Veterinary Emergency Response Team

 - Develop a disaster plan -- where would you take your horses in case evacuation were necessary? Plan for an alternate exit on foot with your horses if trailer access is blocked. Discuss the plan with everyone on the farm or at the stables so that everyone knows what to do. There won't be time to figure it out during the disaster.

- Post the phone numbers of your local animal control services and the County Office of Emergency Services on your barn.

- Keep a First Aid kit for simple wounds available at all times. Include bandage material for lower legs and foot wrap, scissors, flashlight, duct tape, and phenylbutazone for pain. Work with your veterinarian to decide what to stock in your horse's first aid kit.

- Make sure that all your horse transporting equipment is ready to be used on a moment’s notice and be sure your horses are well schooled in trailer and/or van loading.

- Keep a halter and lead rope readily available for every horse. There won’t be time for a return trip.

- Take photographs of your horses and prepare written descriptions of each of them. Put these in a safe place, such as a bank safe deposit box, away from where the horses are kept, so that you can provide identification information to animal control personnel should your horses become lost or separated from you in a disaster.

- Place identification tags on all small animals.

- Maintain your property -- remove any rolls of loose wire or dangerous debris that could cause entanglement.

- If you are evacuated, place an identification tag on the horse itself with the horse's name, your name, address and phone number. Cattle ear tags can be secured around the horse's neck and the information written with an indelible ink pen, or write the information on a piece of duct tape and place it on the halter.

- Meet your neighbors. In a disaster, you will all need to help each other.

- Volunteer your services with the local rescue organizations and shelters.