THE BUZZ

NATURAL DISASTERS by Katherine Jarve

It is important to have a plan in place to avoid heartbreak and legal problems

This fall Hurricane Ian devastated the southeast United States, especially the states of Florida and South Carolina. It has been considered the deadliest hurricane to strike Florida since 1935 leaving over a hundred people dead and thousands more displaced due to widespread damage. Unfortunately, horse owners are not immune to natural disasters. Hurricane Ian is a difficult reminder that many are unprepared for the extreme weather. This can lead to heart break as well as potential legal trouble.

To protect yourself and your horse, both legally and physically, from extreme weather such as hurricanes, there are steps that every horse owner should take. Of course, geographic location will make a difference in what types of extreme weather events you may face. However, regardless of where you live, you need to establish a plan for extreme weather hazards as there likely won’t be time to figure things out during an emergency.

Plan ahead. Horse owners have plenty to consider when managing the safety of their horses and property during hurricane season or any other natural disaster, but planning ahead can be the difference between minor damage vs. catastrophic loss.

Make sure your property and barn are secured and make it a habit to perform maintenance and repairs as needed. Check for loose or missing fence rails. Make sure all gates and barn doors are secured. Trim trees and any weak branches that could fall on buildings or fences. Depending on the nature of the weather, it may be safer to leave horses outside in a large fenced in pasture as opposed to inside a barn.

Keep a reserve of food and water in the barn that will be dry and easily accessible. If you have or care for a large number of horses, you may consider investing in a generator to run well water.

You should also have your horse easily identified prior to the onslaught of severe weather. Some horses are microchipped or are branded. However, you should always put a halter on your horse identifying the horse’s name and your contact information. You should also keep your horses up to date on all vaccinations, including a tetanus booster (tetanus can result from an injury caused by storm debris) and encephalitis (which can be carried by mosquitoes often more prevalent after a storm).

What if your horse is kept off-site at a trainer’s or breeder’s facility? Any well-drafted boarding or training agreement should discuss the responsibilities of the parties. In the event that it does not, you should, at minimum, discuss what is expected and required of you in the event of a natural disaster. For example: • Does the facility have a hurricane or natural disaster plan in place? • If so, what is your role and/or responsibilities in the plan? • How is the property prepared and protected in the event of extreme weather forecast? • How are horses kept safe? • Does the facility have an evacuation plan? • If so, where are the horses going and how are they getting there? • What role are owners expected to play? Getting the answers to these questions up front will make the process less stressful.

Horse owners have plenty to consider when managing the safety of their horses and property during hurricane season or any other natural disaster, but planning ahead can be the difference between minor damage vs. catastrophic loss. Evacuation plan. Sometimes sheltering in place may be too dangerous and you will need to evacuate. If evacuation is the best choice, do so as soon as possible. It’s a good idea to identify an evacuation site early, including other farms and trainers you know. If you cannot find an empty stall at a friend’s place, there are often large animal shelters set up. Locate these places in advance of any storm threat and know their capacity, as they are likely to be in high demand during a severe event. You don’t want to be left scrambling to find somewhere to take your horse with a storm rapidly approaching. Understand insurance coverage. Coverage for natural disasters can vary and not all natural disasters are treated the same by an insurance carrier. Of course, this will depend on the type of policy you have and the policy language. It is important that you purchase the correct policy for your needs. As previously discussed in August’s article, most homeowner’s policies are not intended to cover farms and ranches. In fact, your farm or ranch is unlikely to be covered at all under a homeowner’s policy. Be sure that your outbuildings such as turn out sheds, barns and equipment buildings, are placed on a farm policy. Additionally, if you are in the commercial side of the equine industry (i.e. horse trainer or breeder), you will need the appropriate commercial and business insurance. s