Safety Video: Evacuating Horses in a Natural Disaster

by Fran Jurga | 27 August 2009 | The Jurga Report



Welcome to the third in a series of safety videos from Texas A&M University on aspects of caring for horses during natural disasters.

I'm taking this one personally, since Tropical Storm Danny is headed toward the coast of New England as I write this. And the coast of New England is about 50 feet from this keyboard.

I don't expect that Danny will be Son of Katrina, but last week we had mile-high waves from Hurricane Bill far out to sea, and who knows what next week will bring.

I think it's time to sit down and go over all your a) "hunkering down" and b)"getting-outta-here-now" plans for you and all your animals. Maybe add category c: if you and your animals are all set, who can you help, and how?

In the back-to-school spirit, you can go out and buy a notebook and start writing down all the details the video suggests you'll need. Get out your important papers and start making copies. Call your vet now for any records you need, and check with your local authorities about emergency plans for your community. You just might be glad you did.

Oh, and keep an eye on Danny...and the next one coming behind him.

Thanks to extension.org for making these safety videos available.

Disaster Planning: Are Left-Behind Horses Better off Left In or Out?

Texas A&M University Extension Specialist Dr Brett Scott continues his disaster planning advice with one of the most difficult dilemmas a horse owner can face: if you have to evacuate and can't take your horses (or all the horses at a location), what is the safest way to set up the left-behind animals?

I'd write more but I'm going to the lumberyard to buy three sheets of plywood and a a can of neon spray paint. And I'm going to hide them in a safe place where they won't get used for something else!

That's one thing Dr. Brett doesn't mention: the time to buy storm supplies like plywood and tarps is not when a storm is coming. The stores will be sold out. Invest in those items when they are on sale and store them away.

Thanks to Extension.org for making this video public.