Free guide helps small farms prepare for emergencies

The AVMA has published a disaster preparedness guide that helps small farms be ready to safeguard their horses, poultry, and other farm animals in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

Small Farm Preparedness: Disaster Preparedness for Owners of Farm Animals is a free, downloadable booklet filled with tips, checklists, and important information for farm animal owners. Also available in Spanish (Preparación para Granjas Pequeñas), it's similar to our long-popular and authoritative Save the Whole Family guide for safeguarding companion animals. You'll find it with the AVMA's other disaster preparedness resources for owners of horses and livestock.

What's in the guide?

The guide walks farm owners through the process of making a plan, being ready to execute that plan, and staying informed before, during, and after an emergency. For example:

• What to do at the first sign of trouble
• How to make transportation and housing arrangements
• What equipment and information to keep on hand
• How to make an evacuation kit in advance
• What to do after a disaster

For owners who might not be with their animals when disaster strikes, there are also tips for ensuring caretakers have the information they'd need in case of a disaster and to increase the chances of being reunited with lost animals.

The guide also includes printable resources like evacuation kit checklists and emergency contact cards.

Checklists, contact cards, and more-in English and Spanish

This disaster preparedness resource provides a one-stop location for veterinary clients with farm animals to get the information they need to help keep their animals safe. In addition to the full guide, several of the resources within it also are available as standalone handouts for veterinary clients:

• Evacuation kit checklist: Horses and livestock (English and Spanish)
• Evacuation kit checklist: Rabbits and poultry (English and Spanish)
• Emergency contact cards (English and Spanish)

More disaster planning resources

The AVMA provides a wide range of disaster planning and preparedness resources for veterinary practices, as well as both pet and livestock owners. Find all of these tools at avma.org/Disaster.

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