Plans also need to be in place for large and farm animals. Depending on the event, a decision needs to be made on whether to evacuate the animals, put them in shelter, or leave them in their outdoor paddock.
If you will be evacuating your animals, be sure your truck is always kept gassed up, and your trailer in an easily acceptable spot. If you do not have the means to transport your animals yourself, you should research hauling companies in advance and set a plan in place. Be sure that you do plenty of loading exercises with your animal to be sure they are comfortable stepping into the trailer. The midst of a crisis is not when you want to find out that your horse does not know how to load. Research your destination ahead of time to be sure that they have the facilities to contain your animals, as well as veterinarian offices in the area.
Sometimes it may be better to leave your animals out to pasture. In this case, large animals should also have some form of current identification. This can be in the permanent form of a tattoo, brand, or micro-chip, or an identification tag can be braided into their hair. Livestock markers can also be used to write a name and contact number, along with any special needs, on the animal. If a halter is being left on, it should be a leather, or break-away halter for safety.
When evacuating with large animals, you should bring the following supplies:
- grain
- hay
- water
- bedding
- water bucket and feed pan
- veterinary contact information for clinics in the area you are headed
- medications
- first aid kit
- vaccine records
- important documents such as a bill of sale or breed registry papers
- photos of any distinguishing marks or scars that can help determine ownership if you become separated
Your large animal first aid kit should include the following:
- gauze
- non-stick bandages
- medical tape
- a digital rectal thermometer
- hydrogen peroxide (3%)
- a large syringe
- bandage scissors
- saline solution
- Duct tape
- vet wrap
- antibiotic ointment
- Vaseline
- instant cold pack
- latex exam gloves
- surgical scrub
- towels
- flashlight
- tweezers
- vital sign chart