Disaster Preparedness: How to Mitigate, Prepare, Respond, and Recover From Fires and Floods Dr. Jenifer Nadeau, Equine Extension Specialist
Shocking Statistics $2 billion in damage is sustained and animals risk death from hypothermia/drowning An estimated 20,000 agricultural fires each year result in $102 million in direct property loss Annually more than 300,000 people are driven from their homes by floods 200 flood related fatalities occur annually Wildfire Map of the US http://www.usgs.gov/hazards/wildfires/
Objectives Describe an overview of the emergency management system including the animal owner s role and responsibilities. Review common terminology used in disaster preparedness. Explain flooding and fires and apply the stages of disaster management to these emergencies. Implement and review practice scenarios to put your knowledge to use. List resources that are useful in disaster planning.
Emergency Preparedness Reflecting on hazards that threaten your family s safety and that of your animals and developing a plan on how to prepare for these hazards http://www.floridahorse.com/hurricane/hurricane.html
4 Phases of Emergency Management Preventing future emergencies or minimizing their effects Recovering from an emergency Mitigation Recovery Preparedness Response Preparing to handle an emergency Responding safely to an emergency
Overview of the Emergency Management System Protection from and declaration of national disasters, provide financial assistance if needed, and coordination of disasters through FEMA Emergency response planning, response and assessment to protect the community Federal Government Responsibilities State Government Responsibilities Protection from statewide disasters, provide financial assistance to under funded communities, and review local emergency plans Local Government Responsibilities Personal Responsibilities Familiarity with potential for disaster in your community and the creation of your own emergency plan to care for your animals
Fires Uncontrolled burning that may destroy property or homes and threaten the lives of people and animals Wildfires result when grasslands, brush, or woodlands are burned and may spread quickly Photo 1:http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&q=wildfires Photo 2:http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&q=barn+fire
Floods Flooding results when heavy or continuous rainfall exceeds the absorptive capacity of soil and the flow capacity of rivers, streams, and coastal areas causing the watercourse to overflow its banks onto adjacent lands http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6 113010.stm
Floods Slow rising floods - move down a river or stream, can be predicted to reach a certain height Fast rising foods flash floods that usually result due to extreme heavy rain, melting snow, dam failure or levy failure and occur suddenly Photo 1:http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&q=+river+flood Photo 2:http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&q=flash+flood
Things to Consider Short Term May not have much time to react Need to have a plan in place Should have disaster kit on hand in case of emergency Know how you will evacuate your horse, have trailer ready to go or have one you can borrow Have a way to identify your horse
Disaster Kit Recommended Contents Feed at least a week s supply in airtight, waterproof container, rotate feed every 3 months Extra feeding bucket for each horse One week of water for each horse, can use 50 gallon barrels, store in a cool, dark location Extra water bucket for each horse
Disaster Kit Recommended Contents One week s supply of shavings/straw Extra pitchfork Shovel Extra wheelbarrow/muck bucket First aid kit Grooming supplies including shampoo, sweat scraper, etc.
Disaster Kit Recommended Contents Non-nylon leads and halters Wire cutters and a sharp knife Hoof pick Leg wraps Plastic trash barrel with a lid Portable radio with extra batteries Flashlight
Disaster Kit First Aid Kit Antibacterial soap Antibiotic ointment Sterile gauze sponges & pads 2 to 4 disposable diapers or wrapped sanitary napkins Bandages Ace, 2 ½ gauze bandage roll, leg bandages Adhesive tape 1 and 2 rolls
Disaster Kit First Aid Kit 2-4 quilted or padded wraps Household scissors and/or knife Tweezers Ice bags or chemical ice pack Rubbing alcohol Veterinary or human rectal thermometer Lubricant Stethoscope
Ways to Identify Your Horse Use a livestock crayon to write your name, phone number and address on the horse Use clippers to shave your name, address, phone number into the horse s coat Braid an identification tag with your name, address and phone number into your horse s mane
Ways to Identify Your Horse Have at least 10 recent photos of your horse including some with you in it keep in sealable plastic baggies in your disaster kit with other important documents, medications and insurance papers Keep a copy of the Bill of Sale for your horse or other documentation that can prove ownership with your disaster supplies Have your horse microchipped Have your horse branded Have your horse tattoed
Things to Consider Long Term Need to know what you will do if you cannot return to your home/property Need to have a place that you can stay for a while until you can return to your home/property Should have a way of identifying your animals in case you need to set them free (worst case scenario) or reclaim them from a shelter Should write on a piece of paper the name, address, phone number of your regular veterinarian, keep with your other important documents for your horse
Things to Consider Long Term Locate a mobile equine veterinarian you can use in event of a disaster if you don t already have one in case your horse is too injured to be moved for treatment Write out a release form authorizing another party to give medical treatment for your injured or sick horse, keep on file with your regular vet and an alternate vet. Give a copy to your neighbor or who will take of your horse if you are away
Resources Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov FEMA Independent Study Courses http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/crslist.asp United States Geological Survey http://www.calfire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/f act_sheets/animalevacuation.pdf UConn Eden www.eden.uconn.edu
Thank you and be safe!!
Upcoming Events At UConn CT Horse Symposium March 4-5, 2017