While horse owners in East Texas and along the Louisiana’s Gulf Coast are still reeling from Hurricane Laura’s aftermath, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting that the 2020 hurricane season will be the most active in recent years. In response, equine-focused emergency groups are working to meet the expected challenges head-on.

In late August, Hurricane Laura began its march across the Gulf of Mexico before slamming into portions of Texas and the Louisiana Gulf Coast, pelting the region with heavy rains and Category 4 hurricane-force winds gusting at 133 miles per hour. In coastal Louisiana, flood waters rose as high as 13 feet.

So far, Hurricane Laura is being blamed for more than $25 billion in damage and at least 16 deaths. According to the National Weather Service, the storm was one of the strongest hurricanes ever to make landfall in the U.S.

Hardest hit were the Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes near Lake Charles, La., according to Rebecca McConnico, DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVIM, who is a professor in Agricultural Sciences and Forestry at Louisiana Tech University and advisor to many equine-focused hurricane response groups. She is also a member of the Louisiana State Animal Response Team, a member of the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association’s Equine Committee and on the Advisory Council for The Foundation For The Horse.

“Both are rural, and Lake Charles (in Calcasieu Parish) took a direct hit,” says McConnico. “A lot of people did evacuate their horses, but the big issue now is getting hay and feed and fresh water to people and horses in those areas.”

Equine welfare groups in the state and elsewhere are working to get supples and food resources to horse owners in the hurricane-ravaged region.

“Some private groups are setting up hay drops and (a feed manufacturer) has arranged for feed to be brought into the area,” she says.

In addition to those private efforts, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) has established a GoFundMe page to accept monetary donations to benefit Louisiana livestock owners affected by the storm, says LDAF Commissioner Mikes Strain, DVM.

In Texas, approximately 190 horses were evacuated ahead of the storm to sheltering facilities in Northeast and Central Texas located outside of the anticipated path of the storm, according to Olivia Hemby, a Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) planner in the Department of Energy Management.

Despite the precautions, Texas was spared the brunt of Hurricane Laura.

The Texas A&M University Veterinary Emergency Team (VET) deployed to Jefferson County (Texas) based on the request of local officials, says Director Wesley Bissett, DVM, Ph.D.,
“It was the perfect thing for them to do to anticipate damage and to be prepared,” adds Bissett through a written statement. “We were very fortunate, and really all of Texas was very fortunate, that the impact here was not as bad as anticipated, [and] our services aren’t needed.”

Even so, VET has been in touch with the veterinary community in Louisiana and continues to monitor the situation there.

Hurricane-affected horse owners in Louisiana are also receiving assistance from the Kentucky-based Foundation For The Horse Disaster Relief Fund. That group has donated $5,000 to VET and the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association’s Equine Committee to underwrite immediate emergency efforts.

In addition, The Foundation For The Horse will work with agencies and veterinary members in Louisiana to identify the needs of the equine community, and to provide monetary and material support, according to Rick Mitchell, DVM, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVSMR, who is the Foundation For The Horse’s Advisory Council Chair.

“The Foundation and the equine veterinary community know the tragic loss of life and incredible destruction and flooding that can and will be caused by Hurricane Laura,” shared Mitchell in a written statement. “We are compelled to reach out, together with our members, horse owners and industry leaders to proactively support the disaster’s equine victims.”

While horse owners continue to recover from Hurricane Laura, the director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center is urging horse owners in storm-vulnerable areas to remember that the 2020 hurricane season is far from over.

“The 2020 hurricane season is expected to be very active,” says NHC Director Ken Graham in a video message. “It’s important to have a plan.”

McConnico agrees.

“People have to remain aware that hurricane season is dangerous,” she says. “People can’t forget what we learned from Katrina.”

The post Horse Owners Challenged to Rebound after Hurricane Laura appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

It’s always a good reminder to have a plan and be ready in case of a natural disaster or other emergency. Wildfires, floods, and hurricanes are among the most destructive disasters. If you have to evacuate your home, it’s essential to know what options you have for your animals. We hope these horse emergency planning tips help you make your plan.

Create your horse emergency plan ahead of time when there is no imminent disaster and review it regularly so you won’t have to figure out logistics in the chaos of an emergency.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offers these tips for horse emergency disaster preparedness.

◆ Know where to go. You’ll need to have a few options for locations that are close enough to trailer to but far enough away that they aren’t likely to be affected by the same evacuation orders. These could includes fairgrounds or a friend or family’s property. Keep a list saved at the barn, in your car, and on your phone.
◆ If you don’t travel with your horse often, practice trailer loading at home regularly so that if you need to evacuate in an emergency, your horse will be more likely to load calmly and quickly.
◆ Know your evacuation routes and practice them ahead of time if they take you to unfamiliar roads.
◆ Network with your neighbors or other boarders at your barn. Discuss how you can pool resources, such as truck and trailer space, to get all of your horses and the necessary supplies to a safe location.
◆ Prepare an emergency kit for your horses. You’ll need a travel first-aid kit,
extra lead ropes and halters, water buckets, and enough hay and grain to get through a few days longer than you think an evacuation might last.
◆ Don’t forget planning for all your pets. Not all evacuation shelters for people allow cats and dogs.

ASPCA Disaster Response Manager Tim Perciful gives expert advice about why
you shouldn’t turn your horse loose in an emergency and the benefits of microchipping.

If evacuation of horses isn’t possible, what’s the next best option?

◆ It’s crucial to heed the warning upon any advance notice for hurricane or wildfire evacuations and try to move your horses away from danger prior to
the emergency.
◆ If you have good defensible space in a wildfire and can have a fire break, then it may be best to have your horses shelter in place. one of the challenges
to this is that wildfires can send embers over long distances, and they could still ignite a barn, pasture, fencing, et cetera.
◆ If you’re inland and on high ground, then it may be best to shelter your horses in place during a hurricane.
◆ Try to identify an evacuation barn in advance that will be available in an
emergency.
◆ One of the safest places for your animals is in an emergency animal shelter where they are out of harm’s way, have access to care, and you can check on them regularly. It may take a couple of trips to move them, so it’s important to do so prior to a mandatory evacuation notice.

Are there situations where it’s better to turn your horses loose?

◆ During a hurricane, it’s not generally advised to turn your horses loose. You should work with officials on the best thing to do for any animals that are going to be immediately impacted by a disaster. Letting your horses loose during a hurricane may keep them away from danger, but it may also make it difficult for you to be reunited with your horse unless you have proper documentation.
◆ Releasing horses that are going to be immediately impacted by a wildfire
is not usually advised. You should contact emergency personnel to see if there are any other options. Evacuating your horses as soon as possible in a disaster is crucial, and will help get your horses and your family in a safe place as soon as possible.
◆ There are times when people have to evacuate and leave their animals behind. however, it may take animal rescuers a few days to get to your animals. If you are considering this, think about food, water, medications, and the animal’s overall safety.

If you are bringing your horses to an evacuation center, what are some important things to know?

◆ Proof of vaccinations and health records are important to bring with your horse. keep your veterinary records, photos of your horse and his ID information in a Ziploc bag and ready to go at all times.
◆ Be sure your horse’s vaccinations and coggins are up to date at all times. If disaster strikes and your horse needs to be evacuated or comingled with other horses, it may restrict your ability to move him if your horse is not up to date.

This article on horse emergency planning tips originally appeared in the September 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The Animal Wellness Foundation (AWF), in its latest disaster response efforts, is providing hay to horses impacted by Hurricane Dorian on the island of Grand Bahama. Large animals are often not a central focus of animal disaster response efforts after an emergency. However, their needs are often as acute as those of stranded or injured dogs and cats.

The team departed Fort Pierce, Fla., and returned that same day. Once on the ground, the team traveled to three farms to assess structural damage and equine health needs. The mission was led by Jennifer Skiff, director of iternational programs for the Animal Wellness Foundation; Laurie Hood, Florida state director for Animal Wellness Action; and Dr. Bess Darrow, an equine veterinarian based in central Florida.

The Bahamas does not produce its own hay. With such incredible human dislocation on the islands, there is no safety net for horses. “These horses need us, and we are prepared to meet their needs in crisis,” said Skiff. “Our plan is to stabilize them, attend to any immediate needs and to provide food for as long as six months.”

Animal Wellness Action

AWF was a member of a coalition of humane organizations working to the rescue of 72 homeless dogs from Nassau after Hurricane Dorian caused mass destruction on August 24. Each U.S. organization played a specific, coordinated role. AWF was tasked with taking pet food and supplies to the islands, as well as bringing the dogs back. AWF is continuing to provide relief to animals affected by the hurricane. The organization has since ordered a six-month supply of hay to feed 19 horses left on Grand Bahama. Over 200 animals and their guardians perished at the Ol’ Freetown Farm during the hurricane. There are searches under way for any surviving goats and pigs.

The Animal Wellness Foundation (Foundation) is a Los Angeles-based private charitable organization. Its mission is to help animals by making veterinary care available to everyone with a pet, regardless of economic ability.

Animal Wellness Action (Action) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) organization. Its mission is to help animals by promoting legal standards forbidding cruelty by championing causes that alleviate the suffering of companion animals, farm animals, and wildlife. For more, visit the Animal Wellness Action website.

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