Disaster Preparation for Horses

By Dr. Lydia Gray on November 19, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Barn Skills

(Although I didn’t actually receive a question on this topic, the recent California fires inspired me to write about it because it’s an area most horse owners don’t think about until it’s too late.)

An emergency is an urgent situation. A disaster is an emergency that overwhelms the resources of the individual or even local community. While emergencies and disasters may be unavoidable, how well you and your horse cope with a potentially life-threatening situation depends on how well you prepared ahead of time. Because some disasters (like a barn fire) can happen in any area, but others (like a hurricane or tornado) usually only happen in certain areas, you need to know and prepare for situations that are likely to occur where you live. Also, being responsible for the wellbeing of a horse during a disaster is a bit more challenging than being responsible for a dog, cat or other small pet. Below are some resources I hope you take the time to check out and use!

http://www.aaep.org/emergency_prep.htm#own

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has disaster preparedness documents and links to other agencies on their website that are specifically for horse owners.

http://www.avma.org/disaster/saving_family.asp

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has guidelines for all species of animals, including horses.

http://www.fema.gov/individual/animals.shtm

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is officially part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Their mission is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards through a system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation.

http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is an official first responder for disasters in the US. Take their interactive quiz to find out if you’re really ready for an emergency.