WE LIVE IN an era when we are constantly told to be prepared in case of an earthquake or other natural disaster.
Are you heeding that warning?
For instance, lately we’ve received many warnings our region could have a major earthquake at any moment.
Are you following the advice to keep at least a three-month supply of food and other necessary supplies on hand in case our roads are damaged and we need to shelter in place?
Imagine suddenly seeing a big fire headed your way.
Are you prepared to immediately leave your home with only the clothes on your back?
What about your animals?
How quickly can you load your horses into a trailer and skedaddle?
Last year’s wildfire season was truly horrific for those in California and British Columbia.
Several horse owners in the Paradise and Malibu, Calif., fires stated they were shocked at how quickly the fire moved. Several had to flee so abruptly they were forced to leave their horses behind.
While many animals died, thankfully many of those turned loose survived.
Of the survivors it became problematic to return the horses to owners, who were also in a state of shock, because of a lack of identification.
Whether or not you believe in global warming we’ve seen an increase in natural disasters, be it by fire, earthquake, hurricane or tsunami, worldwide.
The result is we have better government emergency preparedness systems in place, as well as insights into surviving disasters and its aftermath.
Thus, if you haven’t done so already, I’m thinking this winter is a good time to create a written emergency evacuation plan for ourselves and horses. We also should look for ways to reduce the fire hazards around our barns, shelters and home.
Create a fire fuel break around you home and barn by removing dead/dry foliage and other flammable materials, such as mulch.
Really it’s common sense to only plant grass or evergreen foliage close to the home, and the further away you plant large trees from the home, the better.
Keep your barn free of clutter. Install and know how to use fire extinguishers.
Fill clean plastic garbage cans with water, secure the tops, and place them in the barn for emergency use.
Prepare a waterproof emergency animal care kit with all the items you normally use, including medications, salves or ointments, Vetrap, bandages and tape.
Place the kit in a safe place where you can easily access it after a storm.
Escaping
In researching tips from those who say, “what I wish I’d done differently,” after a devastating fire I discovered a common theme: Prepare for it now, before it’s an emergency. And when you receive an evacuation order follow it immediately.
One way you might be able to receive advance warning is by signing up for disaster alerts through your county’s website.
If you live in Jefferson County, visit www.co. jefferson.wa.us/1066/Alerts-Warnings.
For those in Clallam County, visit www. clallam.net/emergency management.
Preparation
Make a plan for yourself and your animals, so if disaster strikes you know immediately what you need to do.
Decide where you will be sheltering your horse or horses during the natural disaster or other emergency.
Make sure you have your route planned and your vehicle ready, and then share that plan with everyone living in your home and anyone who might care for your horses in your absence.
Be sure you have at least two routes to get to your evacuation site in case of road closures.
Of course, if a bridge is down or road is closed and a fire is coming our way we might be force to flee on foot to the beach.
Regardless, we need to be prepared and keep our wits about us.
Put together an evacuation kit for your horse that includes a checklist of what feed and tack you will need to bring with you, paperwork proving your ownership and health of your horse (branding papers, microchip papers, photographs, veterinary records, Coggins test) and an emergency first aid kit.
Pack a grab-and-go bag for humans and pets.
Each to-go bag should contain at least a three-day supply of food, water and medication (if needed) for each member of your family, including pets.
Include flashlights, cash, picture IDs and emergency contact information in each person’s bag in case you’re separated.
If you need to travel far bring enough cash to buy fuel should it be needed.
Keep a flash drive with copies of important legal documents for you and your family, along with your horses, including driver’s license or passport, medical information, homeowner’s insurance and credit card in your bag and perhaps another one in your vehicle.
Carry physical pictures of each animal and each member of the family.
These days a lot of information also can be stored in the cloud, making the information available to you anywhere through the use of a smartphone, tablet or computer.
ID methods
Prepare now for placing identifying contact information (ICE) on your horses in the event of a disaster.
Permanent ID methods include tattoos, brands and microchips.
You might also place your phone number right on your horses by etching hooves, writing your phone number on the body with waterproof paint or livestock marking crayon.
Some braid luggage tag IDs into manes or tails; others have put on neck or fetlock ID bands.
A really nifty new tool is called the Mane Stay. It is heat and flame resistant, plus your contact information is permanent and waterproof.
It was developed by the owners of Sierra View Ranch after experiencing their own devastating fire in 2006.
They also make ICE breakaway halters and ID for dogs.
For more information, visit www.sierraviewranch generalstore.com.
Fire is the greatest hazard to horses kept in barns or corrals, so if you can’t take them with you then set them free before you leave.
Hopefully you’ve prepared an emergency ID tag you can quickly place on the horse.
Do not turn your horse loose wearing a halter, unless it’s a break-away halter.
If you don’t own a horse trailer but know someone with extra room in theirs try to arrange in advance for your horse to go with them or check in with your local volunteer evacuation network, available on your county’s website.
Action
So now you’ve written down your evacuation plan, including evacuation route options, and placed it where it’s readily available for any family member to grab and follow step by step.
Your personal to-go bags for each family member and animal are already stored in your vehicle.
Your truck has fuel.
The horse trailer is attached, your water tank is full (if your horse trailer has one) and extra water buckets are stored inside.
If you have time then take at least one bale of hay — more if you have multiple horses — as well as any special foods for senior and special-needs horses.
You might not have immediate access to hay and buckets wherever you are sheltering your horse.
You’ve practiced loading your horse in the trailer so now he’ll do so quickly and without hesitation.
Suddenly, your phone receives an emergency evacuation alert or perhaps you see signs of a fire on a horizon.
The good news is you are prepared to flee right then.
Without further thinking you spring into action and are able to get those who depend on you safely away from the danger.
But will you?
More lives are lost by those waiting to see if it’s really necessary to leave or by trying to retrieve more items to take with them.
Remember, leaving early is key.
Your truck and horse trailer won’t be able to outrun a fire if you are stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway.
So get out fast.
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Karen Griffiths’ column, Peninsula Horseplay, appears the second and fourth Sunday of each month.
If you have a horse event, clinic or seminar you would like listed, please email Griffiths at kbg@olympus.net at least two weeks in advance. You can also call her at 360-460-6299.
