Plan For A Weather Emergency

Lightning. Floods. Tornado. Fire. Hurricanes. It's scary stuff. But there are steps you can take before, during and after an emergency to make sure your horse stays as safe as possible.

The best time to prepare for a weather emergency is long before it happens. A well stocked emergency kit is the first thing to put together. Talk to your veterinarian about the right supplies for you. It helps to keep your horse's identification, Coggins certificate and vaccination certificates in your kit along with the usual emergency supplies. Plan for a minimum of 72 hours worth of supplies.

If you can attend a first aid training class, do! In a weather emergency, your vet might not be available. Be alert to the signs of colic and know what to do.

Consider purchasing a fetlock ID band to put on your horses front feet prior to an emergency. If they get loose, it will make identification easier.

Lightning
The most common emergency you'll probably face is lightening. While the chance of you or your horse getting struck by lightning is fairly low, it's still a dangerous situation. There's also the risk of a fear-based injury or illness. Your horse may spook in his stall, run through a fence line or experience panic in the pasture. If your horse shows signs of anxiety during thunderstorms, you may want to consult your vet and consider sedation during storms (for your horse, not you).

If you're out on the trail or away from home, follow these tips to stay safe in a lightning storm.

Flood
If your barn is subject to flooding, do not lock your horses in your barn. Be sure they are able to escape to higher ground. When the water recedes, check your structure carefully for debris, instability or snakes.

Flood waters can contaminate wells and spoil hay, so it's a good idea to have a supply of wrapped hay and sealed water containers on hand for the aftermath.

Tornado
Tornados are sudden, frightening and unpredictable. Often the safest thing to do is to turn your horses out. Instinct may be their best protection.

Wildfire
Barn fires kill more horses than any other disaster. In the event of a wildfire, turn your horses out. Their chances of surviving will increase dramatically.

Hurricane
If you live in an area prone to hurricanes, consider emergency boarding. Ideally, you should identify shelters in opposite directions so that you'll have options based on the direction of the storm. Find out well in advance what paperwork they will need to shelter your horse.

If you can't move your horse, take as many precautions as possible. Leave him in a covered area but don't close the doors or gates so that he can escape if necessary. Secure anything that can become a projectile. If you leave a horse outside, make sure the location is free of power lines and other hazards.

Do not leave him outside with a halter on but consider putting fetlock ID bands on his front feet for easy identification if he gets loose. Do not attach the Coggins certificate to your horse. A Coggins certificate would allow your horse to be taken out of state; it's a slim possibility, but horses have been stolen during the hectic aftermath of hurricanes.

It's a good idea to have a supply of wrapped hay and sealed water containers (clean garbage cans work well) available. Also consider keeping a long roll of plastic fencing (the orange stuff you see at construction sites) on hand. It will make emergency fencing repairs easier.

The Aftermath

Once the weather emergency is over, there's still a lot of potential for danger. Even if your horse didn't suffer any obvious injury, he could be highly stressed from his ordeal. Be on the lookout for signs of colic and other stress related conditions and take appropriate steps.

Once you've located and secured your horses and determined their condition, it's time to inspect the premises. Look for foreign materials (tin, glass, nails) and downed fences or power lines. Inspect your barn for stability and cleanliness.

An effective disaster preparedness plan begins long before the disaster. If you prepare early, plan carefully and keep your cool, you should be able to keep one step ahead of Mother Nature.

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