Large Animal Emergency Preparedness

Many of our residents are farmers and have large animals on their property. Consider putting an Emergency Management Plan in place for you and your animals.
Here is a list of a few things to consider having in your operation:
- Visible identification and proof of ownership for all your animals.
- Turning off all power to buildings and homes (emergency dependent).
- Securing all lawing debris (Trailers, tanks, troughs).
- Labelling hazardous materials and placing them all in a safe place.
- Storing chemicals in an area that will not result in runoff or seepage if they are punctured or spilled.
- Identifying and removing all potential fire hazards.
Livestock Evacuation

Do you have a Livestock Evacuation Plan? It never hurts to be prepared.
In case of evacuation, it is best practice to ensure you have the following in place:
- At least one acre (0.4 hectares) of open space
- Identify at least 2 evacuation routes
- Locate and prearrange evacuation sites.
- Make arrangements for transport vehicles for livestock as well as experienced handlers and drivers.
- Arrange for feed and water at the evacuation site.
- If animals are evacuated to an area where they will co-mingle with other animals:
- Make sure your animals have sufficient identification (ear tags, brands, tattoos)
- Verify health and vaccination status of animals which must be co-mingled and monitor the well-being of the animals to mitigate the potential for an animal disease problem.
- If your pasture meets the following criteria, your animals may be better off out in the pasture than being evacuated:
- Native tree species only
- No overhead powerlines or poles
- No sources of blowing debris
- No barbed wire fencing