How to Prepare Your Livestock and Small Farm for a Storm
1. Mitigation: preventing future emergencies or minimizing the effects
This includes any activities that prevent an emergency or reduce the damage of unavoidable emergencies. For example, knowing the food and water requirements for your livestock is a mitigation activity.
2. Preparedness: preparing to handle an emergency
This step includes plans or preparations to safely secure and care for your livestock. For example, completing a first-aid kit, evacuation plan, emergency barn kit and animal identification system is a preparedness activity.
3. Response: responding safely to an emergency
This includes taking action to save your livestock and prevent further property damage. For example, putting your emergency management preparedness plan into action may include turning off circuit breakers to the barn.
4. Recovery: recovering from an emergency
This includes actions taken to return to a normal or a safer situation following an emergency. For example, getting financial assistance to help pay for the repairs.
Consider this comprehensive toolbox on dairyherd.com to prepare and protect your farm:
Livestock Emergency Management Checklist
Evacuation Toolkit for Small Farms
Sample Emergency Contacts Form for Small Farms
Livestock Food and Water Requirements During Storms
Check out these national and regional crisis resources on agweb.com
Source: Marion County Extension