Proactive planning for natural disasters
Julia Herman, DVM, MS Beef Cattle Specialist Veterinarian, NCBA, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, Christine Navarre, DVM, MS, DACVIM Extension Veterinarian, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center | July 8, 2024
All cattle operations – feedlots, stockers, cow-calf ranches – could benefit from a written emergency action plan. These emergency plans provide one of the best methods for farms and ranches to mitigate the consequences of a natural disaster. An operation can identify specific disasters to plan for, such as a tornado or hurricane, or institute an “all hazards” philosophy when building a plan. Plans can be customized to the operation with useful information such as Premise ID Number (PIN), owner/manager’s name and phone number, physical address, and a list of important telephone numbers such as the herd veterinarian, local emergency response teams, police department, utility companies, among others. A full list of recommended information can be found in the Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Assurance Manual at bqa.org.
Advanced planning keeps losses at a minimum, though it is not possible to fully prevent losses. Record keeping, including photographs of equipment and supplies and detailed herd records, will aid in recovery efforts in addition to assessing damage after a disaster event. Speak to your insurance provider to understand your policy and how your operation is supported. A site map or layout of the operation may prove useful to emergency response teams with a visual description of buildings, pastures, equipment sheds, and other structures to navigate.
For the livestock, in addition to record keeping, animal identification will help in case animals are commingled during rescue efforts. Dangle tags, official USDA identification, or branding are commonly used. In emergency situations, information can be spray painted on the animal for temporary identification. Cattle will be stressed and their behaviors can change drastically after a disaster, so low-stress handling is critical to ensure safety of both animals and handlers.
It is strongly recommended that cattle producers work with their veterinarians and resource team to construct a practical emergency action plan for their operation. Ensure that all family and farm personnel understand the plans and also have plans for their own safety. Having annual trainings and emergency action plan drills can increase efficiency and understanding when the emergency event occurs. Providing preparedness checklists before and during the training is a valuable tool.
The beauty of working in agriculture is the community built around the operation. Cooperating with your neighbors during the planning and recovery phases will prepare everyone for coordinated disaster response. These partnerships extend to regional and state officials as the area recovers in the months and years after the event. For more information, visit bqa.org or contact your state animal health office or extension service.
This article was originally published in the November 2020 issue of NCBA National Cattlemen newsletter.
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