Safeguarding Pets and Livestock From Hurricanes

As Gulf Coast residents prepare for the possibility of Tropical Storm Isaias becoming a hurricane, their evacuation and storm-proofing plans should also factor in the animals that are a part of their lives.

Coastal residents are accustomed to weighing the question of hunkering down or leaving town, but Chance Armstrong, DVM, Dipl. ACT, associate clinical professor at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in Alabama, urged animal owners in flood-prone areas to consider the health and well-being of pets, horses, cattle, and other companion animals in their planning.

“If you’re evacuating, we strongly emphasize taking your pets with you and not leaving them behind,” said Armstrong, who leads the Auburn University Veterinary Emergency Response Team (AVERT). “Have a ‘go bag’ for the pets.”

With a network of more than 40 volunteers, AVERT can be deployed at the request of county Emergency Management Agency (EMA) officials to help companion, farm, and food animals in the aftermath of natural disasters and other emergencies.

Small Animal Essentials

For cat and dog owners, an emergency kit should include food and medicine, as well as travel, sanitation, and first aid supplies. Armstrong recommended having enough pet food to last five to seven days, a seven-day supply of drinking water, collapsible pet bowls, a manual can opener, a scoop or spoon, and a two-week supply of any regular medications your animal needs.

Keep latex or nitrile gloves, flea and tick preventatives, vet wrap, antibiotic ointment, saline solution, Tefla pads, cotton bandage material, and Povidine-iodine or alcohol in your pet first aid kit.

Armstrong said it’s also important for animal owners to gather identification papers (including microchip numbers), medical and vaccination records, medication records, a photo of the pet (with the owner), and emergency contact lists (including your primary veterinarian and an alternate veterinarian within a 30- to 90-mile radius). One key component in planning for evacuation from an oncoming storm is knowing what boarding facilities or pet-friendly hotels might be available within a 100-mile radius.

Pet-Friendly Shelters

Armstrong said residents can find valuable resources, including potential pet-friendly shelter options, through the Alabama EMA. The state’s Ready Alabama program also advises residents to call 211 during evacuation to learn which shelters will accept animals.

Horses, Cattle and Livestock

For the horse and other large animals owners, evacuation plans should start with preparing trailers (checking tires, brakes, lights, hitch components, gates, ramps) and for the potential that feed and water supplies could be disrupted for one to two weeks in the aftermath of a storm.

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has opened livestock shelter locations in Dothan, Troy, and Autaugaville, Alabama. If you cannot relocate your animals, Armstrong said owners should move them to higher ground in flood-prone areas and not confine animals to stalls. Be sure to take inventory of surrounding areas to minimize threats posed by high winds.

“Now is the time to look around your land, your farm, your ranch,” Armstrong said. “Anything that could be blown by the wind needs to be tied down and secured so it doesn’t hurt an animal or a person.”

Store an adequate supply of hay and feed in a dry, protected location and prioritize clean water since horses, cattle, and livestock will each consume five to 15 gallons per day. Have buckets, troughs, hoses, and other equipment on stand-by in case normal distribution systems are unavailable.

Horse owners should place a temporary identification tag or band on the horse containing his name or identification number, the owner’s name, and telephone number and an alternate emergency contact. Cattle owners should ensure ear tags, brands, tattoos, and other permanent ID are present and legible or use temporary ID methods for animals being evacuated.

Animal owners should also keep copies of important records in a waterproof container and, when possible, on an electronic device that can be accessed if the original records are lost or damaged. Records should include: