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Surviving a Hurricane
From the The Large Animal
Disaster Committee Plantation, Florida
- Start to pick
up and clean up your property. Try to involve and help your neighbors
do the same. Loose items and debris can become lethal missiles in a
storm.
- Check your
fences, be sure they are sturdy and in good condition. In a Class 1
or 2 hurricane, the Committee recommends animals may be safest in a
reasonably sturdy barn. In a Class 3 or 4 hurricane, your animals may
be safest in a large pasture with room to move around and utilize
their best instincts. This should only be done if:
- There are no
electrical wires that can create a hazard with the water that will
ensue from heavy rains;
- The fences
are in good repair. The Committee recommends board fences that are
nailed to the posts on the inside. So if a horse pushes or leans
against them, the nails are pushed further into the post, securing
the rails, rather than pushing the rails away from the post. Barb
wire fencing is not recommended as it will injure the horse. Chain
link and horse wire fences are not recommended because they will
collect debris, and quite likely go down, allowing your horse to get
loose.
- Identify your
horse by using at least 3 forms of identification. Plan ahead to have
appropriate materials to ID your horse on hand at all times.
- Spray paint
your telephone number with the area code, on the side of the
animal. Acrylic paint is recommended. This will wear off in one or
two weeks.
- Attach a
fetlock band or mare band to your animal with your name, address and
telephone number on it in permanent ink.
- Braid a
luggage tag into the main or tail, close to the base. Again, be
sure its water proofed and in permanent ink.
- Attach the
pertinent information to the halter. Secure tightly in a ziplock
bag, and securely tap with packing tape to the halter.
- Freeze
branding, microchip IDs, tattoos are permanent forms of
identification. However, rescuers need to know to look for
microchips and tattoos, and they have to be registered and kept
current when animals change hands to serve their purpose. More
visible identification is more serviceable in a disaster.
- Be sure to
have photographs of you and your animal to prove ownership. Be sure
photographs show any distinguishing markings. Keep photos in a safe
dry place and send one copy of out of the area.
- Be sure that
your horse is wearing a leather halter. The halter will make it much
easier for someone to catch your horse if it gets loose. A leather
halter is more likely to break loose if the horse gets caught on
something, a nylon halter will not.
- It is strongly
suggested that your horse have on bell boots to protect its legs.
- If you plan to
evacuate your animal out of the area, plan now for where you will go,
and also leave early. Remember that traffic will be heavy and you do
not want to get caught on the road with animals in horse trailers.
They are unstable in high winds, and horses can easily be injured in
the event of an accident.
- Plan for water
and feed for your animals. Water is critical, and remember that water
on the ground may quickly become contaminated. Plan for 12 gallons
per day per animal. Hay is the most critical food for a disaster.
There is less danger of the animal foundering. Plan to store up off
the ground, and in a dry place.
- Begin to
evaluate your barn or stable for its resistance to hurricane winds.
Be sure roofs are strong and strapped down and that doors and gates
are secure. The Committee has more information on this topic
forthcoming.
A final point and
a strong recommendation is that you have on hand a supply of basic first
aid items (i.e.: bandages, anesthetics, etc.).
The Large Animal
Disaster Committee has tentatively identified Tree Tops Park in Davie
and Trade Winds Park in Coconut Creek as triage centers and collection
points for injured and loose horses in the event of a storm. If your
animal is missing, check with one of these centers first. If those
areas are affected by the storm, watch the media for alternative sites.
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