Sunday, 23 November 2008
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June 2008 • VOLUME 34 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine
 EVACUATION TIPS FOR WILDLAND FIRES
It used to be that California was known as the state that held its collective breath every summer, waiting for the onslaught of wild land fires. With the effects of climate change being felt throughout the country, wild land fires are becoming commonplace in areas as diverse as Florida, Montana, Oklahoma and Canada. Even the soggy northwest is not immune. What was a regional issue is now a national concern.
While California horse owners have learned how to live with the threat, the rest of the country is just waking up to the very real possibility that they, too, could be affected. From north of Los Angeles, south to San Diego, and east into the desert, neighborhoods have organized evacuation plans, complete with “Standard Operating Procedures” or “SOPs” to delegate responsibility for transporting, identifying, feeding, treating, bedding, and housing horses and other large animals. The Alta Loma Riding Club, for instance, has an excellent set of SOPs they are willing to share with other horse groups. Veterinarians, feed companies, humane agencies, and emergency responders all work together to provide the safest, least stressful environment for animals who need to be removed from their homes. Being this organized and elaborate means many meetings between horse owners and agencies, well ahead of the event, so everyone works together using the same language and under the same rules. (You’ll find it at http://www.altalomaridingclub.com/ERT.htm) Not every area needs to be as organized as Southern California where wild land fires are a way of life. The most important thing you can do to help ensure the safety of your horses is to be prepared. Unfortunately, local governments move slowly in setting up protocol for such events. That should not stop you from acting. By organizing the horse owners in your area, developing a plan of evacuation that suits your needs, then sharing your plan with your local emergency personnel, you will be well on your way to protecting your animals in a multitude of disaster scenarios. Here are some simple animal evacuation procedures to consider: * Meet with fellow horse owners. Develop a phone tree and protocol for using it. * Develop a plan for your area and share it with your local emergency personnel. * Set up evacuation routes and holding areas. * Make sure the local veterinarians are aware of the plan. * Your vehicle should always have sufficient fuel. A half tank should be considered empty. * Make sure your horses are trained to load in all weather; all conditions.
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An Equestrian Legacy