from each building. Post beside your exit point a checklist of items from your home, office or barn that must go with you.

• Practice your plan. Designate escape routes and destinations as well as alternatives for both. Fine tune the plan and make certain your family and everyone else who lives, works or boards at your facility is familiar with it.
• Create an emergency "go-bag" for each person in the household. A change of clothes, sturdy shoes, prescription medications, spare glasses, battery-operated radio and flashlight. Anyone with special needs should be provided for--diapers, formula, hearing aid batteries, etc.
• Develop a Support Team by arranging reciprocal agreements with friends, promising that you will come to their aid with your truck or trailer if they will come to yours.
• Make sure your animals are familiar with the trailer you will use and that they load willingly into it. 
• As your last act before leaving, tape a sign with the word "EVACUATED" printed in large, dark, block lettersto your front door. At the bottom of it, write the telephone number where you can be contacted as well as the number of your out-of-area contact person.

Prepare Your Animals
If disaster threatens, be prepared to evacuate animals at a moment's notice:

• Keep a phone list of your network of helpers beside the phone
• Keep pets crate-trained and larger animals schooled on loading into trailers or trucks
• Have a "go-bag" ready for pets, including food and water containers, as well as special food or medications
• Bring small pets indoors
• Have identification and contact information on each collar or halter
• Mark stalls or pens--both front and rear exits--with a splotch of paint or colored ribbon to designate priority animals
• Train your animals to leave through all exits of stalls or pastures
• Keep gas tanks full and vehicles pointed toward the road
• Keep trailers hitched and close to stable or loading pens
• Decide ahead of time what you will do if any animal balks

Suggested Household Evacuation Checklist
Create a checklist of items you consider essential and keep the items accessible. Mark off items as you load them into vehicles so no one will waste time searching.

• Keys (Always keep in the same place when not in use)
• Purses and wallets
• Cash and credit cards
• Cell phone and charger
• Go-bags
• Organizer (addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses)
• Copies of insurance documents and birth certificates
• Other important documents
• Prescription medications
• Family photographs
• Computer software and back-up media (tapes, CDs, jump drives)
• Valuable jewelry and family heirlooms
• Weapons and ammunition (to prevent being looted or exploding)

~ Excerpts from “Get Out Now!" by Kathleen Ewing, January/February 2007 Hobby Farms.

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