Riders on the Storm

The welfare of large animals deserves special consideration and demands advanced planning well before a hurricane begins churning the Gulf. The Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) and the Equine Health Studies Program at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine offers recommendations both for equine owners who decide to evacuate and those who plan to ride out the storm.

Equine Evacuation

If you are planning to move your horses from areas prone to hurricane damage, consider making the following plans in advance:

• Keep your horse current on vaccinations for tetanus and Eastern, Western and West Nile encephalitis.

• Network with horse- or farm animal-owning neighbors. Talk through different disaster scenarios, identify local emergency resources and discuss ways to help one another. Provide your neighbors with your evacuation contact information.

• Know your parish emergency managers such as those at Office of Emergency Preparedness, Animal Control, Sheriff’s Office, etc.

• Be sure your horse has two forms of identification: (1) permanent identification such as a microchip, tattoo or brand, and (2) luggage-type tag secured to the tail and halter (which should be leather for breakaway purposes). Fetlock tags can be acquired online or at a local farm supply store. Alternatively, you can use a paint stick or non-toxic spray paint. Place your name—and/or that of an out-of-area contact—addresses and phone numbers legibly on the tags.

• Store the microchip number (i.e., Coggins form) in an accessible location. Also, send a copy to a friend or family member who lives outside your area, so you can easily access the information if your copy is lost or destroyed.

• Plan to evacuate your horse a sufficient distance from the coast—ideally, north of Interstate 10 and even as far as Alexandria. LSART will set up large animal shelters in the Monroe or Shreveport/Bossier areas.

• Arrange to leave a minimum of 72 hours before the storm’s arrival. Since horses do not travel in the air-conditioned car, there is danger in getting stuck in heat and traffic with a trailer full of horses as a hurricane approaches.

• Prepare a waterproof emergency animal care kit with all the items you normally use, including: medications, salves or ointments, vet-wrap, bandages, tape, etc. Leave the kit in a safe place where you can easily access it after a storm.

• Start early to clean up your property and remove all debris that could be tossed around by storm and hurricane force winds. Be careful of downed power lines, which can be “live” and represent a danger to people and animals.

Weathering the Weather

If you decide to weather the storm at home—which is not usually recommended— the following precautions will improve your ability to take care of your horse after the storm passes:

• When debating whether to keep your horses in a barn or open field, consider barn structure, trees, power lines, the condition of surrounding properties and the likelihood of flooding. If the farm is subject to storm surge or flash flooding, turn the horses out to prevent them from getting trapped and drowning.

• Remove all items from the barn aisles and walls and store them in a safe place.

• Have at least a two to three week supply of hay wrapped in plastic or waterproof tarp and feed stored in plastic watertight containers.

• Place supplies in the highest and driest area, out of reach of floodwaters.

• Fill clean plastic garbage cans with water, secure the top and place them in the barn for use after the storm.

• Maintain an emergency barn kit containing a chain saw and fuel, hammer(s), saw, nails, screws and fencing materials. Place this kit in a secure area before the storm hits, so it’s easily accessible after the storm.

• Keep an ample supply of flashlights, batteries and other non-perishable items.

• Listen to local radio stations in your area. If Internet access is available, visit state-run websites that contain accurate status information (i.e., state police, university, department of agriculture). Take all cautions/warnings seriously and act accordingly.

For more detailed information on hurricane preparations for animal owners, visit lsuequine.com or lsart.org.

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