For Email Marketing you can trust
Share
|
Hurricane Preparedness 2009 As we all watched the news when our neighbors in the northwest were preparing for the Red River to flood, it brought to mind that hurricane season is just around the corner, June 1st. Our recent Florida spring storm was a ‘wake up call’: Are you ready? The key to surviving a natural disaster is to be prepared. As veterinarians on the road, we have the opportunity to educate our clients about horse care, and in this part of the country, it behooves us to help them to be prepared for a disastrous event, such as a hurricane. While we can never really predict a sudden catastrophic event, we generally have an idea when a hurricane is looming in our direction a number of days in advance. Having a plan in place prior to the storm makes landfall will make getting through the event easier than if it is all done at the last minute. There should be two phases (at least) to the plan: The first phase obviously involves being prepared for the impending storm, and will take some time and a certain amount of research on the owner’s as well as our (the veterinarian’s) part. After the storm has passed the work begins to “pick up the pieces”, assess the horses and survive until the area returns to normal. Taking the time to go over some important details with your clients like planning an escape route, and practicing it, saves minutes (and lives) in the event of a fire and other disaster. Assessing the property and making repairs, before it is too late is vital. Keeping the barn aisle clear of unused items is important to ensuring that the horses can be moved out of the barn in a hurry. Loose boards, roofing tiles, construction debris and general “junk” can become flying projectiles leading to multiple penetrating injuries. Also remember that cobwebs and dust can add fuel to a fire. Another thing to consider are the halters and lead ropes, are they in good condition? Does each horse have a halter and a lead rope? Leather halters are the best, or nylon halters with a leather breakaway strap are a good alternative, as they will break should the horse become entangled. Providing food, water and first aid whether the horses stay or are moved out of the area is a detail that is often overlooked. Having hay, grain and water for at least 72 hours is recommended. (A week or more is better) A good idea is to fill several garbage cans (with a lid) with water in the 24 hours prior to an impending hurricane. Be sure that extra hay and grain can be stored in a dry area. Having an evacuation plan is extremely important. If a mandatory evacuation order is given, listen to it. Know your evacuation zone; this can be found through your local county government and will let you know when the area must be left. Evacuation of horses and livestock in high profile vehicles should be done 72 hours before the hurricane hits. Once the wind speed reaches 40 mph or more, horse and livestock trailers will not be permitted on the roads. Knowing where to go in the event that there is a required evacuation is also important. There are a number of places that have been identified by the state and local counties where you could evacuate horses and family pets, these however will require prior arrangements so that there is space made available for your horses (and pets). With evacuation in mind, it would be prudent to ascertain whether the client (a) has a horse trailer, and (b) whether it is in good working order. Additionally, do the horses load well? What horses do they own – it is never a good idea to mix stallions with mares and foals for example, if they have not ever travelled together. Of utmost importance is that your clients’ horses Coggins tests are current, as well as their vaccinations. If horses are being evacuated across the state border a current Coggins as well as a valid health certificate is an absolute necessity. It is a smart idea for the horse owner to have any other pertinent documents such as ownership papers, insurance papers and photographs (for identification purposes) with them in a dry and secure container. Having microchips placed provides another useful identification tool should the horse become separated from its owner. If the horse owner decides not to evacuate, they need to determine whether to keep the horses in the barn during the storm, or to turn them out. This is where the state of the barn and pastures is extremely important. Many horses died in their barns during hurricane Andrew as they collapsed on the entrapped animals. Cement block facilities are the safest, but many barns are made of wood, which cannot stand up to hurricane force winds. Some authorities recommend that the horses be turned out during the storm. This then exposes them to the possibility of flying debris, electrocution from downed power lines, possible drowning etc. The best location to turn a horse out in is free from debris (check out the neighbors property too), has solid fencing, has high enough ground so that flooding is not going to cause a problem, but has low enough areas to provide some shelter, and is away from any power lines. Should the horses be turned out, they must have some way of being identified in case they become displaced. Some owners have come up with some ingenious ways to identify their horses, including microchips, paint, engraved tags braided into manes, luggage tags, plastic zipper bags attached to the halter with their name, address, and cell number. Whichever way they decide to identify their horses, it must not wash off in the rain, and it is recommended that important documents such as their Coggins test or registration papers not be affixed for obvious reasons. (There are many less than honest people out there even in a catastrophe!) Helping the horse owner prepare a first aid kit is another important necessity especially if they decide not to evacuate. The kit should be in a waterproof container and should include bandage materials, antiseptic scrub and solution, antibiotic ointment both for the skin and for eyes, wound flush such as saline, and eye wash. Many of the injuries sustained after a hurricane or tornado are lacerations from flying debris and will need to be cleaned and covered as much as is possible. If your client has a horse that is on medication, be sure that they will not run out in the near future. Another important thing to educate your client about is wound assessment. As we all know many of the more benign looking skin lacerations can involve a synovial structure, a little “cloudiness” in a cornea can become a devastating fungal infection or a “melting” ulcer. Providing information for the nearest referral hospital is useful. While that facility’s veterinarians may be evacuated as well, they will be back as soon as it is safe and ready to help. Most of these facilities will have enough generator power to operate the entire facility, including the surgical suite. Another overlooked detail is what the owner would want to do should their horse become severely ill or injured. Providing someone (veterinarian) with power of attorney and their wishes for disposition of the animal (this applies to the family pets too) can save a lot of unnecessary suffering and expense if the owner is out of reach. Developing a neighborhood plan will optimize resources so that you can help each other when there is an emergency. If you and your clients belong to a local horse group, organizing a disaster preparedness event with local officials and other veterinarians will help to inform group members about being ready. That will also identify those people that may need transportation assistance for example. Having a team approach will also increase the probability of a positive outcome. It is also advisable that owners distribute a list of important telephone numbers to neighbors and relatives. Provide one or more neighbors with a key(s) to their property in the event that they are unable to get into the home. Be sure that all cellular ‘phones are charged. Remember that after the storm has passed, the emergency response teams will be occupied with the immediate concerns of ensuring that the area is safe and that there are adequate supplies and utilities. There is a specific hierarchy that is followed when a disaster occurs, starting at the federal and state levels, and following down to the county and community. While it may seem harsh, human safety is the primary concern. It may be days before animals can be evaluated or for them to be returned home. There are veterinary teams that are mobilized when there is a catastrophic event, and they will be located at a central site where animals can be triaged, treated and housed. What can we do as equine practitioners? Be informed, be prepared, be ready to help, and be ready to educate your clients. Assign a technician to contact clients now to remind them that hurricane season is approaching fast, and that they need to be sure that their horses vaccines and Coggins tests are up to date. Taking the time to talk to your clients individually, or by organizing an event in your area will be greatly appreciated and can help to reduce the probability of catastrophic injuries during this active season. Get involved with your local emergency response unit. Some useful websites: This article was originally published in the FAEP Practitioner magazine and is reprinted with their permission. |
