Safe Travels

Prepare to Evacuate

Wildfire. Tornado. Hurricane. Flood. Earthquake. Use this expert survival guide to develop a safe escape plan in case of emergency.

By Rebecca Gimenez Husted, PhD

In the event of a natural disaster, you may just have minutes to evacuate your horse, pets, and livestock, as well as your family and yourself. Take the time now to develop an evacuation plan with this expert guide.

If you have to turn a horse out or leave one behind during an emergency evacuation, a leg band with ownership information is a low-tech, but highly effective way to reunite with him.

COURTESY OF REBECCA HUSTED GIMENEZ

House/Barn Prep

Record your assets.

Microchip every horse.

Buy leg bands for every horse.

Store equine records off-site.

Set out halters.

Know equipment location.

Check for hazards.

Minimize damage. Consider what you can do to minimize damage. Cover pane glass with shutters if you live where a highwind event might occur.

List tasks. In case you need to evacuate, list the crucial tasks specific to your barn that must be done before you leave.

Invest in a radio and CB with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radio capability.

Assemble first-aid kits.

Emergency-Shelter Prep

Keep equine records in your vehicle.

Lay in feed/water supplies. Have on hand or in your tow vehicle or trailer about three days’ supply of feed, water, medications, etc., for each horse.

Check into overnight stabling. Find available sheltering facilities across your state.

Prepare to shelter in place.

Make sure everyone in your horsehold knows the location of barn-fire response equipment, such as emergency phones, hoses, water sources, fire extinguishers, and heavyduty wire cutters.

COURTESY OF REBECCA HUSTED GIMENEZ

Transportation Prep

Plan evacuation transportation.

Teach all the horses on your property to load into the trailer, no matter what.

Ready your rig. Keep your truck fueled and your trailer hitched during imminent disaster season.

Develop an escape route.

Decide where to meet.

An emergency evacuation is no time to be dealing with balky loaders. Teach all the horses on your property to load quickly and effortlessly no matter what.

COURTESY OF REBECCA HUSTED GIMENEZ

Perform Practice Drills

Formulate an evacuation plan and post it where everyone can easily see it.

Hold an unannounced drill every six months.

Practice catching all the horses and leading them to your prearranged meeting place.